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Calgary Bluesfest is pleased to present legendary guitarist Steve Strongman at the historic King Eddy on May 3.About Steve Strongman:
Canadian Guitar Ace, JUNO winner, and Multiple Maple Blues Award winner Steve Strongman has just co-produced, co-written, and guested on the Fabulous Thunderbird’s 50th Anniversary 2024 release “Struck Down, on Stony Plain records. This record debuted at #1 in both the United States and Canada, and features Strongman with guests Bonnie Raitt, Billy Gibbons, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal, Mick Fleetwood, Elvin Bishop and Terrence Simien. Strongman will be on tour supporting the Thunderbirds in 2024/2025.
Strongman, also a Memphis International Blues Challenge award winner for best solo/duo guitarist, is one of the most talented Blues based artists in the world today.
Beyond his undeniable strengths as a songwriter, guitarist and front man is his ability to engage his audience and deliver incredible performances at every live show. With his inimitable guitar playing and soulful vocals, Strongman delivers incredible performances with power and passion. Steve Strongman has a way of stirring a crowd that evokes the emotion, maturity and authenticity of classic blues themes.
Steve has shared the stage with International blues royalty including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Joe Cocker, Robert Cray, Jeff Healey, James Cotton, Roy Clark, and Jimmie Vaughan to name a few. Steve Strongman is warmly regarded as Mississippi guitar legend Mel Brown’s “Blues son.” Strongman branched out touring extensively with rock, country and blues bands in venues like Opryland, Renfro Valley in Kentucky and opening for Roy Clark at his theatre in Branson Missouri. After a taste of L.A., playing with Columbia recording artist Tal Bachman, Steve chose to concentrate on his own rock band, Plasticine. With irresistible stage presence and gritty hard-driving rock & roll, Plasticine developed a devoted legion of fans and quickly garnered a record deal with the Allen Gregg venture Song Corporation. After the demise of the ill-fated Song Corp., Steve reconsidered his own musical future. Plasticine went their separate ways and Steve was opted as lead guitar player for Epic/Sony recording artist Kazzer leading to more touring of the United States, Canada as well as extensive tours in Europe. In between, he jammed out his blues solo act in venues all around Southern Ontario. But the Blues were calling louder and Strongman, drawn back to the style that first spoke to him, made a natural and resolute decision to answer.
Fast-forward twenty years or so and Steve’s accomplishments continue to rack up.
- JUNO Award Winner
- Multi-Maple Blues Award Winner
- Mel Brown Blues Award
- Hamilton Blues Award
- International Blues Challenge Winner – Best Guitarist Solo/Duo
- 8 Released Albums – one completely written/recorded while in Covid lockdown, playing bass and harmonica on several tracks.
Steve has shared the stage with International blues royalty including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Cocker, Robert Cray, Ronnie Earl, Roy Clark, Otis Clay, and Jeff Healey to name a few. Steve has played major blues festivals the world over including Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City & Memphis, TN, as well several appearances at The Montreal International Jazz Festival, multiple appearances at Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival and Cisco Ottawa Blues Festival. He is a hometown hero in his adopted home of Hamilton, Ontario By constantly pushing himself in new directions, he has kept himself vital. His talent is huge and impossible to miss, and it’s matched by his staggering musical ambition — as guitar-slinger, songwriter or vocalist. The same structures and progressions that animate blues and roots music can also choke the air out of it, smothering it in caricature and cliché. But Strongman is a subtle shape-shifter who manages to slip that trap without betraying the music he loves. Throughout, he never sounds an inauthentic note or loses touch with the essence of the blues.
"This is as good as Lenny Kravitz' version of 'American Woman.'" – Randy Bachman regarding Steve’s version of "You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet."
"Steve Strongman is the "Real Blues Deal" guy in vocals, guitar and credentials. We've jammed out many times and it's always a giant explosion of energy and riffs galore." – Randy Bachman
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Tickets: $30
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The King Eddy, 438 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0R9, Canada,Calgary, Alberta
Tickets
