Steve K
Gibsons based singer/songwriter Steve K has put in a great deal of time to earn the accolade “guitarist extraordinaire” (MONDAY MAGAZINE). After 22 years on the guitar and after majoring in classical guitar performance at University, he has certainly paid his dues. In the vein of Kelly Joe Phelps or early Bruce Cockburn, Steve’s contemporary folk music sways effortlessly between "hot, intricate acoustic guitar work" and vocals of "power, fluidity, and downright tenderness". His passionate performances consist of heart warming, heart wrenching, and hilarious themes - including tales of teenage calamity, broken families, backwoods blunders, and a profound love of nature. Steve has just released his 2nd solo CD HEADSPACE - a beautiful spin through 4 acoustic guitar instrumentals and 6 lyrical songs. The recording has turned out beautifully:
"The hot, intricate acoustic guitar work of Steve K drives most of the well-written tunes on this singer-songwriter's 2nd album…enough excellent guitar playing and songwriting to portend big things for Steve K." – Ron Forbes- Roberts: Victoria's News/A&E Weekly MONDAY MAGAZINE
It was aided by songwriting coaching from Juno award winner Shari Ulrich and excellent accompanying performances by Simno Fisk on upright bass, Niel Golden on Tabla, and Sarah Cheevers on backing vocals. Audio from HEADSPACE can be heard here.
Steve K’s professional career began at the age of 18 when he played in dance bands to help pay his way through university. In 1995, he graduated as a classical guitar performance major and voice minor from the University of Victoria where “[he] set a new standard in guitar excellence at UVic” (Dr. Alex Dunn). Upon completing his degree, Steve began to earn his living in music and like many professional musicians, found it necessary to be very versatile. He performed, recorded, and toured on four continents with chamber choirs, rock bands, an a-cappella vocal quartet, and world music groups. Along the way he developed a painfully clear understanding of Gary Cristall’s musical epitaph: “the road to poverty is paved with bands”.
In 1999, after many years of songwriting and synthesizing his eclectic influences, Steve recorded his first solo CD, the Ep SO LONG VELVET RUT. Since its release, Steve has performed over 200 dates, most of them solo, in folk music clubs, regional concerts series, festivals, coffee houses, cruise ships and pubs. Recently, he has been performing as a trio, accompanied by excellent musicians: Paul Bergman (Corcavado, John Reischman, Slow Drag) on upright bass and Boyd Grealy (Uzume Taiko) on percussion. With the release of HEADSPACE, Steve K will be touring throughout western Canada during the months to come.
!