We are in for a real treat as we launch our fall concert series with this rare collaborative combo of multi-Juno-winning Steve Dawson and highly acclaimed drummer-keyboardist Joachim Cooder!
Steve Dawson is a Nashville-based musician, songwriter, producer, and recording engineer. Originally from Canada, he relocated from Vancouver to Nashville in 2013 and has since built a career centered on records that value feel, tone, and intention. Steve has received 7 Juno Awards for his work as an artist and producer, among many other accolades.
Joachim Cooder (son of Ry Cooder), drummer keyboardist has played on the Grammy Award winning albums A Meeting by the River (1993) and Buena Vista Social Club (1997). He is seen performing in the accompanying Buena Vista Social Club documentary, released in 1999.
Our Friends at Rogue Folk in Vancouver are presenting this duo the night after the Bez show.
The blurb on their page is fantastic. There is a lot there that we didn't know about Steve and Joachim... can we just say the excitement is building!
"Some musical meetings feel less like “collaborations” and more like conversations waiting to happen. This rare collaborative run with Steve Dawson and Joachim Cooder is exactly that: two artists sharing the stage for an entire night, swapping songs, backing each other up, and following the music wherever it leads. There’s no strict division of sets here, just an open, intuitive flow built on listening, trust, and the joy of discovery.
With Dawson on a rotating cast of guitars and lap steels, and Cooder anchoring the groove with mbira and percussion, the evening unfolds as a living dialogue. Songs from each artist’s catalog weave together, traditions blur, and familiar material takes on new shapes. And somewhere along the way, who knows what forgotten gems or spontaneous moments might emerge.
Steve Dawson brings decades of roots-driven musicianship to the stage. Canadian-born and Nashville-based, he first gained international recognition as half of the Juno Award-winning duo Zubot & Dawson before carving out a wide-ranging solo career. As a guitarist, producer, and recording engineer, Dawson has worked with artists such as Allison Russell, Kelly Joe Phelps, Joe Henry, Shelby Lynne, and Matt Andersen, while also building a reputation for his deeply expressive slide, lap steel, and fingerstyle guitar work. His music draws from blues, folk, country, and global roots traditions, always grounded in feel, tone, and human connection.
Joachim Cooder’s musical path has been just as adventurous. Raised on the road alongside his father, legendary guitarist Ry Cooder, Joachim began playing drums at an early age and went on to contribute to iconic recordings including Buena Vista Social Club and the Grammy-winning A Meeting by the River. Over the years he’s become a sought-after percussionist, composer, and producer, while also developing a distinctive solo voice centered around the electric mbira (a modern take on the African thumb piano), paired with layered percussion and atmospheric textures.
In Joachim’s hands, rhythm becomes melody, and in Steve’s, strings become storytelling tools. Together, they create a space where structure meets spontaneity where songs can stretch, shift, and breathe. This tour isn’t about polished perfection; it’s about shared energy, real-time creativity, and the magic that happens when two seasoned musicians meet in the middle of the music.
Each night is a one-of-a-kind experience - equal parts roots, rhythm and revelation." Rogue Folk
Date & Time
Wed, Sep 9, 2026 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Venue Details
Bez Arts Hub
20230 64 Avenue Langley, British Columbia V2Y 1N3
Bez Arts Hub
Events
Bez is an intimate live performance venue which hosts some of the most notable artists from all around North America and beyond. With an inspiring sense of community, the warmth of great sound and the close personal engagement with the artists, Bez offers a unique and inviting atmosphere for enjoying live performances.
Classes
Dance, Comedy Improv, Gospel Choir, Acting... Whether you have had years of formal training or you're beginning your arts journey, our studio is the place to build on your technique in the best ways possible and love it! Our staff are here to equip you in whatever you want to pursue (dance styles include ballet, hiphop, tap, jazz, contemporary, ballroom or break). Try a few or focus on a couple, it's your choice! AND are now highlighting ADULT CLASSES (recitals are optional and there’s no dress codes).
Post-Secondary Training in Dance, Acting and Music
We know that navigating your life in the arts has so much possibility and Bez Arts mentorship would love to be a part of that adventure with you! Skilled mentors are here for equipping, coaching and partnering with you as you craft your creative life. Choose your specialty with individual classes, intensives or our full program - dance, acting or music - take a course or two, part-time or take a gap year to try out a bit of everything in our Bez Arts Intensive.
