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Steve Dawson
Acoustic / Folk / Indie

"guitarist, songwriter, sideman, producer"

Vancouver, BC
Canada

Profile Views:  26605




Last Login:  7/25/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Steve Dawson

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/stevedawson05  

   Steve Dawson: General Info
Member Since10/24/2005
Band Websiteblackhenmusic.com
Band MembersSteve and a cast of characters
InfluencesSol Hoopii, Jon Brion, Bill Frisell, Chet Atkins, Tom Verlaine, Tom Dowd, The Band, Andy Iona, Jimmy Nolen, The Carter Family, Van Dyke Parks, Glyn Johns, Elliot Smith, Buck Owens, Sneaky Pete, Leo Kottke, Jimi Hendrix, Barbecue Bob, Tao Moe, Speedy West, John Fahey, Roy Smeck, The Soul Stirrers, Latin Playboys, Mississippi Shieks, The Byrds, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Norman Blake, Jimmy Page, Bill Evans, Nick Drake, Daniel Lanois, Muddy Waters, Oscar Aleman, Robert Pete Williams, Bert Jansch, Lloyd Green, Bix Biederbecke, Greg Leisz, Blind Blake, Thelonius Monk, Bob Brozman, Duane Allman, Tony Rice, Brian Wilson, Dock Boggs, Mississippi John Hurt, David Hidalgo, Son House, Woody Guthrie, Casey Bill Weldon, Chris Whitley, Tchad Blake, Sonny Landreth, Les Paul, Doc Watson, Charlie Parker, John Lee Hooker, George Gershwin, Jerry Douglas, Merle Travis, David Lindley, Skip James, Ry Cooder, Tom Waits.
Record LabelBlack Hen Music
Type of LabelIndie








   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jun 26 2008 8:00P
Victoria Jazz Fest - Royal Theatre Victoria, British Columbia
Jun 27 2008 8:00P
Vancouver Jazz Fest - The Centre Vancouver, British Columbia

Steve Dawson's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Mississippi Sheiks Tribute Album - part 4  (view more)

Mississippi Sheiks Tribute Album - Part 3  (view more)

Mississippi Sheiks Tribute Album - part 2  (view more)

Mississippi Sheiks Tribute Album  (view more)

Shuyler Session - the final bits  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About Steve Dawson
Acclaimed musician/producer/songwriter Steve Dawson will release 2 new albums of his work in 2008; “Waiting For The Lights To Come Up” and “Telescope”.

“I decided to record two albums at once this year. It wasn’t what I set out to do originally. I was getting ready to make a record that would feature a new batch of songs that I had been writing, but at the same time, I was learning the pedal steel guitar, and had been writing ensemble-based music that would feature that instrument.”

Rather than waiting and recording them separately, Dawson decided to put together a crack band and spend a few days in the studio getting the majority of both albums done at once. The idea was to create two completely different projects that tied together sonically and that shared a similar energy. “I thought it would be interesting to have them both done in the same space at the same time, and by the same people.”

The musicians are players with whom he’s been making a lot of records over the last few years. The band comprises Keith Lowe (Bill Frisell, Fiona Apple) on bass, Chris Gestrin (Randy Bachman, K-OS) on keyboards, and Scott Amendola (T.J. Kirk, Bill Frisell, Madeline Peyroux) on drums.

“With musicians of this caliber, I knew that most of the magic would be happening quickly on early takes, even before the band was too comfortable with the new material.” Dawson and the band set up shop in The Factory Studios in Vancouver and proceeded to record the bulk of the two records in about 5 days. Dawson took the tracks back to his Henhouse Studio to add overdubs, textures and sound manipulation. The result is a wonderful and arresting pair of new releases — “Waiting For the Lights To Come Up” and “Telescope”.

Waiting For the Lights To Come Up

“This album was a natural progression for me. I toured quite a bit when my last album, ‘We Belong to the Gold Coast’ came out in 2005. I did a lot of solo shows in Canada and Europe, and in that time I started writing new songs that I could perform on my own as well as with the band”. While Steve’s hypnotic fingerstyle guitar is still at the heart of the new material, it’s the songs that are most prevalent on this recording. Drawing from his wealth of experience with blues, jazz, rock, old-school gospel and folk music of all kinds, Dawson creates a unique blend of sophisticated roots music as only he could. Polished, but leaving the edges a little rough. Contemporary, yet utilizing sounds and instruments that could have been recorded 60 years ago. The evocative lyrics and textural guitars paint an unforgettable picture in songs like “Room To Room” and “Dry As Our Luck”, the twang of the baritone guitar underlies the foreboding of “At Arms Length”, and Steve picked up his old $50 Silvertone guitar for the searing slide that takes us on a chaotic trip in “Fire Somewhere”.

