Steve Dawson & The Hooded Mergansers

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Steve Dawson is an award-winning Canadian guitarist, originally from Vancouver. He is a solo artist, songwriter, pedal steel player, multi-instrumentalist, producer and engineer now living and working in Nashville, TN. Over the past two decades, Steve has become such an indelible fixture on the Canadian musical landscape that it’s tempting to take him for granted. The music that flows out of him is so natural and authentic that it’s possible to forget all of the toil that went into producing it.

He spent the last few years pre-pandemic on the road playing guitar, steel and dobro with Allison Russell’s band Birds of Chicago, and with Canadian powerhouse Matt Andersen.

He has produced, engineered and mixed over 100 albums for many artists from all over the world, and continues to work as a side-person and freelance musician both on stage and in the studio. Whether he’s turning heads on the concert circuit with his incendiary playing, or pulling the best possible performances out of the many artists that he works with in the studio, Dawson is always striving to take things to the next level. Steve is also the creator of the well-loved Music Makers and Soul Shakers podcast, which has been going for over 6 years and 135 episodes.

Steve has forged an impressive career full of highlights and awards, including:
~ 7 Juno Awards as artist/producer, 18 times nominated
~ 3 times named "Producer Of The Year" at Western Canadian Music Awards
~ 3 times named "Producer Of The Year" at Canadian Folk Music Awards
~ Recipient of many other awards including Maple Blues Awards, Grand Prix De Jazz De Montreal, Blues Blast Awards, and many Western Canadian Music Awards and Canadian Folk Awards as an artist and producer

Steve’s multi-faceted career has brought him to countless international festivals, working on the stage and in the studio with an extensive cast of musicians, including John Hammond, Sonny Landreth, Van Dyke Parks, Colin James, Jim Byrnes, Jill Barber, Dave Alvin, Bob Brozman, Tim O'Brien, Fats Kaplin, Colin James, Colleen Rennison,The McCrary Sisters, Big Dave McLean, Matt Chamberlain, Del Rey, Long John Baldry, Bruce Cockburn, Kelly Joe Phelps, Linda McRae, CR Avery, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Geoff Muldaur, Scott Amendola, Danny Barnes, The Deep Dark Woods, Colin Linden, and many others.

He sees production as an exciting step in the creative journey that a song takes from its beginning as a songwriter's idea to a final recorded product. The producer has to understand the music and be able to know what will open possibilities in it. Being a musician is not essential, but it helps, and Dawson brings enviable chops to his work. He also owns a vast collection of unusual instruments, many of which he plays on the recordings he helps to craft – modern electric instruments find themselves blended in with weissenborns, marxophones, pedal steel, pump organs and other odd antique instruments.

Steve's studio, The Henhouse, is located in Nashville (and previously in Vancouver) and has hosted countless artists. With a beautifully warm and organic setting to stay and record, it promises to become a destination for many more to come. During the pandemic, Steve recorded enough material for 3 solo albums, all of which were released in 2022 and early 2023 as he continues to produce albums and tour with his band, or whoever else asks him along for the ride. 

REVIEWS:

"One of North America's best roots artists, bridging inspired songwriting, mastery of multiple stringed instruments and creative production." - The Record

“Anyone who can hear Dawson play and not be moved is made of stone!” – Penguin Eggs Magazine

“One magazine has referred to Steve Dawson as the T-Bone Burnett of Canada. I tend to think of him more as a Canadian version of Ry Cooder… his fine slide guitar and storytelling, everything seeming to flow effortlessly.” – Toledo Blade

Our COVID-19 Policy: The Government of Canada issued a statement on January 27 2023 that said in part ... "As COVID-19 activity continues and hospitalizations remain elevated in Canada, layers of prevention, including keeping up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and personal protective practises remain our best approach to reduce the risk of developing severe illness and limit the burden on the health system." We agree with this.

Sponsorship Opportunities: These are available for all our shows. For a nominal cost, individuals or businesses can sponsor any of our shows and reap a number of benefits - free tickets, reserved table, recognition on literature, our web site and at the concerts. For more information simply contact our Sponsorship Director Morris Biddle at mobiddley@me.com