Steve Palmer
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Steve Palmer

| INDIE | AFM

| INDIE | AFM
Band Folk Singer/Songwriter

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


""TASTEFUL AND BITTERSWEET GUITAR PLAYING MAKE STEVEN PALMER'S MORNING ROAD GLOW""

"The title is apt because, if you’re traveling for an extended period of time, Steven Palmer’s Morning Road is what you want playing in your car. There are miles in Palmer’s voice; you can almost see the scenery that his mind has captured through the decades of his life. I love how the title track recalls Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” at one point. Is it intentional? Perhaps or maybe unconsciously. Nevertheless, it fits the mood and meaning of the song.

Palmer is no hotshot acoustic gunslinger; this is a man that, if he had started recording albums such as this early in his life, we might be looking at him differently, such as an icon in his autumn years. Palmer’s songwriting and guitar playing are tasteful and bittersweet; each cut is crafted with feeling and poetic flair. The tropical “A Simple Man Needs a Simple Plan” invigorates with a summer glow while Palmer’s cover of Charles Johnson’s “The Dill Pickled Rag” has some stunningly beautiful crystalline riffs. Lovely." - Reviewed by Brooke Curtis, Twang Town


""STEVE PALMER SOOTHES THE EARS WITH FOLK, BLUES, AND EVEN JAZZ ON MORNING ROAD""

"You feel at home listening to the music of Steven Palmer. It has a cozy, soothing quality, like the soundtrack of childhood memories, voices from the past given a ghostly spell from the years gone by. On the opening title cut, Palmer sounds like three of the most popular singer/songwriters of all time - John Denver, Dan Fogelberg, and James Taylor - in one song. His voice shifts emotions throughout the track, but the consistency of his heart never wavers. Erynn Marshall’s fiddle soars on “Going Home” as Palmer’s warm vocals are pushed to the front of the mix. I’m reminded of another acoustic icon, Gordon Lightfoot. Palmer has exquisite taste in influences if my ears are accurately pinpointing them.

Palmer is a terrific guitar player, most often aiming for cinematic prettiness as on “Educated Touch,” wherein you can savor every affectionate moment of his 12-string. Although Palmer’s foundation is in acoustic folk, he never limits himself to it, flirting with jazzy sensibilities on “I’m in Love” and the blues on “Walk On.” He covers the multiple genres so well that you can easily imagine him recording a separate album for each one." - Reviewed by Kit Burns, 'Overground Underground'


"Islands Festival"

"The Islands Folk Festival was the perfect venue to showcase the music of this dedicated Vancouver Island singer/songwriter/guitarist. Honest, unvarnished and inspiring, served up in a wood smoked tenor accompanied by deft emotive picking, this is classic coffeehouse folk which takes us back to an earlier era when singers didn't need to plug into an amp to make their point, artists like Tom Paxton, Eric Anderson and Ian and Sylvia regularly made the charts and music was less about image and all about integrity. Let it shine, Steve!” - Rick Dennis, Islands Folk Festival - Duncan BC


"'Roots and Strings' CD review"


"Roots and Strings has an interesting moniker on the front cover. It reads “Traditional and Original Music”. The artwork is simple, yet elegant; the back cover displays much the same way; his picture reveals a middle-aged guy who looks like he could sell oatmeal on television.
The music is as pleasant as the packaging. The performances are laid back and seamless; the material breathes. The vocals shine and the instrumentation is all-pro. Steve’s guitar playing is rock-solid and warm.
Positive mention should also go to Rain Coast Studio in Nanaimo, B.C. for their top-notch work. This fifteen song album is a real jewel and would make a fine gift for anyone with a pulse. Grab a copy for yourself while you’re at it."
CD Review by Del Vezeau: Roots and Strings- Steve Palmer, Independent
- Penguin Eggs- Summer 2006


"CD review"

“A gently timbered voice with heartfelt lyrics backed by some very stellar acoustic players. I detect a bit of Merle Travis in Steve's guitar playing. All in all, a great listen.”- Gary Fjellgaard - Gary Fjellgaard


"Miscellaneous Quotes"

“CBC likes Roots and Strings''- Mark Rheaume, CBC

“I really enjoy listening to this recording. 'Roots and Strings' is well produced, with good songs and a wonderful performance. Well done!”- Paul Hann

"Nice Playin', Steve!"- Valdy

- Various


"Performance Review"

“Steve is true to the roots of music nurtured by and bathed in blues, folk, and gospel. He engages the audience easily and takes them with him on his musical journey. An inspiring talent and a terrific picker too, Steve mines the musical veins that are the principal of roots music and reinvests his own heart and soul. The results are beautiful.”-L.W.Kossey, The Dancing Bean - Dancing Bean- Chemainus BC


"Roots and Strings CD review"

ALBUM A TREAT FOR ROOTS FANS

Steve Palmer delivers the goods on ‘Roots and Strings’, giving listeners an aural treat in roots, folk, gospel, and blues music, seamlessly moving from genre to genre with each track. From Palmer’s moody Leonard Cohen-esque ‘Jesus On Mainstreet’ to his arrangement of traditional folk favourite ‘Shady Grove’ or the upbeat ‘Freight Train Boogie', his deep and soothing voice switches pace effortlessly.
-(CD REVIEW by Catherine Litt- The News Bulletin) - Nanaimo Bulletin


Discography

2008 CD 'Morning Road'
2006 CD 'Roots and Strings'
2004 CD 'From Here To Nashville'
"My kind of music!" Paul Mills Borealis Records
Morning Road #3 Top 10 Folk/Roots CFBX "Morning Road glows"-Overground Underground
"CBC likes Roots and Strings"- Mark Rheaume
Roots and Strings is "A jewel of an album"- Del Vezeau Penguin Eggs
Roots and Strings #3 CFBX Top 30, #5 CHLY
From Here To Nashville"the finest piece of Americana to cross my desk from any direction!" Lionel Rault CKUA

Photos

Bio

Honest, unvarnished and inspiring, Steve Palmer takes us back to an earlier era when singers didn't need to plug into an amp to make their point, artists like Tom Paxton, Eric Anderson and Ian and Sylvia regularly made the charts and music was less about image and all about integrity. Original and Traditional roots music served up in a wood smoked tenor accompanied by deft emotive picking. “A gently timbered voice backed by some very stellar playing.”- Gary Fjellgaard, "Nice Playing!"- Valdy, "This guy's the real deal, the real down home folk roots" Lorenzo