Ron Steeves and Evan Carlson have been playing music together since childhood, growing up side by side in Westport as best friends since grade one. Their first show at a school talent show sparked a lifelong passion, heavily influenced by their talented parents and the town’s rich musical culture.

In recent years, they’ve become a familiar act around Westport, playing bars, festivals, backyard gatherings and venues like The Cove Inn, while regularly joining friends and family at Wings ‘n Tunes and the Open Mic Night.

Specializing in covers of folk, rock, and country classics, Ron and Evan play the songs they grew up on—the ones that filled their homes and shaped their own musical taste. With a brotherly chemistry that can’t be taught, they bring a warm, familiar energy to every stage they step on.

For Ron and Evan, music isn’t just something they do—it’s something they’ve lived together their whole lives. Come sing along with them on Monday, March 30 at The Cove Inn! Details and tickets here.

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There’s no doubt about it, you sing from the heart. Soul isn’t something that you can be taught. It has to come naturally. Where do you think you learned that depth to your singing and performing?

Evan Carlson: I have always worn my heart on my sleeve. I have also learned to follow my instincts and navigate life through feeling, which I think translates very easily into my musical performance. A sense of feeling the words and the notes as they come out in your own way has been something that I have found a great appreciation for, and hope everyone enjoys. 

Your parents clearly have an artistic and musical influence on your life. What are some of the great things that you’ve learned from them?

Evan: I’ve certainly learned a heck of a lot from my parents over the years. I will say one thing that has stuck with me through my music is to have patience. Patience to learn, in the sense of actually learning songs. Also, to step back and look at myself on stage or at home and evaluate some things that I do great or some things that I can change. 
Another great lesson I’ve learned is to see things through. For instance, if you play in front of a crowd of 500 people, 50 people, or even just one lonely bartender, keep your head up and finish what you’ve started. I always try to find the best in everything I do and that certainly comes from the lessons I’ve learned from my parents.

It was fun sitting with you last night behind the Wings ‘n Tunes band watching up and comer Kyla Kane sing. Having a place to perform live is so important. What does it mean to you to have those Wednesday nights in our little town?

Evan: To me it means the world to have it. Growing up on music and dreaming about being a rockstar as a child, then finally learning how to play and refining my performance, all leading up to looking for somewhere to play. I believe that’s the same story for a lot of musicians that grow up around here. It’s important to have somewhere where it doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, or what you believe. If you can find the confidence to show up and put your name on that list to perform, what an amazing feeling. From there it only grows and you will find yourself counting the days until the list is out there again. Your confidence will only build with each time you go up and play! 

The best thing a young artist can do is play live. Build that confidence, refine your skills, and pay attention to everyone else you get to see play as well. It can be an incredible place to learn and grow as a musician. I hope that Wings ‘n Tunes on Wednesday nights at The Cove never ceases to exist!

I know you started on Drums with my brother teaching you a few tricks. How do you think Drums have helped you as a performer and do you ever think about switching back to them? Maybe even singing while playing? That would be fun to do on a Wednesday night!

Evan: I still have my drum set at home and always love an opportunity to play with a band. Learning to play drums helped me incredibly with timing and learning to take cues from other places in the band. It’s another sense of feeling and I find it easier to jump in with another artist or band knowing more than one instrument. 
I have jumped in on a couple of Wednesday nights behind the band for a few tunes on the drums and I would certainly love to do it more often! 

Now that you really have some strong local roots and are settling down in the area, do you ever think about writing some tunes to reflect on all that? I have a feeling you’d be pretty good at it!

Evan: I have a great history in this area and want to continue to live and grow here in Rideau Lakes. I think I’m going to have some new tunes on the way soon! Maybe this is the push I needed to get the ball rolling again!

Posted: Mar 21, 2026