“Inspired songwriting enhanced by a simple, but honest vocal approach” - Maverick Magazine
“A songwriter of telling insight and compassion” - Rock and Reel
Having played guitar since his teens, Steve worked the London music scene for over 7 years in the 1980s and with the help of three top music agencies he was working virtually full-time. After getting married he decided to commit himself to family life and may have thought his performing and writing days were over.
However, this was far from the truth as in 2001 Steve wrote ten new songs in quick succession, helped along by his newly acquired Martin acoustic guitar. The resulting debut album ‘Cut and Run’ came out in September 2002, re-igniting Steve’s musical career and including a joint album promotion with Mike Silver at the Union Chapel in Islington in October 2003.
The Stables at Wavendon Milton Keynes heard the album and booked him successively over the following eighteen months; where he performed with Ten Years After, Aynsley Lister and Carl Palmer. Touring Americana artists, Joe D'Urso and Stewboss also heard Steve's music and each invited him to join them for gigs on their 2004 tours
Steve then recorded his second album ‘Building Bridges’ which was released in March 2005 on the Smokey Rooms label. As with ‘Cut and Run’ the fluid melodies of ‘Building Bridges’ perfectly fill the contours of the heartfelt lyrics, which convey, with clarity and honesty, an emotional journey through a landscape of life experiences. The thirteen songs are intertwined with the sweet sounds of Steve's new Lowden guitar, plaintive harmonica and haunting cello, with the chilled harmonies of songwriter Nici Wilcox. That album was supported by a tour which included a launch at The Stables and two shows at The Borderline in London.
Steve’s creative flow has continued resulting in his third and most critically acclaimed album to date ‘Boy On A Beach’ being launched in September 2007 which Proper Music Distribution agreed to act as exclusive UK distributors for. This was launched at The Stables Theatre, Milton Keynes where Steve had previewed a number of the songs as Shawn Colvin’s special guest a few months earlier. Since this album release Steve has seen a meteoric rise in his popularity and wider public recognition receiving airplay and positive feedback with the album clearly appealing to a growing acoustic audience who enjoy self-styled individual songwriters. Also in 2008, Steve was also invited to play 12 string guitar on David Munyon's current album “Songs for Mary”.
To the present day Steve tours and gigs with bass guitarist Ian Catchpole and Simon Ambrose on drums. This band was formed shortly after the album launch of Boy on a beach at the Stables and the tour spanned from March through to September 2008. Ian, Simon and keyboard player George Horler have all contributed to Steve’s 4th studio album “Ungodly hour” recorded between January 09 and October 09.
Some tracks pull on many of Steve’s influences from earlier years of listening to The Beatles, Kinks, James Taylor Eagles etc. and have a distinctly 60s/70s feel but it remains, in the main, a totally contemporary highly original album crossing over many genres.
Promo CDs are being sent out to all fans on a free 3 track CD whilst the eagerly awaited release date is scheduled for the 1st Feb 2010.
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www.stevegifford.co.uk
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MANAGEMENT on 07659 145137