Stephen Fearing

There are celebrated musical troubadours. And then there is Stephen Fearing, whose vivid, lyrical songs are exalted by his masterful guitar playing and melodic, cobalt voice. Over a long and varied career highlighted by critically acclaimed albums and two JUNO Awards, Fearing has shared studios and stages with an eclectic assortment of marquee artists, from Merle Haggard to Richard Thompson to Cassandra Wilson. In addition to his extensive solo achievements, Fearing is also co-founder of veteran Canadian roots-rock giants Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. The through-line is Fearing’s highly relatable, genre-busting music, which invariably locates the human condition in all its messy splendour. “I am a storyteller much more than a singer/songwriter,” Fearing says, “because I realized my story was less interesting than The Story.”