Cliff Stevens brings his Better Days original blues rock music and his uncanny heartfelt Slowhand tributes to Eric Clapton and his music and our Fans and our Fest are better for it too!
Recent Article And Interview The Sound Cafe.Com
Cliff Stevens is a Montreal-based blues-rock guitarist of British/Scottish descent, raised by his single mother. From a young age, he showed an interest in music and as a teenager, his impressive guitar playing gained him popularity in high school. Stevens writes, sings and produces his own albums, drawing inspiration from guitarists like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher, influences that are reflected in his playing and songwriting. His talent has been praised by many including Blues Blast Magazine (USA) who commented on his release Nobody But You (2019): “Stevens shows us that he can write really good songs and deliver them with passion. The guitar sound and playing is outstanding.”
Like so many blues and rock musicians before him, Stevens spent much of his career in relative obscurity. As a sideman with various travelling groups, he played every type of show imaginable, from bottom of the barrel gigs to 14,000 wildly enthusiastic blues fans at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. When the non-stop grind of the road mixed with alcohol and drugs took its toll, Stevens made the decision to quit touring and make a living as a taxi driver. Ironically, he says he thought he had seen it all as a musician until he started driving a cab. Some of his experiences are described in a book he wrote with his brother called The Stroll about his life as a cabbie in Toronto, published by NC Press in 1986 and re-published by University of Toronto Press in 1995. After much soul-searching and painful life experiences, Stevens finally got sober in 1998 and hasn’t looked back since. In recovery and with a newfound sense of gratitude, he focused on his writing and started a solo career.
In 1997, he was featured on the Preservation Blues Review compilation, then released his first solo album, Cliff Stevens (2009), followed by Grass Won’t Grow (2016), Live in Germany (2017) and Nobody But You (2019) which spent 58 straight weeks on the Roots Music Report (RMR) including 20 straight weeks in the Top 10 on the Blues Rock and Canada Top 50 Album charts.
As a touring musician, Cliff Stevens has performed at numerous festivals including Tremblant International Blues Festival and TBay Blues Fest and played thousands of gigs across Canada, Europe, Mexico and Morocco. He has toured Europe eight times since 2014 when he was the support act for legendary British rockers Wishbone Ash for their entire European tour.
Better Days is the fifth solo release by Cliff Stevens, with eleven new original songs in an array of styles from driving blues-rock, slow classic blues to acoustic country blues. His life journey currently reflects a more personal and introspective style, all the while blending it with a blues rock edge that fans still know and love. In April 2022, Stevens will embark on a 30-day European tour to promote this upcoming release.
Additionally, Cliff deepened his knowledge with a Master’s degree in Music and Education from Concordia University in Montreal. In the same way that a fine wine improves with age, so has Cliff’s guitar playing, singing and songwriting. With his latest late 2022 release, Cliff Stevens promises that Better Days are still ahead.
Cliff Stevens Website: Social media Facebook
Cliff Stevens, the talented Canadian guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer based in Montréal, Québec, has released several albums. Here’s a summary of his discography:
- Feelin’ The Blues (2013): His debut solo album released in Germany1.
- Grass Won’t Grow (2016): A follow-up album released in the United States12.
- Live in Germany (2017): A live recording capturing his energetic performances.
- Nobody But You (2019): This album spent an impressive 58 straight weeks on the Roots Music Report (RMR), including 20 straight weeks in the Top 10 on the Blues Rock and Canada Top 50 Album charts2.
Recently, Cliff Stevens also released Better Days, his fifth solo album, which showcases his blues roots, and guitar play in the blues-rock style inspired by guitarists like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, and Rory Gallagher
More on Cliff Stevens Promo
Are you ready to experience some of the best blues and rock music in the world? Then you won’t want to miss the Tequila Rock ‘n Blues Explosions Festival in Mexico, where Montreal’s own Cliff Stevens will be one of the headliners. Cliff Stevens is a renowned blues-rock guitarist with extensive experience, earning accolades and awards for his soulful and electrifying performances. He has toured across Canada, Europe, and the US, sharing the stage with legends like B.B. King, John Mayall, and Buddy Guy. At the festival, he will be playing songs from his latest album, as well as some classic blues and rock tunes that will get you on your feet. =
Without diminishing all of Cliff’s original material albums and experience, Cliff also brings us a heartfelt uncanny tribute to the living legend Eric Clapton’s music as well. Both from his bands like Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, Yardbirds, John Mayall, and Eric’s solo career. Cliff will mix Clapton music into his sets of his own music, and provide a Clapton Tribute Set one evening of the Fest. To Be Scheduled.
About Eric Clapton:
Eric Clapton’s Top 10 Songs According To Rolling Stone Magazine
Eric Clapton At Live Aid 1985 Performing Layla, with Phil Collins on Drums
Eric Clapton is one of the most influential and acclaimed guitarists in rock history. He has written or sung many great songs throughout his career, spanning different genres and styles. Here are some of his most notable songs in chronological order, along with some other songs by him that you might enjoy:
– I Shot the Sheriff (1974): A cover of Bob Marley’s reggae song, which became Clapton’s first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other songs by Clapton from this year include Let It Grow and Willie and the Hand Jive.
– Lay Down Sally (1977): A country-rock song co-written by Clapton, Marcy Levy and George Terry, which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Other songs by Clapton from this year include Wonderful Tonight and Cocaine.
– Tears in Heaven (1992): A heartbreaking song co-written by Clapton and Will Jennings, inspired by the death of Clapton’s four-year-old son Conor, who fell from a 53rd-floor window. The song won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Other songs by Clapton from this year include Layla (Unplugged) and Old Love (Unplugged).
– Change the World (1996): A pop-rock song co-written by Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy and Wayne Kirkpatrick, which was featured on the soundtrack of the film Phenomenon. The song won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Other songs by Clapton from this year include My Father’s Eyes and Sick and Tired.
– My Father’s Eyes (1998): A soulful song written by Clapton, which reflects on his relationship with his father, whom he never met, and his son Conor. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Other songs by Clapton from this year include Broken Hearted and Fall Like Rain.
