Scott Smith’s Adventures in Pedal Steel

To quote Wikipedia, “The pedal steel guitar is a console-type of steel guitar with pedals and knee levers that change the pitch of certain strings to enable playing more varied and complex music than other steel guitar designs.’

Steel Guitar Forum was asked how hard it is to play: “pedal steel takes feet moving separately, knees moving separately both left and right, one hand moving a bar with intonation, and a right hand working ten strings while palm blocking. It is hardest by far than anything else.”

Scott Smith has been one of the key guitar players in Vancouver’s blues and roots rock scenes for a couple decades. Born of Smith’s popular monthly show at Vancouver venue The Painted Ship, Adventures in Pedal Steel spotlights the pedal steel in all kinds of genres, from country, soul, indie-folk, and gospel, to wherever its beautifully arcing, aching shimmer can be found. 

 With a crack band at his side, a revolving cast of guest singers, and an entirely different song list each month, the prolific and versatile Smith’s “Steel Nights” are a must-see for local music fans and a community hub for Vancouver’s busiest musicians. Now he’s bringing this fantastic show to Jericho Beach!

Alongside fellow adventurers Paul Pigat (guitar), Jeremy Holmes (bass), and Liam MacDonald (drums), Smith will play classic pedal steel instrumentals, plus feature an eclectic group of guest vocalists, both local and visiting, for this special VFMF2024 edition.