Radio interview with Chip FM in Onterio |
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Today's Country 900 CKBI/ Power 99FM |
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Country Music News |
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Subscribe > Online Papers > Prairie Post The English are invading the country music scene SW Sk Content - Arts/Lifestyles Thursday, 27 January 2011 14:57 By John R. Statton Swift Current After a skip across the pond, 22-year-old Steve Gibson is well on his way to becoming a big name in the Saskatchewan country music scene. Gibson emigrated from England four years ago with his family, and had to abandon his studies at Newcastle Upon Tyne College for Music and Performing Arts. That hasn’t stifled the love of writing and playing music for this Northumberland lad, who has an ear for country and western tunes. “It evolved off of listening to the country music when I had been over here before, and I grew to like it,” said Gibson, noting his main influence as Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. Playing guitar since he was six-years-old, Gibson has been playing professionally for the past three years. Although you’d never guess, he was reluctant to attend his first guitar lesson. “I didn’t want to go; I wanted to play drums actually,” he laughed. “Then my dad sent me for a guitar lesson and I didn’t really like it at first, but I grew to love it.” He wrote his first song when he was 14, when his interest in playing the guitar really took off. Gibson has been honing his skills since, playing at large venues and bar gigs alike. He is managed by his father Roland, and has performed notable shows at Casino Regina, Craven Country Jamboree, and most recently the Saskatchewan Country Music Association (SCMA) southwest chapter kick-off party here in Swift Current. He is currently focused on his new album, Average Clown, and plans to tour after its completion. “I had a single out called Average Clown, the name just makes people think,” chuckled Gibson. He has been recording the 12-song effort at Touchwood Studios in Regina under producer Grant Hall. All of the songs are originals written by Gibson himself, and accompanied by his carefully practised guitar work. “I’m very proud of my guitar playing, that’s my main thing,” said Gibson. “I played guitar a long time before I started to sing.” He has a four-piece band from the Yorkton area to back him, including his brother Andrew on guitar. “We’re all local guys so it’s easy to get together,” he said. Hall had advised Gibson to become a member of the SCMA, which paid off as he was booked at the wildly successful Swift Current show. “That was really good fun for that kick-off party,” he said. “There were lots of artists there, and it’s good because you get to know people and make a lot of friends.” Gibson will be attending the SCMA awards in Swift Current from April 1-3. “I can’t wait, I’m really excited for them,” he said. “I’m hoping to be showcasing for the album, it should be released around that time.” Gibson works as a heavy equipment operator by day and jams with his band by night. “I’m trying to get a music career going,” he said. “I’ve seen us working 13-hour days in the summer, getting back and rehearsing with the band until midnight, then getting up at 5 a.m. the next day to go back to work.” Gibson isn’t fazed by his often-hectic schedule, and continues to do what he truly loves. “Music is my life, it’s all I think about,” he said. “When I’m running equipment all I think about is music. |
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