Singer-Songwriter Steve Hartmann Where it takes some musicians numerous types of tricks, bells and whistles in order to create their musical message, singer/songwriter Steve Hartmann needs nothing more than his voice and a guitar. After years as the front man for Acoustic/Rock group Simon, he is now ready to venture forth as a solo artist with the release of his full-length debut album, “Waking Up the Echoes”. Hartmann started at age 12, taking classical piano lessons. After picking up a hand-me-down guitar from his mother at age 15, quite contented with just playing for a few friends and having music just be an emotional hobby for him, Hartmann finally gave in to all the requests of finding a “real” show. Since then, it’s been a passion bordering on addiction. Sharing the stage with the likes of Jeffery Gaines and Dispatch, playing venues such as The House of Blues (Boston), The Elbow Room, (NYC), The Tin Angel (Philadelphia), Passim (Boston), and Higher Ground (Burlington, VT) Hartmann has played varying sized rooms… and captured them all. Drawing upon the influences of his favorite performers (U2, The Dave Matthews Band, The Counting Crows, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel and others), he crafts acoustic songs about life and friendship in a variety of tones. Whether a soft ballad or a harsh melody, his songs tell of the high and low points in his life and the lives of his friends, with a comforting conviction and haunting honesty. Now almost ten years since his departure from Simon, he has played as much as time and finances would allow and has now released his debut solo album (Dec. 2012) that has been generously 100% fan funded. He says he couldn’t have done it without the love and support of his wife, son, family, and friends. When asked how the last ten years have treated him, he answers, “The last year has been huge! The birth of my son, a fully fan funded debut solo album… the support has been overwhelming. It’s hard making it work – family, work, playing, repeat. But I have a great support system in my wife, and my son makes every effort worth it. Ten years without playing on a regular basis is a long time, but I haven’t given up. I have grown a lot as a person and a musician over the years. I’m ready to take the chance on myself that we, as musicians at least, sometimes wait for others to take on us. The reasons I play have changed, I’ve changed. I’m excited to be back and am having the time of my life! Life has a way of bringing you home. And that’s where I think I’m headed – home.”