Current members: Emma Buxton - flute; Steve Morgan - lead vocals, twelve-string acoustic guitar.
Previous members (Lancaster): Phil Bates - bass, drums; Tommy Bohan - lead electric guitar; Dave Cantle - saxophone; Jacob Cordingley - keyboard, mandolin, lead electric guitar; Sean Monk - drums, percussion; Jacob Nizzola - percussion; Andy 'Jave' Smith - bass, percussion; Luke Williams - drums.
Influences
A-Z: ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Ryan Adams, Nels Andrews, The Arcade Fire, Joseph Arthur, Jeff Buckley, Bernard Butler, Gilby Clarke, Dishwalla, The Doors, Drive-By Truckers, Dufus, Bob Dylan, Ezio, Filter, Guns N' Roses, Ed Harcourt, Hefner, Imperial Drag, Jane's Addiction, Jetplane Landing, Micky Kemp, King's X, Led Zeppelin, Chris Mills, Derrin Nauendorf, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Damien Rice, The Rolling Stones, Seafood, Slobberbone, Spacehog, Sufjan Stevens, Stolen Bibles, Stone Temple Pilots, The Tea Party, Toadies, Rosie Thomas, The Wildhearts, Frank Zappa.
Sounds Like
Acoustic folk-rock with a twist... strange lyrics, lots o' chords and some unexpected influences - all on a twelve-string acoustic guitar! Hard to describe, so have a listen!
Steve Morgan is a contemporary singer-songwriter from Cardiff, Wales. Since 2004, he has performed acoustic alternative-folk, all carried out on a twelve-string acoustic guitar. Although mainly a solo musician in his own right, for over two years – while living in Lancaster – he had his own backing band, consisting of electric guitar, keyboard, mandolin, bass, drums, percussion and flute. Unfortunately the line-up was forced to disband when he moved back to his hometown, but he is still regularly joined onstage by the flautist.
With performances in various places all over the UK, Steve has played at over 80 gigs, with a total of over 200 live performances if open mic appearances are also included. His musical style is very flexible and works well at both extremes, having been a part of relaxed, chilled-out acoustic nights as well as having previously supported hard rock and heavy metal bands. In his years of gigging, he has had the pleasure of supporting some well-known signed and unsigned acts, including Leni Ward, Jon Redfern, Ivan Campo, Toy Horses, Vijay Kishore, Post War Years and The Displacements.
In addition to a wealth of live experience, Steve also has a lot of experience with recording, having released two five-track EPs: Bad River EP in 2006 and Calmer Than Karma EP in 2008. Both of these were self-released and entirely self-financed. They were recorded with a full backing band, with the later release also containing a couple of solo live tracks, taken from a recording of a gig in 2007. Both EPs received high acclaim from music critics nationwide:
Bad River EP (2006):
"Bad River is a breath of fresh air... This really is an EP for everyone... Highly recommended" - SCAN (Lancaster University Newspaper)
"I have no hesitation whatsoever in giving this a 100% rating" - Jukebox
"Bad River is a collection of songs that showcase Steve Morgan as a name to watch closely in future" - UKmusicsearch
Calmer Than Karma EP (2008):
"Morgan's songwriting ability is very impressive... Calmer Than Karma is yet more proof of the obvious talent out there." - Glasswerk UK
"A cleverly majestic EP." - Room Thirteen
"Morgan shows massive potential here with brilliant powerful songwriting and tangibly punchy but expressive performances. The whole alt folk-rock thing is a very competitive place to be but Steve Morgan shows he's got what it takes to become a leader in the field!" - Toxic Pete
Steve had a very successful 2008, which has lead to an extremely promising 2009. He had two hugely successful headline shows in Lancaster, with his second EP launch event in June and his farewell gig in November, both of which had excellent turn-outs and which were run, organised and promoted by himself. He also received label interest from a number of indie labels based in the UK.
The new EP:
Calmer Than Karma EP was officially released worldwide on 16th June 2008! You can buy it on CD or on MP3 via my official website: www.morgasmic.co.uk!
The tracklist is:
1) Calmer Than Karma
2) Jouissance
3) I'd Like To Share My Time With You
4) M.F. (Live)
5) Whiskey (Live)
To buy it on CD, please visit the above link, click on the picture on the right and select the relevant PayPal button. It costs £1 in the UK, £1.50 in Europe and £2 elsewhere, including postage and packaging.
Alternatively, to buy as individual MP3 files, please visit my indiestore page.
Please also note that my debut release - 2006's Bad River EP - is also available on CD and MP3 via my official website and the indiestore link respectively.
Hello, after an unfortunate hiatus, the reasons for which are probably best not gone into here, we finally have some new music on the AUK MySpace site. For your listening pleasure this month we offer Nathan Oliver, Conrad Ford, the irrepressible Todd Snider and the delightful Beccy Owen. Don't forget too, for those of you within striking distance of Leicester, Electric Dustbowl 2 on 19 September.
Hi, guys,
Just wanted to let you know that round 1 of the next People's Music Awards kicks off on the 12th of June 2009, and we are putting the call out to all NEW AND UNSIGNED BANDS to enter their best song into this years awards (completely free of charge).
Hi Steve, lovely to hear from you! Hope the music is flowing beautifully! Youre sounding good! We would love to get a gig in Cardiff, any places you would recommend?
Hi Steve Thanks for finding us Love your stuff and I hope you'll be able to come down to the new open mic at Varsity, Roath on the last Monday of each month, starting April 27th http://talismansounds.com/ Hope to see you soon, Andy
Hello, it's that time of the month again when we add more lovely music to our site. This month's happy foursome are The Barker Band in wistful mode, the summer of love-ish Old Californio, the anything but summer love-ish Christopher Rees and, wait for it..."Travelling Salesman's Young Wife Home Alone On Christmas In Montpelier, VT" from Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, which evenr if it was rubbish (and it's not) just had to be included for the names alone.
Itâs that time of the month and our site has four new tracks up for your listening enjoyment.
This monthâs box of delights include the swaggering groove of Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, the insanely catchy folk-pop of Antje Duvekot, the languid Great Lake Swimmers and, a little belatedly but better late than never, The Young Republic.
A particularly strong month, even if we do say so ourselves. Check them out, you won't regret it.
hey steve, good to see you too. thanks for the offer of a place to stay, much appreciated. Good to see you play too even though you did have to wait until dawn! see ya soon! jo x
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