Stephen Fearing StephenFearing.com “Fearing (is) a king amongst minstrels.” Halifax Chronicle Herald Stephen Fearing was born in 1963 in Vancouver, British Columbia and grew up in Dublin, Ireland where his schoolmates included future members of U2. In 1981, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and immersed himself in the music scene, learning the fundamentals of song writing and performing, while washing dishes to stay alive. By 1984 he was back in Vancouver, determined to become a professional musician. In the years since, he's been named as one of the finest songwriters in Canada. He built a national - and international - audience for his music, doing it old school through countless performances at intimate venues and on the concert stages of festivals and theatres across Canada, the US, and the UK, with appearances at major events like the Reading Festival and WOMAD, to name just a few. “Fearing’s music crackles with ideas and collaborative energy… masterful guitar work from acoustic rock rhythm to elegant finger style.” Acoustic Guitar Magazine Fearing has released ten albums as a solo artist, featuring musical guests including: Bruce Cockburn, Margo Timmons, Richard Thompson, Shawn Colvin, Sarah McLachlan, and Suzie Vinnick. As co-founder of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings he has released nine albums, and two albums as half of the duo Fearing & White. Like the guests on his albums, the many awards and nominations* that have come his way over the years speak to the respect he has earned among his peers, presenters, and critics. “A master of the finely-turned phrase and the perfectly-pitched line.” Maverick Magazine BIOGRAPHY: STEPHEN FEARING With a life of many relocations and countless months on the road performing, Fearing is a gifted storyteller and true musical nomad with the ability to captivate audiences of all sizes and attitudes. “Getting on stage is the fun part, especially when the adrenaline kicks in,” he says, with a broad smile. “People want to relax and be taken on a journey. I sketch out my shows so they deliver on that.” When not working behind the microphone, Fearing spends time producing records including Suzie Vinnick’s JUNO Award-nominated album Happy Here. “With producing, I really enjoy collaborating with other artists. It’s a blast and, as a bonus, gives me a chance to learn and expand my skill set.” The JUNO Award-winner also shares his knowledge and experience with fellow musicians through songwriting workshops (often scheduled in conjunction with festival appearances). “The classes dovetail nicely with performing,” he said. “My students are from all walks of life and I enjoy helping to coax them out of their comfort zones to create songs they might not have otherwise developed.” MUSIC CHRONOLOGY 1986 Album release: The Yellow Tape (a DIY cassette) 1988 Album release: Out to Sea 1989/1990 Tour: US and Europe on a Celtic bill, highlighted by appearances at Peter Gabriel's WOMAD Festival and the Reading Festival 1991 Album release: Blue Line Signed to True North Records and Bernie Finkelstein became his manager. They worked together for nearly 20 years. 1991 West Coast Music Award Traditional/Roots Performer of the Year 1992 JUNO Award Nomination Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year 2 BIOGRAPHY: STEPHEN FEARING 1994 Album release: The Assassin's Apprentice Produced by Los Lobos' Steve Berlin and featuring musical contributions from Sarah McLachlan and Richard Thompson 1994 Moved from Vancouver, BC to Guelph, ON 1995 JUNO Award Nomination Best Roots or Traditional Album (Solo) for The Assassin’s Apprentice 1996 Co-founded Blackie and the Rodeo Kings with Colin Linden and Tom Wilson 1998 Album release: Industrial Lullaby 1998 JUNO Award Nomination Best Roots & Traditional Album (Solo) for Industrial Lullaby 1998 JUNO Award Nomination Best Roots & Traditional Album (Group) with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings for High or Hurtin‘ 2000 Album release: So Many Miles (live album recorded at the Tranzac Club, Toronto, ON, CANDA) 2000 JUNO Award Best Roots or Traditional Album (Group) with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings for Kings of Love 2002 Album release: That's How I Walk 2003 JUNO Award Nomination Roots or Traditional Album of the Year (Solo) for That’s How I Walk 2003 JUNO Award Nomination Roots & Traditional Album of the Year (Group) with Blackie & The Rodeo Kings for BARK 2006 Album release: Yellowjacket 2006 Canadian Folk Music Award Best Songwriter (English) for Yellowjacket 2006 Hamilton Music Award Record of The Year with Blackie & the Rodeo Kings for Let’s Frolic 3 BIOGRAPHY: STEPHEN FEARING 2007 JUNO Award Roots or Traditional Album of the Year (Solo) for Yellowjacket 2007 JUNO Award Nomination Roots or Traditional Album of the Year (Group) with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings for Let’s Frolic 2008 Moved from Guelph, ON, CANADA to Halifax, NS, CANADA 2009 Album release: The Man Who Married Music A best-of collection of songs from his back catalogue and two new tracks (The Big East West and No Dress Rehearsal) 2013 Album release: Between Hurricanes 2013 Canadian Folk Music Award Nomination Contemporary Singer of The Year / Solo Artist of The Year for Between Hurricanes 2015 Moved from Halifax, NS, CANADA to Victoria, BC, CANADA 2015 JUNO Award Nomination Roots or Traditional Album of the Year (Group) with Blackie and The Rodeo Kings for SOUTH 2016 Single release: Blowhard Nation The first track off the album Every Soul’s a Sailor 2017 ALBUM RELEASE – Every Soul’s a Sailor 4 BIOGRAPHY: STEPHEN FEARING Blackie and the Rodeo Kings “The best roots-rock band in Canada, period.” Hamilton Spectator In 1996, Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, and Tom Wilson formed a new band called Blackie and the Rodeo Kings to record a tribute album of songs by Willie P. Bennett. Nine albums and one JUNO Award later, the band has become one of the most respected names in North American roots-rock-Americana music. Their musical collaborators are many, but to name a few - Emmy Lou Harris, City and Colour, Keb Mo, Exene Cervenka, Holy Cole, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Sam Phillips, Pam Tillis, Vince Gill, Cassandra Wilson, Bruce Cockburn, Eric Church, and Serena Ryder. 1996 High or Hurtin’ The songs of Willie P. Bennett 1999 Kings of Love (double album) 2003 BARK 2006 Let's Frolic 2007 Let’s Frolic Again 2009 Swinging From The Chains Of Love [retrospective] 2011 Kings and Queens 2014 South 2016 Kings and Kings “Blackie and The Rodeo Kings’ ‘Black Sheep’ (penned by Stephen Fearing) is one of my favorite songs from 2011. Meticulously crafted with deep, resonant writing and featuring vocalist Serena Ryder. Kind of like The Band recording with Joni Mitchell back in 1970.” Brew Michaels, OM KRVO, Kalispell, MT 5 BIOGRAPHY: STEPHEN FEARING Fearing & White “Two heads are better than one.” Hamilton Spectator In 1998, Stephen Fearing met Andy White backstage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and a fast friendship was formed. In addition to his own work, White is known for his collaborations with Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, and Sinead O'Connor. Fearing & White reconnected annually to write songs together (including several songs recorded by Blackie and The Rodeo Kings), culminating in Canadian and UK tours and two critically-acclaimed albums: 2011 Fearing & White 2013 Tea and Confidences “..It’s clear that White’s moody, electric, Brit-punk sensibility kick-started something dangerous and rebellious in Fearing. It’s a blues-rock album with a big Celtic soul, and it’s been eons since I heard something so beautifully written and recorded.” Ottawa Sun 6 .