STEVE TILSTON

 

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 every 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.

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!