Kevin Armstrong Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter

Kevin Armstrong began as an embryo, like everyone else.  He was then born, and lived a relatively  normal life.  Then, at the age of nine, he made a choice that would guarantee his life would be far from normal from that point on:  he picked up a guitar.  He spent at least a google hours in his room, playing, writing, practicing and getting ready to be a rock star.  But destiny had other plans...  At 17, after already developed into an award-winning classical and rock guitarist, it was time for something completely different:  opera.  Under the tutelage of an operatic soprano, Kevin developed a love for music theatre, and the voice to match.  It wasn't long before Kevin put 2 and 2 together and came up with 5... "If I can sing and play guitar, why not do them at the same time?"  So he did.  He started writing songs for himself and his guitar, and in 1994, released Untitled 1.  This cassette release of 8 songs started a buzz in his home town of Nelson, B.C. that spread through the southern interior of British Columbia.  Kevin began playing every bar, theatre and coffeehouse that he could find, culminating in a cross-county tour in the summer of 1996.  In those six weeks, Kevin played dozens of gigs, from Vancouver to New York City, and was also introduced to the art of busking.  All of this prepared him for his next big move... In fall of 1996, Kevin moved to Montreal, where he attended the music program at McGill University.  During his time there, he earned 2 music degrees, and recorded a second album:  Second Album (1998).  Eight more songs, this time fleshed out with full band arrangements and thick vocal harmonies.  He continued a cycle of constant performance, including solo gigs, performing with other artists such as the Jerome Savoie Band and Doug Normal, as well as writing and performing in plays, musicals and over 20 operas.  Kevin's musical, Road Stories, was featured at the 1998 McGIll Drama Festival, and was re-mounted at the 1999 Montreal Fringe Festival. Upon completion of his Master's of Music in 2001, Kevin put together his own studio and recorded his third release Sound Castles (2002).  Finally having as much time in the studio as he wanted, Kevin went all-out, layering up to 30 tracks of numerous electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, vocal harmonies, all on top of the fantastic drumming of Robb Surridge of The High Dials. In the fall of 2002, Kevin moved to Zürich, Switzerland, where he spent an agonizing year at the opera studio of the Zürich opera.  As he learned what a messed-up world the opera community really is, he took the inspiration to finish the songs for his latest release Personal Artifacts (2004).  Once again featuring Robb Surridge on drums, this new recording shows Kevin at his most mature.  Inspired by Laura Nyro and Todd Rundgren, Kevin  took on a more thematic approach, using recurring musical  motifs that bind the album together as a whole, with lyrics that touch on more mature themes of spousal abuse, environmental destruction, and public nudity. Kevin currently lives in Germany, where he balances opera contracts with rock gigs.  And if you've ever heard German pop music, believe me, they need him!