Down To Earth by Steve K + The Hardwood Groove

With plenty of “hot, intricate acoustic guitar work” and many themes portraying a strong sense of place, Steve K’s music firmly takes root in the earthy field of contemporary folk music. Drawing on a palette of flying fingers, funky rhythms, and colorful sounds, this Gibsons, BC based musician’s songs and instrumentals paint a broad musical picture that balances his redneck roots and rat race training. The result? He’s like a west coast Chet Atkins shaking his booty down the bohemian boulevard.

After growing up in Fishbowl, BC, Steve K’s professional career began at the age of 18 when he started playing in dance bands to pay his way through university. In 1995, Mr. K (a.k.a. Steve Karagianis) graduated with distinction as a classical guitar performance major and voice minor from the UVic School of Music where “[he] set a new standard in guitar excellence” (Dr. Alex Dunn). Through many years of forging a living performing and touring on four continents at concert halls, festivals, cruise ships, bars, pubs, coffee houses, TV and radio stations, Steve’s sound evolved into the intricate acoustic music heard on his first full length album HEADSPACE (2003), acclaimed for its “excellent guitar playing and songwriting” - (MONDAY MAGAZINE). In that same year, outfitted with a dry-bagged guitar and his love of the wild, Steve embarked on the State of the Strait Concert Kayak Tour - a 5 week, 420km concert tour in which he travelled via kayak.

Acclaimed guitar playing and songwriting aside, what really defines Steve K’s music is a sense of place. From DOWN TO EARTH’s opening strains of west coast ethnic fusion in the breathtaking acoustic guitar instrumental “Ten Gallon Turban” to its symphonic conclusion with the title track, Mr. K’s adventurous fingers endeavour to depict the peaks and valleys of his homeland. One of the album’s strongest tunes, “Where I Belong”, characterizes the sense of place in his music: it’s an anthemic tribute to Canada’s westernmost province featuring K’s earthy baritone alongside the angelic voice of two time Juno winner and fellow Howe Sounder Shari Ulrich. DOWN TO EARTH also features excellent musicians Mr. K performs regularly with: percussionist Boyd Grealy (Uzume Taiko, UVic School of Music grad - Grealy and K’s musical relationship goes back 17 years, when they paid their way through university in a 50’s dance band and then went broke in a progressive rock band), upright bassist Paul Bergman (Slow Drag, Corcavado, Grant McEwan School of Music grad), and Sunshine Coast fiddler Serena Eades (Brandon University School of Music grad). With production assistance by two time Juno winner Steve Dawson (of Zubot & Dawson), drum kit by outstanding Vancouver session drummer Phil Belanger, additional vocals by versatile Cap College voice instructor Sylvia Zaradic, and engineering work by Juno nominated Sheldon Zuharko and Liam May, it’s an album fit for fans of fine acoustic music and anyone who appreciates a sense of place.

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