https://www.stevetilston.com/representation | Different Strings Music
[email protected] 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, quite superb guitar playing could be no one else. And now to Steve Tilston’s last album, Last Call officially released on Talking Elephant Records March 2025, over half a century on from his first and on a par with his finest. With the accompaniment of good friends and long-time musical collaborators, Steve looks both back and ahead as he travels the musical spectrum, across blues, traditional folk, poetry and even a hint of jazz. From social and political comment to rustic reflection, from autobiography to eternal geographical history; it’s a thing of audible joy and circumstantial sadness.“The more you listen, the more there is to discover.” Bob HarrisThe story of Steve’s “lost” letter from John Lennon thrust Steve into the worldwide media spotlight and was the inspiration for a Hollywood movie. Danny Collins, starring Al Pacino in the title role is now available to own on DVD. Sadly, Steve’s songs didn’t actually appear on the soundtrack, but the publicity surrounding the film, brought Steve and his music to much wider attention. You can still watch the clip of when Steve met Al on YouTube.Steve was also voted, Fatea Awards Male Vocalist of the Year 2015 and Truth to Tell was chosen as one of The Telegraph’s top folk albums that year too.Born in Liverpool and raised in the Midlands, Steve made his recording debut in 1971 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 and stylistically 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; with unique arrangements of timeless classics. There’s also 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!The writer of such classic songs as The Slipjigs and Reels and the award-winning The Reckoning, is also a published author. Steve’s first novel All for Poor Jack is an historical tale set in Bristol and the New World, full of colourful characters. It’s a mighty good read and has been enjoyed by the likes of Bob Dylan no less!He’s toured with John Renbourn’s Ship of Fools, traditional singer Maggie Boyle (the classic recordings Of Moor and Mesa and All Under the Sun), as guitarist with Ballet Rambert, with Maartin Allcock & Pete Zorn in WAZ! with Brooks Williams and with his daughter Martha. Plus collaborations with alt-country band The Durbervilles and old Bristol pals Keith Warmington and the late Stuart Gordon as the Steve Tilston Trio. His most recent project is Tilston & Lowe a duo with fellow songwriter Jez Lowe, producing The Janus Game a CD of brand-new co-writes.Others have also recorded Steve’s songs. Here’s to Tom Paine is the adopted theme song for the Tom Paine Society of America and we’ve lost count of the number of versions of The Slipjigs & Reels!
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