Steve Kozak

Vancouver born Guitarist/singer/songwriter Steve Kozak has built a reputation as one of Canada’s premier Blues artists. This Maple Blues Award winning Blues-man has spent decades absorbing and applying the styles and chops of the masters from Memphis to Texas and New Orleans to Chicago. Steve’s lifelong journey of paying his dues with the blues all comes smoothly together live on stage. Nominated twice for a Western Canadian Music Award for Blues Artist of the Year and backed by some of Vancouver’s top musicians, Steve is known as the go to guy in Vancouver for the west coast Blues sound.

The Steve Kozak Band has performed at many festivals including multiple performances at The Edmonton International Blues Festival, The Calgary International Blues Festival, The Calgary Mid-winter Blues Festival, The Burnaby Blues & Roots Festival, Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, The Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival, The Pender Harbour Blues Festival, The Powell River Blues Festival, Sky High Blues Festival and more.

Winner of New Artist or Group of the Year ... 2012 Maple Blues Awards presented by The Toronto Blues Society.

Internationally renowned Canadian Blues Artist from Coast-to-Coast were honored by their peers at the 16th Annual Maple Blues Awards gala in Toronto January 21, 2013 as a sold out crowd of blues lovers gathered to celebrate Canadian blues at Koerner Hall.

Steve began playing guitar and singing at age sixteen and took to the Blues like a duck to water. His passion for the Blues flourished after meeting and hanging out for a few memorable nights with the legendary Muddy Waters in May of 1977. Muddy encouraged Steve and set him straight on a few things. After that Steve was ‘on a mission’-- his musical future as a Bluesman was sealed.

Throughout his career Steve has shared the stage, and played with many Blues greats including; Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Duskin, Sonny Rhodes, Eddie ‘The Chief’ Clearwater, ‘Ice Pick’ James Harman, Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin, Mark Hummel, Lee Oskar, Duke Robillard, Nick Curran, Big Joe Louis, ‘The Shuffle King’ Tom Holland, Kenny Blues Boss Wayne, and Rockabilly guitar legend Evan Johns.

Steve and his All-Star band have been booked to back up several international recording artists who came to Canada to perform. One artist who works with Steve whenever he performs in western Canada is Blues Harmonica legend singer/songwriter from Anniston Alabama, James Harman. Steve and his band backed up James Harman at the 2010 Labatt International Blues Festival in Edmonton. Steve and his band have also worked with London’s Big Joe Louis (a two time winner of the best male Blues vocalist in the UK) and, from Chicago, ‘The Shuffle King’ Tom Holland the lead guitarist/singer for The James Cotton Band.

Steve also accepted the position of Artistic Director for the 2011 and 2012 Powell River Blues Festival.

Visit Steve's website at : www.stevekozakband.com