[2] In 2005, Jesse Rivest was accepted as a "Best Newcomer Finalist" in the Calgary Folk Music Festival Songwriting Contest for his song Deadbeat Blues.

He also revealed some varied musical influences leading up to that time, including: Lester Quitzau, Xavier Rudd, Roy Orbison, and Joni Mitchell.

[4] In February 2010, Rivest shared headlining the Waihi Bush Festival near Woodbury, New Zealand, with Kristina Olsen.

[7] In 2016, an article in the Correio Braziliense revealed that Rivest had been studying music—in Brasília, DF, Brazil—via the bandolim for a year and half.

[8] That same year, a concert review published by Canal RIFF in Brazil further revealed that Rivest had been performing in Brasília.