Ask anyone on the English folk scene who is their favourite
guitarist, singer, songwriter and entertainer and nine times out of ten the
same name will crop up in the top three of ever department. Steve Tilston
is one of our most celebrated song-smiths; widely recognised within the world
of folk and contemporary music: the words, arrangements and subtle but quite
superb guitar playing could be no one else and 2010 is his 40th anniversary
year!
The writer of the classic songs The Slipjigs and Reels, The Naked Highwayman
and Here’s to Tom Paine, has a new album out now! On Ziggurat hear Tilston
deftly weave his mastery on a dozen new insightful songs of love, loss, war
and gold, plus a couple of traditional gems.
In 2007 he was given the Free Reed Records boxed-set treatment! The company
behind the Richard Thompson anthology released Reaching Back: the Life and
Music of Steve Tilston. Featuring classic, rare, previously unreleased and
new recordings, Reaching Back is a timely celebration of one of this country’s
finest performers. Compiled with unprecedented access to Steve’s own
archives, the deluxe boxed-set comprises five full-length themed CDs featuring
tracks contributed by Steve’s many fellow musicians and admirers as
well as Steve himself, finished off with a beautiful full-colour book.
Born in Liverpool and raised in the Midlands, Steve made his recording debut
in the early seventies with the classic An Acoustic Confusion and has been
turning out quality albums ever since. Life by Misadventure, And So It Goes,
Solo Rubato and Such and Such all featuring first-class song-writing, quintessentially
English in style and typically Tilston, marking him out as one of this country’s
finest writers. Whilst the instrumental Swans at Coole is testament to his
guitar virtuosity. Though known as a songwriter, Steve has always had an ear
for the tradition and included new interpretations of old favourites on his
original recordings. Of Many Hands is his first “all-traditional”
album paying homage to his roots, with unique arrangements of timeless classics.
He’s also released a “best of” anthology, The Greening Wind
and a live album Live Hemistry recorded on tour with Fairport Convention.
He joined an illustrious band of guitarists including Martin Simpson, Michael
Messer and Wizz Jones, when he was invited to contribute to the Guitar Maestro
series of DVDs; a combination of live studio performance and interviews, revealing
the real passion behind these talented musicians…If anyone ever deserved
the moniker Guitar Maestro, it’s Steve Tilston!
Steve has toured with John Renbourn’s Ship of Fools, in a stunning musical
partnership with traditional singer Maggie Boyle; making the classic recordings
Of Moor and Mesa and All Under the Sun, as guitarist with Ballet Rambert with
Maartin Allcock and Pete Zorn in WAZ! and with Brooks Williams in A Transatlantic
Song-Swap. His most recent collaboration, with daughter Martha Tilston, is
the charming “like father, like daughter…” show.
A celebrated artist in Britain and abroad, winning accolades in Europe, Australia
and the USA, his songs have been recorded by Fairport Convention, Dolores
Keane, The House Band, Peter Bellamy, North Cregg, Bob Fox and John Wright.
Here’s to Tom Paine is the adopted theme song for the Tom Paine Society
of America and it’s been rumoured, has featured in Bruce Springsteen’s
live shows. His music has also featured on radio and TV.
Steve is probably best loved as a solo performer, but he also works with accordionist
Chris Parkinson and bassist Dave Bowie and occasionally his daughter Martha.