Stephen Fearing (Canada)
Wed 15 Feb 7:30 for 8:15 (£12/10)Zion Community Space Book
Of all the acoustic musicians I have had the privilege to work with in the past 30 years Stephen is undoubtedly in my all-time Top 10. Of the solo singer-songwriters he is unparalleled and my personal favourite song-meister.
Multiple Juno Award winner Stephen Fearing is one of the foremost performing singer-songwriters in Canada. Mixing powerful lyrics, creative arrangements and brilliant guitar playing, Fearing has built up a loyal and dedicated international audience with a wide range of songs - from his 1988 release Out to Sea, to his current offering Every Soul’s A Sailor. A founding member of Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Stephen has collaborated with many artists including Richard Thompson, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Wilson, Colin Linden, Andy White and Suzie Vinnick.
Stephen Fearing is one of Canada’s finest guitar players and a unique vocalist who has shared the stage with everyone from Merle Haggard and Buck Owens to Richard Thompson and Martin Carthy. Praised by music writers worldwide, Stephen Fearing is a much sought after musician who rarely slows down. A veteran of the international touring circuit, he’s performed extensively throughout North America, the UK and Ireland as a solo artist, with the award winning roots trio Blackie & the Rodeo Kings and with songwriter Andy White as Fearing & White.
Without question one of the finest singer-songwriters working today. From his sure and ringing acoustic guitar playing and his beautifully rich voice, to an ear for a wonderfully wrought lyric and melody, the guy is quite a wiz. ~ Vancouver Province
He’s received multiple Canadian JUNO nominations and awards for his work and has enjoyed heavy radio play both in Canada and the US as well as on the BBC.
Born in 1963 in Vancouver, Canada, he spent most of his boyhood and teenage years in Dublin, Ireland, where he picked up the guitar and traces of the Irish and English musical traditions that have informed and subverted his music ever since.
Fearing went from playing local and regional coffeehouses to touring across Canada, the US and the UK. Further touring in the UK and a chance encounter with Clive Gregson and Christine Collister at The Vancouver Folk Festival led to the recording of Blue Line in 1989. Blue Line, produced by Clive Gregson and featuring Christine Collister’s passionate vocals and veteran pedal-steel virtuoso B.J. Cole on many songs was recorded in London. Fearing spent most of that year and the next touring the UK and Canada playing major summer festivals including WOMAD, the Reading Festival, Edinburgh Fringe and Belfast Folk Festival.
Over the course of his celebrated career he has collaborated with a long list of artists including: Nick Lowe, Shawn Colvin, Richard Thompson, Pam Tillis, Bruce Cockburn, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Wilson, Colin Linden, Margo Timmins, Andy White and many more.
In 2009 Stephen Fearing celebrated his musical career with a “best of” compilation on True North Records. The Man Who Married Music a collection especially hand-picked by Stephen, features some of the best music of his career, from 1988’s Out to Sea to the Juno award winning album Yellowjacket.
Take the time to come along and listen to this master performer in the beautifully formed venue at Zion Chapel, its intimate and cosy and works well musically.
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