Dawson continues to explore the traditional side as well, always with a contemporary flair, or something to pull it slightly off in a new direction. He dusts off the Mississippi Sheiks’ “Somebody’s Got To Help You” and burns it down with the band in tow. “Hard To Get Gertie” and “Swinging In A Hammock” offer a take on vintage Hawaiian music, although the addition of drums, pump organ, and several electric guitars skew the context just enough. Dawson is channeling his many influences here, but he has found a unique voice within it all that has truly begun to surface.

The bulk of the new songs were written in a small period of time in between Steve’s touring and recording projects. Dawson’s production work has become sought-after for his multi-instrumental abilities and intricacies, while keeping live performance at the root of most of his projects. Jim Byrnes, Kelly Joe Phelps, Jenny Whiteley, Old Man Luedecke, Ndidi Onukwulu, and Shuyler Jansen are just a few of the many artists who have sought out Dawson in the last few years to produce, record and develop their music, and his instrumental abilities have appeared on over 75 albums and onstage with renowned artists like Long John Baldry, Bob Brozman, Geoff Muldaur, Oh Susanna, Justin Rutledge, and many others. Dawson has been named Producer of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and twice at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. He has produced 7 Juno nominated albums, and has 4 Juno Awards for albums that he has produced or in which he has been a featured musician. Dawson’s unique production style, paired with his desire to create and experiment with sound has brought him to the forefront of the field.

With this wealth of experience, Dawson has taken his recording experience to new heights with “Waiting For The Lights To Come Up”. Slide guitars, pump organs, pedal steel, wurlitzers, and baritone guitars all dance and sway through Dawson’s strongest material to date.

in 1996, Steve started the independant label, Black Hen Music, which has become one of the leading specialty labels in Canada, specializing in acoustic-based music of all kinds.

Steve's recent production credits include:

Kelly Joe Phelps - "Tunesmith Retrofit"
Jim Byrnes - "House of Refuge", "Fresh Horses"
The Sojourners - "Hold On" Jenny Whiteley - "Dear", "Hopetown"
Shuyler Jansen - "Today's Remains"
Zubot and Dawson - "Strang", "Tractor Part"
John Wort Hannam - "Two-Bit Suit"
Coco Love Alcorn - "Sugar"
Steve Dawson - "We Belong to the Gold Coast", "Bug Parade"
Old Man Luedecke - "Hinterland"
and lots of others....

For his work in the studio, Steve has been named "Producer of the Year" at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2005 and 2006 and at the Western Canadian Music Awards 2007. His work as a musician and producer has resulted in some Juno Awards:
- Roots/Traditional Album of the Year - 2003 for Zubot and Dawson's "Chicken Scratch"
- Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year - 2004 for Great Uncles of the Revolution "Blow the House Down"
- Roots/Traditional Album of the Year - 2005 for Jenny Whiteley's "Hopetown"
- Blues Album of the Year - 2007 for Jim Byrnes "House of Refuge"

As well as many Western Canadian Music Awards, Canadian Folk Music Awards and Maple Blues Awards.

Currently, Steve can be found touring as a solo artist, working as a sideman, or holed-up in his Henhouse Studio in Vancouver making records or just making funny sounds.

Upcoming projects include albums by Ndidi Onokwulu as well as his two new solo projects for 2008. Stay tuned....


   Steve Dawson's Friend Space (Top 12)
Steve Dawson has 2340 friends.
 Black Hen Music 


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 Jim Byrnes 





Steve Dawson's Friends Comments
Displaying 49 of 274 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Steel a gogo





Jul 21 2008 6:00 PM

Steve, very good songs!
Thanx for that. Please keep in touch. Our page is for your promotion.

Frantz

Image hébergée par servimg.com
Hawkin’s Revenge





Jul 15 2008 12:22 PM

thanks for the add friend!
Kat





Jul 11 2008 5:44 PM

Have a great weekend,
peace and light
Hatman





Jul 7 2008 10:15 AM

Thanks for the Add, and Welcome to the Hatman's page.

Hatman
Valentina Sebastianelli





Jul 3 2008 9:52 AM

Hey Steve! Thanks so much for the add!
I love your music!!!
Ciao!
Valentina
Sweet Hollywaiians





Jun 22 2008 6:44 AM


ALOHA!!!
Suzette Amaya





Jun 17 2008 1:19 PM

SWEET! Much Respect & Luv from Vancity BC! Check Moi Out Mondays 8-9pm on ThinkNDN 102.7fm Listen ONLINE at www. coorpadio. org

Hey also Download this Wick'd Article in the RezX Magazine Featuring Suzette Amaya at www. aboriginalyouth. net HUGZ ;)
kunasek





Jun 8 2008 7:08 AM

COMING THIS SUMMER
Big Hungry Joe





Jun 7 2008 7:49 AM

Hey Steve.

