“the sort of original performer who moves the folk process along” Folk On Tap
It's a hot summer's night in Xela, Guatemala and Steve Hughes is finishing the first of several sets he would perform at the wonderful Green Room Café. Never one to worry about being different, tonight Steve chooses to leave the stage mid song, serenading audience members and bar staff with a multi-lingual love song that everyone can join in with. This is one of the happiest tunes you'll ever sing, whether your language is English or Spanish, Swahili or Punjabi. The kitchen staff come to watch, dancing in the doorway and the owner shakes Steve warmly by the hand when the song is done and the applause subsides. After encores, Steve is booked to appear again the following week, and for every week he would remain in town.
Born to an English mother and Welsh father in Bristol, South West England, Steve credits much of his ability as a songwriter to childhood influences. His mother shared her love of language, literature and theatre with her two sons but, despite his brother constantly being at the piano, music was rarely a part of Steve's life at that time. He recalls with affection his father's stories, often made up on the spur of the moment. Steve's dad comes from a long line of Welsh language poets and storytellers. "There's something in the blood that makes us make things up!" Steve insists. And perhaps the influence of generations of Celts weaving magic into words has rubbed off just a little on the songwriter today.
At 16, having spent what he terms 'the worst days of his life' enduring the British educational establishment, Steve left school to spend time in Europe and turn his hand to several different trades. A few years later an unpaid job as a roadie for his girlfriend's dad's band became the inspiration to start playing. It wasn't too long then before the performer in him emerged and Steve trod the boards for the first time after the house lights went down. As a songwriting career slowly developed, the opportunity to become involved in theatre alongside music presented itself. Steve was to spend five years touring part time with Rumbling Spires as a storyteller, puppeteer, technician, and finally, musician. Other projects spun off the RS work and Steve became involved in creating audio and visual theatre projects for a variety of companies until in 1999 the breakdown of a personal relationship between the two key figures in RS forced the company to close.
This background in theatre and puppetry has nevertheless markedly played a part in developing a highly original songwriting style and distinctive performance technique. Equally, the storyteller in Steve has provided a space for the political activist on stage. True to his words, Steve lives what he sings about - he's been involved in several direct actions for environmental and political campaigns, is a founder member of a local Greenpeace group, and has played numerous benefits for human rights, peace, humanitarian and ecological causes.
Steve has now become a familiar face locally with sets at festivals, clubs and pubs and residencies at two of the region's premier roots venues, the Albert Hole, Bristol and the Porter, Bath. He proved his worth at the 2001 Sidmouth Festival where a first time gig on the Open Stage led to being selected for the Festival Showcase concert and a request to return again the following year. His abilities and successes haven't escaped the eye of the media. Steve has made live appearances on BBC radio, been recorded for BBC and Channel 4 television, and amassed an impressive catalogue of glowing reports in the local rags.
Steve has had the good fortune to appear on the same stage as many nationally and internationally famous acts - Eliza Carthy, Rock Salt & Nails, and Rory McLeod to name a few - often to their acclaim: "…an amazing set" (Paul Downes); "brilliant" (Isaac Guillory). He has also collaborated with some of the most talented and exciting musicians in the West Country - artists such as Gerry Colvin, Liz Tedbury, Simon Boulter, Tim Brine and Sue Franklin - some of whom are themselves now making headway on the national scene.
Back in 1997 Steve co-founded the original songwriters' co-operative, New Music Network along with Gerry Colvin (Colvin Quarmby / Terry & Gerry) for the promotion of emerging music. The work of NMN benefited well over 100 members in the four years before Steve handed over the reins and has been imitated across the world (to see some of the organisations now involved in promoting new music according to our original philosophy or under our name, click here). Steve's own NMN performances included BBC Music Live in Bristol's historic harbour and a 3 year residency at superb local arts venue, the Hope Centre.
By 2000 it was becoming clear that a recording was the obvious next step in Steve's career. One night after opening for acclaimed songwriter Robb Johnson, Steve was offered the chance to record for Robb's label. It was decided that Irregular Records would form a co-operative subsidiary called UNLaBELLED for the benefit of several artists releasing CDs and hoping to ease their way into the national circuit. During several sessions in 2002, using home based digital equipment, Steve recorded his debut CD, "the love you shared". This full album of 13 songs is an entirely solo effort with the exception of "Dance and Go Yeah!" which features fiddle ace Liz Tedbury. Eighteen months on from its release, the CD has attracted praise indeed from some of the country's leading folk and roots music media and led to two national UNLaBELLED package tours.
Looking back with Steve over the past 14 years of playing, singing, writing and performing, it's clear to see the joy it's brought him. His face lights up at the memories of gigs, and the people he's met. That smile, for which he is renown, a constant source of comment by those at his shows, beams across his face. Not so long ago Steve made a live broadcast on local radio. The presenter asked what he hoped to achieve from his music. Steve pondered, fame, fortune or simply a stable income? “No,” he grinned, “I just hope they enjoy it and it makes them happy.”
