Back in July Steve Tilston released Distant Days, a solo acoustic retrospective album taking in his musical journey from the early 1970’s to present day. As David Pratt concluded in his album review here, the ‘stripped back songs in all of their raw glory is an aural delight’. He concluded the review ‘Steve Tilston, one of our most revered songsmiths, has confirmed his reputation as a jewel in the folk and acoustic-world crown.’
The album played out on a personal favourite, The Slip Jigs And Reels, which is also our Song of the Day.
The song featured on Of Moor And Mesa (1992) on the liner notes of which he described it as:
‘a kind of link song between the so-called “old world” and the “new”, a ballad of a 19th century immigrant who became a minor bad-man in the south-western parts of North America. He fell foul of the Mescalero Apaches. Let’s just say that those fellows refused to be bound by the Rousseauean mould of the “noble savage”. Who could blame them?’
Next month you can catch Steve on tour including duo dates with Jez Lowe in Northwich and Lowestoft, the last duo shows until spring 2019. There are also some trio dates, where Steve will be joined by Hugh Bradley on double bass plus old pal Keith Warmington on harmonica. Keith Warmington has played with Steve since the 1970’s and featured on his Happenstance album from 2013 along with Stuart Gordon. Hugh has been involved in traditional music for over 35 years, and as well as playing bass also plays mandolin, whistle and is also a great harmony singer.
Well, I’d rather be underrated than overrated. Steve Tilston, Folk Radio UK Happenstance Interview (read it here).
Steve Tilston Tour Dates
Thu 1 Nov Shoreham-by-Sea
Ropetackle Arts Centre, Little High Street, Shoreham by Sea BN43 5EG
01273 464440
Sat 3 Nov Lincoln
Folk Upstairs, Lincoln Drill Hall, Freeschool Lane, Lincoln LN2 1EY
01522 973894
Thu 8 Nov Leicester
Green Bird Promotions at Musician Venue, Clyde Street, Leicester LE1 2DE
Sat 10 Nov Appleton Thorn
Appleton Thorn Village Hall, Stretton Road, Appleton Thorn WA4 4RT
07946 378599 villagehallmusic@yahoo.co.uk
Tue 13 Nov St Neots
St Neots Folk Club, The Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots PE19 2BH
01234 376278
Fri 16 Nov Rhosygilwen
Rhosygilwen Mansion, Rhosygilwen, Cilgarren, Pembrokeshire SA43 2TW
01239 841387
For the lucky people of Painswick and Sling Steve will be joined by pals Hugh Bradley (double bass) & Keith Warmington (harmonica) for a couple of trio shows:
Sat 17 Nov Painswick
The Painswick Centre, Bisley Street, Painswick GL6 6QQ
Canton Acre Promotions 07596 823881 cantonacrepromotions@gmail.com
Sun 18 Nov Sling, Coleford
Forest Folk Club, Orepool Inn, Chepstow Road, Sling, Coleford GL16 8LH
Steve Tilston & Jez Lowe have shows in Northwich and Lowestoft
the last duo shows until spring 2019:
Fri 23 Nov Northwich (T&L)
Northwich Folk Club, Harlequin Theatre, Queen Street, Northwich CW9 5JN
01565 733197
Sat 24 Nov Lowestoft (T&L)
The Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft NR33 0JH
01502 589726
Mon 26 Nov Croydon
Croydon Folk Club, Rusin House, 23 Coombe Road, Croydon CR0 1BD
0208 660 5919
Thu 29 Nov York
Black Swan Folk Club, Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PR
Sat 1 Dec Hebden Bridge – fundraiser concert with Hugh Bradley (double bass)
Wadsworth Community Centre, Billy Lane, Old Town, Hebden Bridge HX7 8RY
07890 205980 derekwilliamson@waitrose.com
Sat 15 Dec West Kirby
West Kirby Arts Centre, Old Unitarian Church, 29 Brookfield Gardens, West Kirby CH48 4EL
For ticket links and full details visit http://www.stevetilston.com/upcoming-shows/