February 17, 2009: Howlin' Blue Productions is pleased to announce that recording artist Steve Rowe has been signed by music label Blue Skunk Records of Chicago, and Burnside Distribution of Portland, Oregon. Blue Skunk is targeting more than 150 blues radio stations throughout the US to promote Rowe's five CD library. The double kick-off will see Steve's latest offering, FIVE, officially launched in America and worldwide on February 17, 2009. A follow-up release of other four CDs will take place on March 17, 2009.

President of Blue Skunk Music Joe Rutan says that making the decision to sign Rowe was not difficult: 'I loved hearing that Steve can't ever play the same solo twice. You can tell when somebody's solo or music is coming from their heart when they can't repeat it identically. They get in a trance almost, it's all heart, they don't even know where it comes from, it just happens. I love that. That's what makes a unique, significant artist.'

Blue Skunk is aggressively promoting Steve's music. He has already been placed on two virtual CDs compiled by ITunes, called Essential: Canadian Guitar Heros, sharing the spotlight with Neil Young and BTO, and Instrumental Canada, which also highlights Daniel Lanois and The Band. To round out the promotional effort, The Steve Rowe Band will begin touring New England and the Midwest in the spring of 2009. Numerous summer festivals throughout Canada and the States will follow.

With Steve Rowe's FIVE you get a rocking sound akin to John Mayall's early bluesbreakers. If you miss British guitar gods like Rory Gallagher, check out Rowe. - Jim Hynes, Elmore Magazine, New York

Steve Rowe is one of Montreal's finest guitarists and the concluding song of the new CD, 'La Vie en Blues' is all the proof you need. It's a tour de force of soloing inventiveness. - John Valenteyn, Maple Blues Magazine, Toronto

Rowe, singer-songwriter-guitarist and his killer band have just released a CD of 15 originals called FIVE and it is his best and most versatile project to date. - Brant Zwicker, At the Crossroads, CFIM,CFMM, Vancouver/Seattle