It’s all in the voice. Calgary’s singular musical amazoness is a voice you have heard, even if you don’t recognize the name yet. Perhaps you heard her towering vocal performance fronting her fabulous funk fellowship Kate and the Comets during their performances at the Big Four during the Calgary Stampede, or her vibrant trio set at Folk Fest’s Summer Serenades. It’s almost certain that her laugh has weakened the clasp on your wallet during CKUA’s most recent funding efforts as the host of The Upload among many other audio appearances on the airwaves. You probably also heard her emceeing from the mainstage at Calgary Folk Fest as you sipped that sweet, sweet, sangria.

Her vocal is versatile, but eminently musical in all contexts. From a lilting lullaby accompanied by her tenor ukulele or adorable four-string Gretsch guitar, to a room-deadening roar, Kate’s festive flavour of R&B is as pretty as it is powerful, as Nina Simone as it is Aretha Franklin. A 7-time YYC Music award winner all while she is barely old enough to be considered mid-20s, Kate Stevens is a force for Calgary music, and a voice we guarantee you will want to hear again.

- Liam Prost