New is a relative term when it comes to Steve Kozak.
The long-time blues man received the Maple Blues Award for new artist or group of the year in 2013 for his most recent album Lookin’ at Lucky.
“It was kind of funny to be new again,” Kozak said. “That’s what I said when I accepted, it’s nice to be new again.”
Kozak has been manning the guitar and singing the blues for as long as he can remember and never had a thought of turning back.
“I’ve never played any other kind of music and I’ve been at it for 30 years,” Kozak said. “It’s just honest music, I really like it.”
He received some inspiration when he met Muddy Waters in 1977, who told Kozak that the blues scene needed young blood like him to keep it going.
“I was young at the time,” Kozak laughed.
“It was always my plan to stick with it. I thought, well, I can be an old guy and play blues,” Kozak laughed.
He said he likes the blues because it makes people feel good, something a lot of people don’t understand.
“People think blues is all downtrodden, but not so much really. The music was created to take away your blues,” Kozak said.
Kozak has played with a who’s who list of blues greats throughout his career including Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Duskin, Sonny Rhodes and Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne. He’s currently working on the follow up to Lookin’ at Lucky.
“Just started writing some songs. I’ve got a few ready to go. I’m just sort of getting in that mode and I hope to get in the studio soon,” Kozak said.
Kozak will bring a mix of covers and original blues tunes to the Dream Café on Feb. 28, taking on West Coast blues, Texas blues and Chicago blues. Kozak will cover blues legends Freddy King and Muddy Waters as well as some contemporary blues musicians like James Harman — who was featured as a harmonica player on Kozak’s most recent album.
“We try to keep it upbeat and have a lot of fun with it,” Kozak said.
For tickets visit www.thedreamcafe.ca or call 250-490-9012.