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Steve WILKINSON

 

PLAYING STAGES AND STUDIOS IN PORTLAND AND THE GREATER PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND BEYOND, VETERAN SINGER/SONGWRITER STEVE WILKINSON HAS EARNED A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE REGION’S MOST CONSISTENT AND HONEST VOICES.

 

Steve Wilkinson is a singer-songwriter from Portland, OR. His career started in the early 1990s as the fiery singer for American band Gravelpit on Schizophonic Records (I-5 Killers compilation Everclear, The Wipers, Supersuckers), which released two singles and two full-length albums. Gravelpit later signed with boutique American psychedelic label Rockadelic Records, who released Gravelpit’s critically acclaimed third and final album, ‘Snowglobe’. He later formed Portland’s Mission 5, which released two full-length albums and toured the Northwest and Europe. He now fronts Portland’s Wilkinson Blades, who have released three well-received LPs. He and his bands continue to evolve and update his style while maintaining his unique voice and sound.

Steve has played over 1000 live shows and has opened for such luminaries as Slash, Jason Bonham, Afghan Whigs, The Dandy Warhols, Everclear, Mudhoney, Dead Moon, Elliott Smith, Freedy Johnston, Peter Case, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Napalm Beach, The Minders, and countless other significant regional and national acts. He is credited with nearly 30 releases, including nine full-length albums, multiple regional compilations, and guest appearances on recordings, and has also composed scores for independent short films and plays.

He plays regional acoustic shows in a solo and duo setting with Paul Brainard and Grant Cumpston and has just completed his first solo album, ‘Truth or Consequences’(released in 2023) with producer Rob Stroup.

Purchase ‘Truth or Consequences’ on Bandcamp!

Truth or Consequences LP

 
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Songs

by Steve Wilkinson

MR. plecostomus

Inside out

Constellation

Scared of You

Press

 
 
 

“Wilkinson possesses a rich bass-baritone, and does something rare in music — he enunciates his lyrics. His band also kicks major fanny, as evidenced by the Green on Red-like number “Highway Sign,” which rolls in just the manner its title implies. Meanwhile “What Could Go Wrong” is sort of like what might have happened if The Clash covered a Joe Walsh tune when he wasn’t half in the sauce. Mmmm. Good fixins!”

Rob Cullivan - Portland Tribune

 
 

"Dripping with psychedelic overtones and trippy, ethereal vocals, Wilkinson sounds as if he could be the long lost brother of Jim Morrison. " "Wilkinson said he wanted to make a record that he could be proud of and play for his friends, and that goal was reached with 4 AM.  You get a good vision of his life, where he is from and where he is going, and by the end can’t help rooting for Steve Wilkinson."

Zach Jones - Mountain Weekly News

 
 

“Wilkinson is an undeniably talented songwriter and musician in the Americana mould...As his new band begin to gel even more on the road and refine which aspects of their sound work best, it bodes very well indeed for future releases.”

Charles Agar - Musika UK

 
 
 

"Steve Wilkinson is quite the shape shifter and an impressive song writer to boot. He’s had a good deal of practice, traveling and playing with other bands and working on other projects. This time Wilkinson takes centre stage and shows his practice has damn near made perfect. His music is subtle and lovingly formed."

Johnny Sixstring - We Love Rock-n-Pop

 
 
 

"In keeping with the diversity factor, the remainder of 4:00 A.M. speaks well for Wilkinson’s capabilities as both composer and vocalist, with the straight ahead country of Holding Me Down, the irony of Sunshine Now and the matter of fact self-depreciation of Crippled Mind each contributing with equal impact to the proceedings....To be certain, with 4:00A.M., Wilkinson has produced a collection that stands on both its own merits and its creator’s terms, with just the right balance of accessibility and distance to at once sustain interest and challenge both the hardcore and casual observer."

Michael McDowell - Blitz: The Rock & Roll Magazine

 
 

DISCOGRAPHY AND NOTABLE WORK

  • Gravelpit "Mountain" B/W "I Wanna Destroy You" 7" - Schizophonic Records 1994.

  • Gravelpit "It's A Lie" Single, I-5 Killers Compilation - Schizophonic Records 1994.

  • Gravelpit "Mountain" - LP - Schizophonic Records, 1995

  • Plaid Pantry Project “Gooodbye Capatain” 1995

  • Gravelpit "Mistakenly" Split-Single, with Medicine Sunday's "The Horror" - Rainforest Records, 1996.

  • Gravelpit "Should" Live Single "Live at Mt Tabor" Compilation - Pain Management 1996.

  • Gravelpit "Noodles" Live Single, KBOO "Church of Northwest Music" Compilation - BDC Records, 1996.

  • Gravelpit "History: Mission & Tradition" LP - Schizophonic Records, 1997.

  • Thrillbilly "Moveable Feast" LP -  BDC Records, 1997.

  • Gravelpit "SnowGlobe" LP - Rockadelic Records, 1999.

  • Mission 5 "Fire in the Western World" Single "In The Cole Mind: A Tribute to Fred Cole and Dead Moon" Compilation - Last Chance Records, 2000.

  • Mission 5 "The Other Side" LP - Quarry Records, BDC Distribution, 2003.

  • Jeremy Wilson "Independence Volume 1" Mastan Music Records, 2005.

  • Scotland Barr & The Slowdrags "Legionnaires Disease" LP BDC Music 2005.

  • Music production for Mac Wellman's play "Hyacinth McCaw" including "Bug River Blues" and other arrangements, performed at the Backdoor Theater, Portland, OR 2006.

  • Mission 5, "Search for a Perfect Life" LP, 2006.

  • Music composition for "Where's My Money" play performed by Theater Vertigo, 2008

  • Polly High, "Run Little Boy" LP 2008

  • Pale Blue Sky "Glad to Meet You" EP, The Paisley Pop Records,  2008

  • Shakers Sessions Compilation 'Bird on a Wing', Burgerville Records, 2011 

  • Wild Belles “Senioritis” LP and Musical, 2014

  • Music Composition for the independent film: ‘Hers is Where Yours Begin’, 2015

  • Wilkinson Blades '4:00 AM' Shiftone Records, 2012

  • Wilkinson Blades “Home” 2016 

  • Music Roots NW Compilation “Highway Sign”  KZME Radio, 2016

  • King Black Acid ‘The Best Lies’, Album, Cavity Search Music 2017

  • Pete Link ‘Got No Eyes’ Faders Up LP 2021

  • Wilkinson Blades “Inside Out” LP 2022

  • Steve Wilkinson “Truth or Consequences” LP 2023

  • Ryan Pardee “New Dirt (Down The L​.​A. River)” Single 2023

  • Steve Wilkinson “Alcohol” Single 2023

  • MDMS - “Demolition 13” LP - Tracks 1-2 ‘Nightmare’ and Cemetrry’ 2023

  • Local Roots Compilation CD Volume 6 ‘Sunbeam’ 2023

  • Garden Flowers ‘Volume II’ 2023

  • Hope of the Hour: A Tribute to Portland’s Dharma Bums Compilation - Wilkinson Blades: A Place to Be

  • Hope of the Hour: A Tribute to Portland’s Dharma Bums Compilation - Paul Brainard and the Brethren of Fun Machine: Far From Gone

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Booking

 

For booking or press inquires, contact Bee Hive Management at 971.506.8179 or bigvoice2@gmail.com