And it ain’t over…..but! I’ve got many gigs coming up this year. I will get them on the website soon, just have to finalize a few things. We had a great run last year with the outdoor Piaci gigs in downtown Fort Bragg brought to you by Jah Work Productions. He brought in some great people and we had a grand time hosting the gigs. So…stay tuned, the year is young and our souls are ancient. Sounds like a great recipe for music and dancing.
Havin’ a grand time
Hey there folks. We’ve been having some great gigs lately. The Steven Bates Band is hitting on all cylinders. Looking forward to playing more rock and roll, but that’s not all. Me, Ralph Humphrey and Johnny Bush will be backing up Danny Brooks for a couple of dates this month. Check out the gigs section and if you are close by then make an appearance. Also some more Mendocino Quartet gigs (Me, Gene Parsons, David Hayes and Gwyneth Moreland) will be on the calendar soon. Summer’s coming, it’s gonna be a good one!
CD release party for new album Angel in the Tall Grass February 16th
The new album is finished! We will have a CD release party at the Masonic Hall in Fort Bragg California at 428 North Main Street. The doors open at 6:30 and the band kicks the music off at 7pm. We will recreate the new album first with help from Gene Parsons, Gwyneth Moreland, David Hayes, Calvin Turnbull and Johnny Bush. Then the band (Ralph Humphrey and Jon Faurot) will continue the night with more rock and roll. We will be selling the CD and posters at the event. Come on down folks, a splendid time is guaranteed for all. Hmm, I’ve heard that somewhere before.
Release: Steven Bates begins weekly residency at The Heritage House
MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA – Steven Bates: Superb vocalist, gifted songwriter and extraordinary guitar hero begins his weekly residency at The Heritage House on July 10, 2016 at 5:00 pm.
Roots rockers, happy hippies, folk freaks and blues junkies of all ages can gather to listen as one to the sound of Steven Bates acoustic music every Sunday evening at The Heritage House in Little River, California.
Mendocino County native, Steven Bates is no stranger to the vibrant music scene along the Northern coast of California. His music takes you by the hand and leads you smiling and grateful to the dance floor. Like the sun finally coming out after weeks of cold, gray weather, you bask in the warmth of true, original music which you hadn’t even realized you’d been longing for.
His vibe is warm and inviting. It makes you want to reach out to a stranger. It has something to say, but itsn’t preachy. It makes you grin at the person next to you, bobbing his head in time with your own. Bates grew up listening to The Beatles, Dylan, The Dead, The Doors and Hendrix; you can hear the influence of classic rock, folk and blues mixing expertly with meaningful lyrics and astounding guitar licks.
Some Bates songs grab you by the throat, others by the heart. But their naked honesty is what will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. His lyrics make images pop in front of your mind’s eye; the intense guitar strumming matching the feelings of those colorful images.
Steven Bates music: it’s just what the doctor ordered.
Steven Bates will be performing a free solo acoustic show every Sunday evening starting at 5:00 pm at the Heritage House Resort & Spa, 5200 N. Highway 1, Little River, CA. The Sunday shows will be in the dining room for all ages with no cover charge. For dinner reservations, directions and other information call (707) 202-9000 or email reservations@heritagehouseresort.com.
The Heritage House Info:
5200 N. Highway 1, Little River, CA
(707) 202-9000
http://www.heritagehouseresort.com/
reservations@heritagehouseresort.com
Steven Bates Music Links and Info:
Website:
http://StevenBatesMusic.com
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/StevenBatesMusic
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/stevenbatesmusician
Discography:
http://stevenbatesmusic.com/music/
Kate Wolf Festival here we come!
Hey gang! I’m really getting psyched about playing at the 2016 Kate Wolf Festival with the Mendocino Quartet!
As most of you know, I play music regularly with long-time friends, Gene Parsons and David Hayes. Through the years, Gene and David and I have played many gigs together and they’ve both played on my CDs; we’ve spent many a happy afternoon jamming and enjoying a beer or three. And as for Gwyneth Moreland— I’ve known Gwyneth since she was about 13– she was always known as “the girl with the great voice”. It’s always fun playing music with her and hearing that voice once again!
The four of us have been getting together as the Mendocino Quartet and lately have been playing various venues around Mendocino County. For those who haven’t seen us play together, we’re all song-writers, so each of us takes turns singing their own songs, round-robin style, and its like we’re all sitting on the back porch playing tunes on a beautiful sunny afternoon at a family gathering. Good tunes, good friends, good vibes!
So, I hope you all can join our little family gathering this Thursday, June 23rd, where our back porch will be the Forest Stage at the Kate Wolf Festival and share some good vibes!
