About Hans Holzen

  • Member of Shauncey Ali Quartet

  • Touring and Session Musician 

  • Appeared twice on NPR’s Prairie Home Companion in 2005 & 2007

  • Appeared on PBS Austin City Limits in 2008

  • Played with opening acts for Lucinda Williams and John Prine

Nashville native Hans Holzen is a guitarist and songwriter based in Madison, WI. His style is “Americana,”  with a wide range of influences. He is a member of the Shauncey Ali Quartet and performs under his own name. 

Hans Holzen may still be a new name to the Madison scene, but has a long history of performing and touring. Hans grew up in a musical family and was performing professionally in Nashville while finishing high school. After attending University of Miami to study jazz theory and performance, Hans returned to Nashville to perform locally and tour with bands and songwriters. In 2007, Hans moved to New York City to work closely with Carrie Rodriguez. As a member of Carrie’s band, Hans recorded several studio albums and toured extensively across the US, Canada, and northern Europe.  


Hans has also worked with the late Chip Taylor, Peter Bradley Adams, the Mark O’Connor String Celebration Ensemble, and fiddler April Verch. In his sideman role, Hans has opened for acts such as Lucinda Williams and John Prine and performed on Austin City Limits and a Prairie Home Companion.

In recent years, Hans has led a quieter life as a husband, father, and middle school teacher. Moving to Madison in 2024, Hans found a thriving music scene and many talented musicians with whom he could resume his musical endeavors.