Steve Tilston In Concert

with Dave Bowie (on Bass)

Photos taken by Jenny Parsons  who is one of the Farnsfield Acoustic organisers

on Saturday March 8th 2008

"Steve Tilston" writes Dirty Linen magazine, "can stand shoulder to shoulder with any singer/songwriter/guitarist in the world."

The writer of the classic songs "The Slip Jigs and Reels", "The Naked Highwayman", and "Here's to Tom Paine" has a new album out on Market Square Records. Titled "Such and Such", it has some wonderful musicians playing along with Steve: Andy Sheppard (sax), Maartin Allcock (bass), Anna Ryder (keyboards) and Roy Dodds (drums).

Born in Liverpool and raised in the Midlands, Steve has been quietly ploughing his own artistic furrow, turning out quality albums since the early 70s; again it has born fruit with the masterful new album. In the past he has toured as guitarist with Ballet Rambert, as a member of Ship of Fools, with John Renbourn and more recently with WAZ!  He is a celebrated artist both in Britain and abroad, winning accolades in Europe, Australia and the USA, where "Here's to Tom Paine," has been chosen as the theme song for the Tom Paine society of America. His songs have been recorded by Fairport Convention, Dolores Keane, The House Band, Peter Bellamy, North Cregg, Bob Fox and many more fine artists.

Steve is one of the most engaging performers on the scene today.

"Gently intoxicating and uplifting stuff"   MOJO MAGAZINE, UK

"His music has a flow and poignancy which makes it stand out from the plethora of singer-songwriters on the scene"   GUITAR MAGAZINE, USA

"Steve is of that rare breed of singer, songwriter and guitarist who actually excels in all departments"   FROOTS MAGAZINE, UK

"His songs are at once familiar, yet objects of wonder"  RHYTHMS, AUS

The Songwriter's Songwriter...
...what other musicians say about Steve

"He is one of my and Fairport Convention's favourite performers. If you haven't heard him, I suggest you go and check him out as soon as possible. A remarkable talent!"
Dave Pegg, Fairport Convention

"It seems to me that Steve Tilston has never sought fame on anything but his own terms. He has been driven by his own enthusiasm for his chosen subject matter. He writes beautiful words and melodies, and when our generation of songwriters is assessed on our contribution to our time, Steve's work will rank alongside much better known artists."
Ralph McTell

"Steve Tilston has an annoying habit of doing things with his guitar and lyrics that I wish I'd thought of first, coupled with an integrity of expression that compels me to say things like this in public."
Chris Smither

"One of the select band of songwriters with the vision to write great songs rooted in the tradition."
Robin Williamson

"A songwriter and guitarist I admire."
Bert Jansch

"Over the years Steve has become my all-time favourite songwriter on the British acoustic guitar scene. He's a fine singer who combines beautifully executed original melodies with superb lyrics on almost every subject under the sun."
Wizz Jones

Music critics' roundup…
...what music critics say

Of Steve …

"Steve Tilston, singer songwriter and exquisite guitarist of the English folk-baroque school, is hard on the heels of Richard Thompson in the perennially underrated stakes".
Q Magazine

"His musicianship is beyond question, while the arrangements set a standard against which other acoustic guitar albums ought to be measured."
Weekend Telegraph

"Tilston's work simply gets better as time goes on"
Mojo

"Steve is that very rare combination of singer/songwriter and guitarist who actually excels in all departments …"
fRoots

" … a singer/songwriter or rare talent … the polish of his performance and the technical proficiency of his lyric writing is staggering. He weaves classic, lingering melodies that are both warm and haunting, producing astringent, uncompromising music that thrives on rare and demanding intimacy."
Folk On Tap

Dave Bowie

Dave is primarily a soul boy, just looking for the groove. A 25-year association with sax player Snake Davis and guitarist Mark Creswell has established him as probably the UK’s only Northern Soul bass player - working with Martha Reeves and Edwin Starr (among a legion of other Motown stars) and recording with Blue.

His early pop career was managed (largely for deaf ears) by Andy Kershaw and included a single with TV presenter Carol Vorderman.

A whimsical career path has included punk/art band The Mekons, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (George Hinchliffe said ‘Dave is more intelligent than a bass-player needs to be’), tango and Cuban charanga. He plays with symphony orchestras and chamber groups in Leeds and York, and has recorded with Steve Phillips, Emily Druce and Brendan Croker.

He is currently also involved in a project with Helen Watson called the Burden of Paradise.

Comment by Steve Tilston about Dave Bowie

Dave Bowie is his real name unlike the other one and he's had it for longer too! He's from Leeds, He also plays with Sketch(Maggie Boyle &Gary Boyle), Snake Davies & Helen Watson.
I met him through Sketch. Yes, he's on my new album and it'll be out late May.