Kate Power & Steve Einhorn, Quality Folk

About Me

Artichoke Folk = Kate Power & Steve Einhorn are a piece of americana at the heart of folk. Keepers at the gate at Artichoke Music in Portland, Oregon for more than 25 years, Mr & Mrs Artichoke are out from behind the counter at the shop and on the road to life inside the music they've served up for more than 40 years. Writers, artists, musicians, teachers, raconteurs; they turn the calliope of the musical theater of everyday to life with their songs and stories. The smile of the audience lingers long after their last song is sung.
Coming of age as young teenagers in the folk scene of Washington Square and the West Village in NYC, this pair found each other years later to become one of Portland, Oregon's beloved folk duos. Stirring writing and harmonizing with everyday life has brought them a long and story-filled distance from the place where it all began.
Music to Life grand-prize winner at Kerrvillle 2006 for "Travis John", Kate's songs are inspired. Life in tandem with music partner, husband Steve Einhorn and their community-building manifest through the music they write, play and perform; activism to promote positive change and passing on of the day-to-day at Artichoke Music has brought Kate to a crossroads to explore the adventures ahead. One life in music. Two lives in harmony. Kate Power is a voice whose song is growing.
Migrating to Portland in 1977, Kate Power was born in a large Boston Irish family to musical parents. She was raised during the folk revival in "metropolitan New York" (New Jersey) and played concerts, coffeehouses & festivals from the age of 15. Lead singer & multi-instrumentalist in the Portland Irish band, "Wildgeese" (1982), Kate stepped into the forefront of the folk music scene in the Pacific Northwest while growing her audience worldwide through recordings with Hearts O'Space (Celtic Twilight 3, Lullabies; Celtic Twilight 4, Celtic Planet), A&R Italy (Celtica) and independent releases with Steve Einhorn (Dancing in the Kitchen, Harbour, Now & Then, Tales from Puddletown, Pearls). DADGAD guitarist, banjoist, ukulele picker and bodhran & bones aficionado, Kate's first instrument is her voice sounding echoes direct from the heart & soul of life.
Steve Einhorn, cut his teeth on jugband music playing gigs at the Bitter End in New York with the Appalachian Philharmonic Jugband he started at 13.
Founding member of Boston bluegrass favorite "Foxfire" a few years later, Steve Einhorn blazed his trail west to Portland via Mexico, arriving in 1978.
Originating in a family of thespians in Teaneck, New Jersey, Steve discovered guitar and began his professional life in folk music at an early age and never looked back. He has played dates in clubs, festivals and concerts over 40 years. His first recording on Kicking Mule, Whole World Round (re-released 2003) triggered an audience that would span the globe. Steve Einhorn picks up his guitar with reverent confidence that comes from a lot of experience and brings the song home to roost.
Steve has been sharing his musical adventures with musician partner & wife, Kate Power since 1994.
Owner of Portland, Oregon folk shop, Artichoke Music, for 25 years (1981 - 2006), Steve has returned to art and music full time.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/13/2007
Band Website: qualityfolk.com
Band Members: Kate Power - Songwriter, Singer, Dadgad Guitar, Banjo, Lili'u Tenor Ukulele, Bones, Bodhran
****
Steve Einhorn - Singer, Songwriter, Guitar, Trumpet Lips, Ukulele
Influences:
"Travis John" won the Grand Prize for songs that make a difference in the world, presented by Noel "Paul" Stookey's "Music to Life" competition at the 2006 Kerrville Folk Festival. "Pearls" is a favorite of the real grandfather of folk, Pete Seeger who bought a bunch to share with his friends and says, "It's wonderful!" The music of Kate Power & Steve Einhorn lands in the heart, takes root and grows. Good medicine.

"Pearls" was created commemorating their young neighbor with the haunting "Travis John" and a dozen top songs from their popular releases.

"Travis John" is dedicated to the memory of Corporal Travis John Bradach-Nall, one of the first young Oregonians to be killed in Iraq by a landmine. This song has attracted attention in local newspapers and television because of its compelling words, music & story (see story below). The song is based on the true story of this young soldier killed while clearing land mines in Iraq. Along with "Travis John" leading the album, a dozen favorites from our other 4 albums follow this poignant piece.

Travis John Bradach-Nall lived in our neighborhood. He graduated in our son's high school class. He joined the marines for noble reasons. Travis was killed by a land mine in Iraq on July 2, 2003. He was 21 years old.

We are all connected in the fabric of life. When we heard of Travis' death, it felt like the death of one of our own. He joined the marines to be the best he could be in troubled times. The oldest boy in his family with his mother, Lynn and his brother, Nic, Travis had everything a parent could hope for in a son. It was terrible to lose him with his whole life still waiting for him.

Deep in the Wallowa Mountains of eastern Oregon I wrote this song. I was teaching at a writer's retreat with Steve. It was July 10, 2003. I remember because I'm one of eight children and that's my mother's birthday. I was feeling a strong sadness for Travis and his family knowing that his memorial was being held back home in Portland that day. They said 7 limousines carried the members of his large family to the memorial. Playing on my banjo with the deer grazing near me outside the cabin where I taught songwriting at Fishtrap, a song started up in one direction but, as often happens, this song came out instead.

I felt then, and I still feel, that this song came from Travis, that it really is his song and it's sung in his voice. I just sang it out loud for him. It doesn't matter which side of the war you stand on, the loss left is just as deep for the ones who loved their young soldier. We give this song to Travis' mother, Lynn and his brother, Nic along with the rest of his kin who loved him and will miss him being here.

Steve and I recorded this song to lead a small collection of songs we've sung over the years and recorded on various albums. We recorded "Travis John" on August 3, 2003 at Billy Oskay's Big Red Studio in the Columbia Gorge. We wanted it on record so we could send it to radio stations and homes all around the country. We spent a day recording all of it, just Steve and me and Billy at the board.

The next time we saw Billy, he had a "spooky" story to tell us. Word had gone out about Travis' song and Travis' uncle called Billy to remind him that Travis had been on his crew and had actually helped him build "Big Red Studio" a few short years ago. Travis John's uncle was the foreman who built Billy's studio. Billy was stunned. He remembered Travis well; hammer in hand and a grin on his face. He was a good worker. Suddenly, more pieces came together; our communion with this song grew in another way we couldn't have predicted. Coming full circle we manifested his song in the studio Travis had helped to build.

We hope here that by releasing Travis John's song into the world, he will be remembered; for the difference he made, for the ones he loved and left behind, as well as the rest of us strangers who have come to know him in the wake of his young life.

Sounds Like:

Layout Created at KillerKiwi.net

Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None