Tag: Steve Dawson

This year’s Vancouver Folk Music Festival looks like six-string heaven for local guitar freaks

Paul Pigat with Big Lazy By Steve Newton This year's Vancouver Folk Music Festival, running from July 19 to 21 at Jericho Beach Park, is offering a diverse selection of traditional and contemporary folk, world, and roots-music artists from around the world and our own backyard. And fans of guitar-based music will be especially pleased … Continue reading This year’s Vancouver Folk Music Festival looks like six-string heaven for local guitar freaks

Newt’s top 20 Vancouver concert picks for 2024

tedeschi trucks photo by susan weiand By Steve Newton Melissa Etheridge: confessional folk-rock singer-songwriter from Kansas performs with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as part of her I’m Not Broken Tour. March 23 at the Orpheum Theatre. Reverend Horton Heat: psychobilly band from Dallas, Texas, featuring guitarist-vocalist Jim Heath, with guests Dale Watson and Jason D. Williams. March 26 at the Rickshaw Theatre. … Continue reading Newt’s top 20 Vancouver concert picks for 2024

Newt’s top 10 Metro Vancouver concerts in April

Matt Andersen plays the Hollywood By Steve Newton Matt Andersen: blues-roots singer-songwriter and guitarist from the Maritimes plays two shows with his band the Big Bottle of Joy, with guests the Hello Darlins. April 5 and 6 at the Hollywood Theatre. Big Sugar: Toronto blues-rock band led by singer-guitarist Gordie Johnson. April 15 at the … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Metro Vancouver concerts in April

Kelly Joe Phelps is in awe of Steve Dawson’s slide-guitar playing

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 30, 2003 By Steve Newton Over the course of his first four albums, Kelly Joe Phelps made a name for himself as a singer-songwriter who, according to music critic–turned–film director Cameron Crowe, “speaks to the soul of each and every listener”. Along the way he also gained a reputation as a … Continue reading Kelly Joe Phelps is in awe of Steve Dawson’s slide-guitar playing

Steve Dawson and Jesse Zubot put the soul in the Spirit Merchants

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 15, 1994 By Steve Newton Seems like every year of late I’ve come across one particular release from a local band that’s been head-and-shoulders above the other Vancouver discs sent my way. Last year, it was Two Trains’ Too Many Faces; the year before that, She Stole My Beer’s Sparks Against … Continue reading Steve Dawson and Jesse Zubot put the soul in the Spirit Merchants

Jim Byrnes busts out of the blues

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 18, 2004 By Steve Newton For many Vancouver music fans, the name Jim Byrnes brings to mind a laid-back blues veteran, grizzled yet hip, weaving soulful tales with his smoky voice, slipping in subtle slide-guitar bits here and there. The actor-musician's latest CD, Fresh Horses, doesn't abandon his patented sound, but … Continue reading Jim Byrnes busts out of the blues

Unplugged sounds are Tom Taylor’s first love

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 13, 2008 TOM TAYLOR LOVES acoustic guitars. That’s why, when he shows up at the Georgia Straight building to chat about his new CD, Running Late, he’s sporting a baseball cap that reads Santa Cruz Guitar Co. Taylor didn’t use any of those instruments on his latest album, though, choosing instead … Continue reading Unplugged sounds are Tom Taylor’s first love

Sonny Landreth and friends let the music do the talking

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 24, 2013 By Steve Newton Fans of Louisiana slide-guitar ace Sonny Landreth have reason to be thrilled about his latest album, Elemental Journey. It’s totally instrumental, which means there’s no pesky vocals getting in the way of the 61-year-old picker’s shimmering bottleneck licks. Turns out Landreth has yearned to go wordless … Continue reading Sonny Landreth and friends let the music do the talking