Steve Hoke

Guys like Steve Hoke are rare. He is quiet, friendly and totally accessible. He can work magic on his stringed instruments in almost any genre. Performing with various bands since the 1970's, Steve's role was the go-to guy for whatever sound or feeling any song required at the moment. But changing instruments on stage became a chore since Steve played guitar, fiddle, madolin and pedal steel. He solved that problem by building an instrument to suit his needs. He calls it the Trimeister; an electric guitar, a mandolin and 6 string fiddle all on one body. Now he has 3 of his instruments in hands at once and he will use all 3 in one song without missing a beat. He can mount the Trimeister on a stand if need be so that he can be free to get on his pedal steel too. He is amazing to watch and a joy to jam with. Steve stays quite busy, music is his vocation. Not many can play music for a living but Steve does which is a testament to his skill. He has a myriad of students, plenty of studio work and no shortage of local talent wanting him to sit in whenever he is available. Steve has recently experimented with "looping" his music on stage. He picks out a musical passage on one neck of the Trimeister and loops it back with a recording device. He will then switch off to another part of his axe to accompany the first loop and loop that too. Basically, he builds more loops, utilizes effects and his knowledge to create music that makes people stop and take notice. And that is his solo act! I have seen him soar on a Les Paul then get the high lonesome bluegrass sound out of a fiddle with such ease and honesty that I have no doubt Steve is one of the few. You know them when you hear them but it is impossible to describe them. Just listen and enjoy!