We thought it might interest you to hear that our debut CD is now available on CD Baby.
Click on the little picture below and listen to some samples.
Hope you like what you hear :-)

Cheers
Jesper
Big Hungry Joe
Old-time band from Denmark

Buy the CD
BIG HUNGRY JOE: Hillbilly Hayride
click to order
steve m





May 31 2008 1:28 PM

Steve!
Betsy


Is Online


May 28 2008 7:52 PM

Thank you for the wonderful creative and unique music! Everytime I happen by I enjoy your music as much, if not more than the last time.
Enjoy,
Betsy
Bertus Distribution





May 17 2008 9:51 AM

thanx for the add. some good playing on Tom Taylor's record:)

cheers!
Joel Bloom





May 16 2008 6:19 AM

Thanks for the add! Go you good thing
Keith Lowe





May 16 2008 1:00 AM

Tape Op is here!
whitesalmonguitar





May 14 2008 10:36 AM

Hi Steve, thanks for including me in your circle of friends, great work. I have built a couple of Weissenborn style guitars, amazing sound with a K&K pickup.
I'll be in Vancouver for Jazz Fest with some guitars, Tom Taylor is going to stop by would love to have you join us!
El Mastaba per la musica popolare egiziana





May 10 2008 12:51 PM

thank you for the friendship, all the best.
Elmastaba.



the simsimiyya, a folk-instrument indigenous to Egypt from the time of the pharaohs.
友 Tomo





May 8 2008 9:50 PM

Wow!
Mississippi Sheiks Tribute Album!!
Benjamin Hoare





May 2 2008 2:15 AM

Hi Steve wonderful playing and tone .Really like all the tunes.
Thanks Ben
Manuel Garde





Apr 24 2008 7:46 AM

.








Hi Steve,
as a great musician, I'd like to inform you about my new tracks.


"True" is about how hard it is to be true, by not beeing trusted.


"Tennesee underground" is a dedication to a great musician and his aera in the 60ies and 70ies.
Nice to hear you again friend,
best wishes, Manuel.








.
Pat Savage





Apr 23 2008 1:49 AM

Welcome to the savage biker music site! Nice to meet you here Steve. Hope to see you come by soon. Meanwhile Ill check out your site!

savage
Peace Vibration





Apr 1 2008 12:07 PM

Beautiful touch and tone

Peace

Slidin Thanks
Kat





Mar 28 2008 6:12 PM

Thanks for the add, I really enjoy your music.
Thanks, peace and light.
ray





Mar 25 2008 11:18 PM

Thanks for the add Steve I enjoyed your music and visit cheers
Derrick Mitchell





Mar 23 2008 2:07 PM

hi steve!
just stopping by for a look around!

thanks for being a friend!
singer/songwriter
derrick mitchell
visit
http://www. myspace. com/derrickmitchellmusic
for the free downoad of the week!
Keith Lowe





Mar 23 2008 12:56 PM

Is the ferry here yet?
Leanne Goose





Mar 20 2008 3:44 AM

Yup..you're pretty awesome :)
The Wheat Pool





Mar 16 2008 9:37 AM

thx for being friends. hope to cross paths soon.
Ros@





Mar 14 2008 12:54 PM

Hello Steve,
Many Thanks for being my new "space" friend. Find your music super and love it very much ! Wish you many many success !!
Have a fabulous weekend !
Musical Greetings,
Rose-Marie, Belgium
Forenbacher





Mar 13 2008 4:43 AM

Hey Steve,

thank you for the add! Great music!

All the best from Europe to beautiful Canada,
Matthias
Sweet Hollywaiians





Mar 9 2008 7:11 PM


ALOHA!!
Strong Like Bull





Feb 20 2008 1:37 PM

Thanks for the add!
Saskatoon Blues Society





Feb 12 2008 3:16 PM

Thanks for the add Steve. We really enjoyed your show here in Saskatoon!
Master and Commander of the Saucy Bitch Posse





Feb 7 2008 6:08 PM

Thanks for the add, Steve!

Andy (my Weissenborn-playing husband) and I will be at the St. James show tomorrow night; we're both really looking forward to hear you play, as always!
Andrew





Feb 4 2008 1:13 AM

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the add. Great music!

Greetings, Andrew
Heather Blush





Jan 28 2008 4:36 PM