Local Singer Delights Dubuque and Galena with Beautiful Music

Last weekend, for our two-year anniversary, Catherine and I went on a goat trek in Galena. Hoof It in Galena was an absolute blast, complete with a lot of gallivanting with goats and a delightful bonfire with the sweet sounds of a local musician.

That local musician is Steve McIntyre, who does several dozen shows in/around Galena and Dubuque every calendar year. The second we arrived at the bonfire, and I heard his rendition of Harry Chapin's "Taxi," I knew not only was it going to be a great night, but this gentleman was a special talent. Of course, I had to invite him into the studio.

McIntyre started playing in high school in the early 1970s, performing pretty much any place that would have him in Tucson and Flagstaff, AZ. After putting down the guitar for a couple decades, he picked it back up in 2005 and has been performing around Dubuque, Galena, and the larger Tri-State area.

McIntyre loves classic rock and folk music. He's receptive to requests, but is more than ready to treat you to some delightful covers of John Denver, Bob Seger, Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, and more. He plays both a 6- and 12-string guitar, and his voice is warm and melodic, the perfect complement to the amazing tunes he plays.

One other fascinating thing about Steve McIntyre is his use of "Backtracks." Because he's a one-man performer, he relies on his iPad, which houses the backing instrumentation for hundreds of songs. These backing instrumentals were recorded in his studio with the help of several other musician friends/family of his. That's the part of him that makes him a dedicated professional when it comes to giving listeners what they want when they happen to hear his music during a night out.

At Hoof It Galena, McIntyre appeased me with some Creedence Clearwater Revival and Gordon Lightfoot tunes, both stylings sounding exceptional. During our conversation, he mentioned his website, appropriately called "Music with Steve," where you can find a treasure trove of his music, videos of past performances, and more.

You can even purchase and download some of his music on his website as well!