Every year the Kate Wolf Festival attracts an amazing line-up of bands and the musical talent this year is no exception! I’m truly honored to be a part of it and really looking forward to hearing the other acts, as well as strutting my stuff with my friends: Gene, David and Gwyneth, the other 3 quarters of the Mendocino Quartet! Hope you can score some tickets and make it to the festival!
It’s gonna be one heck of a hootenanny!
See you there!
Steven
To see a video of the Mendocino Quartet follow the link below:
Watch Video
2016…A message…assorted news…and thanks.
Hello Peoples! I just wanted to pop in…for the first time I think … say hello, write a few words and get my fingers on this website. This website! Thank you Diane for creating and maintaining this great doorway from us to the rest of the world. And on the thank you notes, thank you Hugh for creating such beautiful art….the posters are fantastic…in every sense of the word. It’s always a high light of my day to see his art on telephone poles, in kiosks, windows and doorways, alleys and forests…forests? … adding more vibrant color to the world one rock and roll poster at a time. Occasionally I check into the poster gallery on this site to peruse the past and enjoy the memories even though that color is always and forever in the now. So, yes, 2016. 2014 and 15 were beautifully transitional years for me. Big turmoil, then big changes, then big Love. Waves of unedited life. And, of course, fantastic musical experiences. Great rock and roll dances. Beautiful acoustic performances….both solo and with dear friends and veterans from the musically conscripted. I’ve had some incredible gigs already this year. Some that still get me high just with the memory. I am looking forward to more with a fully engaged heart. Looks like sunshine on the horizon for those of us seeking it. If we are mistaken then let’s just make our own okay? We have begun work on a new record. I ‘m so pleased with the outcome already, though it is but an infant. Some of the songs were dreamt, some are cleaved from the simplest wishes and some are just there to make themselves known, regardless of what any of us in the studio do. In any case I already love the album. I am ever grateful that I have the opportunity to do another one. Like the last few records, I hope this one too brings joy from the sheer power of music. This is fun. I’ll be writing here more. If you are reading this feel free to comment. If you don’t want to leave one then take a minute to check out the music and art.
Till the next tune,
Steven
Radio Interview on KOWS 107.3
Hey folks, I’ll be doing a radio interview on KOWS 107.3 Saturday November 21 around 1:15.
I’ll be talking with longtime local DJ and music lover, KC who has made the move to the KOWS community radio station. She’s chosen to interview me on the debut of her new segment, “The Mendo Moment” featuring Community Radio from the ‘kin’dom of West Sonoma County. It’s billed as a wildly clever, iconoclastic stew of talk, music, political commentary, reading of inadvertently funny public documents of trade magazines and scripted skits. Her show begins at noon and I think we’ll do the interview around 1:15pm. It’ll be fun talking with KC and I’m sure she’ll play some Steven Bates music.
Tune in on November 21st and check it out. If you aren’t in the listening area you can stream it at kows107-3.org.
New “Lost Black Magic” CD Finally Released!
At long last, the new album is finally here! “Lost Black Magic” is ready to be heard. Need a stocking stuffer? We’ve got ’em! We tried to have them for our “Day of the Dead” show, but we just couldn’t quite swing it. But now, without further ado, we’re very proud to bring you our latest and greatest album for your listening pleasure!
There have been a lot of changes since the last release. Fans will notice some familiar songs from shows as well as some brand new compositions. It was a real pleasure to play with Roger Fritz, David Hayes, James Preston and Bill Bottrell on the first few songs as well as Jon Faurot and Ralph Humphrey on the last couple. It was also really great to record with Calvin Turnbull at his new studio in Navarro, CA.
We hope this new album will make you want to dance, is thought-provoking, and will bring a smile to your face with a little musical “magic”. Rock on!
We’ll miss you, brother
We’re saddened to hear of the passing of our drummer and friend, James Preston.
Ever the acerbic curmudgeon, James’ prickly exterior hid a huge heart. James has been playing with the band for many years and was a major contributor to Play It Pretty For Atlantis as well as our forthcoming album. We will miss his keen intelligence, biting wit and world-class drumming. He was an extremely versatile drummer who could play many different styles from R&B and jazz to Rock and Zydeco.
James played with many different musicians including Jon Hammond, Booker T. Jones, Dr. John and Bobby McFerrin to name but a few, and was a longstanding member of The Sons of Champlin.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family. We’ll miss you, brother.
Please give what you can to help out James’ family. Donate
Farewell, Buddy Stubbs, and thanks.
In memory of a great musician and friend of the band, Garth Beckington (Buddy Stubbs).
Thanks for the music. It was great jamming with you, man.
