50 years of Soul Medicine
for the Love of the People
About Kate & Steve
Before they ever met, Kate & Steve started out in music as youngsters in Washington Square in Greenwich Village, New York and individually moved to Portland, Oregon in 1977-8. They connected over the counter at the socially-conscious music center, Artichoke Music and have been harmonizing songs and life since 1994. After focusing on life as the owners of the world renowned performance venue, music school, and instrument shop, Artichoke Music in Portland, Oregon (1981-2006), they passed the store on to travel full time in the arts as musicians, teachers, artists and writers.
The creative force behind the Ukalaliens® books and teaching products, Kate & Steve toured America with thirty Kala travel tenor ukuleles. Together they taught the uninitiated in small groups in cities and country towns how to sing and play music from scratch in one hour or less. Thanks to their "Johnny Appleseed" effort and friendly "Ukes Without Borders" approach, there are thousands now making hands-on music in their lives.
Kate & Steve have shared stages with folk luminaries like Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton and were featured on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion". Blues musician, Mary Flower, dubbed Steve & Kate “the Roy and Dale of Folk Music” for their friendly, inclusive approach to building community through music, storytelling and compassionate teaching.
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“Music is more sacred than ever…'“ - Kate Power
Kate & Steve have released a dozen albums of original and traditional music to date and contributed to countless celebrated music projects. All while helping “keep Portland weird.”
Kate was unanimously awarded the Grand Prize at the Kerrville Folk Festival for her song for her neighbor, 'Travis John', by an A-list panel of folk luminaries including Peter, Paul & Mary and Judy Collins.
In a joyful stunt still talked about over Portland cafe tables, they set the Guinness World Record by playing a song with The World’s Largest Guitar Band playing one song in 90-degree heat in Pioneer Courthouse Square downtown, and raised $10,000 for Sisters of the Road Café to help feed the hungry in old town Portland with compassion, dignity and nourishment..
About their decades owning Artichoke Music, Steve says “It was a blast being there. It was the gateway to a tribe. It was the love of music that we all had. Every day was romantic, and it brought in heritage, culture and kids.”
Kate & Steve continue to build community through music, art, writing and teaching, hosting sold-out live shows and online courses each passing season.
Playing on stage to launch Portland Romance, their ninth album which includes Vocal Cut of the Year 2017 Paddy's Lament.
Our first livestream concert in isolation in Portland
400 empty seats, a camera and a microphone…
"Kate & Steve are a tour de force in folk. Wonderful songs!"
— Tom Paxton
What more people are saying about Kate & Steve...
"So earthy and fresh is your music. I love it." - Lloyd "Tommy" Doss, Sons of the Pioneers
"Your music is wonderful! I love your harmonies. Keep on!" - Pete Seeger
"Steve & Kate are the Roy & Dale of folk." - Mary Flower
"Exquisite." - Eric Andersen
"You guys are the best - the absolute best." - Dave Carter
"Nice harmonies!" - Arlo Guthrie
Early Days…
Born in Boston to musical parents of a large Irish-American family, Kate Power grew up with the New York City area folk revival. A multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, 6-string ukulele, Kate is also a wonderful singer and skilled songwriter, whose song about a local boy who was killed in Iraq, “Travis John” won her a Grand Prize from Music to Life at the noted Kerrville, Texas festival in 2006.
Guitarist and singer Steve Einhorn also grew up in the Boston - New York corridor during the 60s and was a charter member of the well-known Boston bluegrass ensemble Foxfire for several years before moving to Portland’s folk scene and steward of Artichoke Music. Together and separately, Kate and Steve have fourteen recordings to their credit.
A deeper peek into Quality Folk world
Raising $10,000 for Sisters of the Road with a song and the world’s largest guitar playing non-stop for the longest time - ever. Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, OR
Setting a Guiness Book World Record….
We had over 500 guitarists playing their instrument at once - and guess what song we chose to set the record?
Here is where we write more about this story and then lead to the blog post! READ MORE
Steve’s Guitar Party movable art leggings :)
Creating Art & House Artefacts….
Steve is also a clasically trained artist and has exhibited …and his art is available as home decor to add a Quality Folk touch of whimsy to your space.
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The posthumous co-write of Travis John
Travis John - The Boy Behind the Award- Winning Song
Corporal Travis John Bradach-Nall (1982-2003) grew up down the hill from our house in northeast Portland. Travis loved to play the drums and went to the high school down the street. Travis was one of the first Oregonians killed in Iraq on July 2, 2003. News of his death reverberated deeply felt throughout our town. He was one of our kids. This song was written on the day he was buried.
As family and friends gathered by his graveside, these words and melody came together to express the loss of kin that crosses all borders. The story of Travis John can be found here. 'Travis John' won the Music to Life Grand Prize at Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas for a song that makes a difference, and the award money was donated to the United Nations' Adopt-A-Minefield and the ongoing courageous effort to decommission bombs buried in fields of war torn countries around the world. (OPB ArtBeat starts at 8:17 here.)
CLICK HERE for the SHEET MUSIC and CHORDS
Ukulele Love Revolution….
Kate Power and Steve Einhorn tourned the USA with 30 ukeleles and other instruments in hand. Their goal? Teach people to play the ukulele in an hour and spark a creative love revolution. Here’s what happened…
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Artichoke Music Store & Venue….
The incredible story of founding an American iconic music venue and instrument store!
DISCOVER THE ARCHIVES & MORE
