"The closemiked recording reveals in fine detail the timbre of these instruments as well as Dawson’s nimble finger work, and his playing on this all-original set persuasively combines delicacy with gutsiness and a deep sense of traditional roots music beneath which flows an undercurrent of American Primitivism."

"This album is a must to all lovers of good guitar music."

"Steve Dawson, of Vancouver and (as of late) Nashville, is Canada's leading roots-music impresario, a man who wears -- literally and metaphorically -- several hats."

"This is acoustic guitar music as pure and as intimate as it gets."

"...It all hangs together in fine style as glorious showcase for Dawson's superlative guitar playing."

"Rattlesnake Cage is a breathtaking album of original roots and blues music from Steve Dawson, and it is a must-have for lovers of the acoustic guitar.:

"Dawson only recently hangs his hat in Nashville, but sounds like he’s lived in the American south all of his days."

Steve Dawson had a formidable career as a performer and producer in his native Canada (including 7 Juno Awards as an artist and producer), before relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. He has a new recording "Rattlesnake Cage" (Black Hen Music) that consists of solo recordings that are informed by the deep traditions of blues ragtime, jaza and even Hawaiian music, but taking those influences in unexpected directions.

The standout acoustic blues disc of the year, Rattlesnake Cage (Black Hen), showcases Steve Dawson's brilliance. He wrote all of the songs, produced and mixed the disc, and plays gloriously on this all-instrumental collection. Dawson employs a number of guitars: a Jumbo Larrivee, a Weissenborn built by Michael Dunn, a National Tricone and a Taylor 12-string. He also notes that he used a Neumann M 49 microphone "that had been hanging from the rafters of a church in Detroit for 50 years."

"...The most impressive acoustic guitarist to come down the pike in years."