tap shoes, harmonicas, bottleneck, guitars and voice
Influences
Vera Hall, Son House, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Blind Willie Mctell, Rory McLeod, Odetta, Elvis Presley, Billy Bragg, John Hartford,Keith Jarret, Sleepy John Estes, Dick Gaughan, Jimmy Rogers, Ry Cooder, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Oscar Cainer, Little Walter, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Barber, Beethoven, Woody Guthrie, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sonny Terry, Roy Harper, Bill Withers, Martin Carthy, Donal Lunny, Nuru Kane,Errol Lynton and other people who pour their hearts into whatever they're doing, and inspire in doing so.
Sounds Like
A mixture of all the musicians and people who inspire me. Of the words, I'm just trying to write in my own language
From the driving rhythm of his amplified two-tone tap shoes, through
the raw energy of his bottleneck and explosive harp playing, to the
wonderful words delivered with true passion, Steven Finn electrifies
audiences. Described as “one of the best young acoustic blues guitar
players on two legs” Steven is also one of only 3 UK artists to be
endorsed by Hohner harmonicas.
As a solo performer Steven has supported Rory McCleod, Martin Carthy and The Beautiful South amongst others.
Early 2008 saw Finn release his debut album ‘Houdini’s Blues’, an album of sparse beauty which was well received by critics and audiences alike. For more information please visit www.herding-cats.co.uk
"The songs on this album reflect how I see the world we live in – from war to the shooting of an innocent man getting on a train, through longing and loneliness, to hope and friendship"
Houdini's Blues was launched at the Union Chapel on the 5th April 2008.
You can buy a copy from www.herding-cats.co.uk, by clicking on the album cover below or you can download it from iTunes.
Steven Finn plays Hohner harmonicas kindly supplied by Sutherland Trading
REVIEWS
“There is a real dichotomy in this CD in that it is beautifully simple but so complex in its lyrics! It leaves you in no doubt about the ability of Steven as a song-writer. His lyrics are profound and deep, they claw in the heart of human existence in the present day; speaking of war, loneliness, and lost hope in a world tired, struggling to make sense of itself and it’s current dilemmas. It is old Blues and folk crossing the boundaries of musical prejudice to speak to a new age. The guitar work is crisp complimenting the lyric with precision. Steven knows how to blow a harmonica and make it talk! On ‘I wish I had a friend’ the vocal tells the tale whilst the Blues harp emphasizes the meaning. ‘Heroes and Movie Stars’ is a Bluesy rock ballad, basic in instrumental, but those lyrics go deep! ‘Hail to the thief’ takes on the mindless violence of our times with raw passion. A good debut album and the songcraft throughout is excellent“ (Blues Matters)
“A clean distinct folk sound not straying too far from the roots. Houdini’s Blues is an album that searches for truth, where sometimes the vocals scarily resemble that of the late Skip James. From songs like Dream Song 1 with it’s slow but very effective searching rhythm makes way to a slapping harmonic piece like “Hail To The Theif”. This is no Radiohead cover, it’s better, it’s the real thing. Add to the combination, classic folk singer songwriter songs like “Strong Storm Rising” and “All Come To Reap The Goldrush” with honest lyrics accompanied by graceful guitar playing and you have one mighty fine album” (Folk Blues & Beyond)
“The slide guitar of ‘Dream Song 1’ joined only by his solitary voice rising above the melody, evoking pictures of the dusty roads Finn’s traipsed returning homeward. ‘Heroes And movie Stars’ showcases Finn’s poetic, delicate visions of life, “in between the wars, showing off our battle scars,” he sings, conjuring a fantastic narrative to broach a brutal truth. ‘Hail To The Thief’ returns to the grassroots of blues, a harmonica Finn’s only accompaniment as the tremolo shifts in and around him and us, becoming all the more apparent the songs were recorded fully live. ?Finn does sparse to great effect, a solitary guitar or harmonica creating something far more intense than should be possible, such as ‘I wish I had A Friend,’ executed so perfectly you imagine it could even work a-cappella. ‘All Come To Reap The Goldrush’ is Finns calling card, and a perfect ending to an album of immediate beauty. Finn exhibits enough honesty in his voice and skill in composition to create a work brimming with new ideas in an old genre” (Subba Cultcha)
“This is a very cool album and well worth getting. We will be hearing more of the name Steven Finn. Brilliant!” (Folk radio)
“He plays beautiful songs, with the blues coursing through their veins. Neat little guitar figures, saucy slide and solo mouth harp pieces” (Blues night)
“In this modern world it's not often you find songs so deeply cultivated in the folk and roots tradition. Timeless, yet completely relevant, these are songs you want to listen to again and again” (Bristol folk house)
“Harmonica and guitar, a rough, gritty blues, the intensity of 'I Wish I had a Friend' recalled Johnny Cash, or Son House. He could make the guitar clang with that extraordinary heaviness, that solitude of the Blues” (Mikulin)
“On 'Houdini's Blues', Steven sings that the line between love and hate is very thin. After listening to this CD, I can also add that the line between very beautiful and extremely beautiful can be thin. A little gem in a league of its own” (Roots time, Belgium)
“Houdini's Blues by Steven Finn is just so simple and so easy - it brings the blues back home, back down, back into the real world, back to where it all began. Steven Finn writes with a clear understanding of life and its shortcomings and failings. His gritty yet mellow vocal delivery allows the listener full access to his words and his stories. Finn has the same sort of feel as the 'protest' singers that were so prominent in the 60's; he sings with passion, belief and sympathetic, if not empathetic, emotion. 'Houdini's Blues' is a delightfully simplistic blues offering that makes blues music once more real, accessible, believable and, what's more, enjoyable!” (Toxic Pete)
For bookings you can contact me here or via www.herding-cats.co.uk
Hi how are you? Thanks for the friendship and your support. I've got a new tune posted called 'Rising sun' so when you get a chance please come and have a listen and let me know what you think. Thanks very much, Peace, Pocketwotch.
Hey Steven, I think you really sold your soul at the crossroads because YOU GOT THE BLUES! Very sad that you don't come to Berlin, but if you appear one day I'll be there.
The Jim Jones Revue play a special XFM 14+ show at The Barfly in Camden this Monday. The show will be recorded and broadcast on John Kennedy's XFM Xposure radio show throughout November.
hi this is vijayan almeida lead guitar/songwriter of KIXMET thanks 4 bein friends Do visit our page and chek out our music and if you like our music, please support us by adding one song and one music video to your profile. We would love to return the favor with a gift of our next album "Power of the People" by email(10 songs). You can message us on your email on our myspace mail.
enjoy our videos and keep in touch. Follow us on twitter
Hello of Brussels. Thank you so much for the friendship and also for your beautiful songs and the attractive sensibility in your vocals and in your play of guitar, harmonicas, bottleneck ,good rythmic,big emotion. Pleasant and long musical journey.
Just a reminder that Clerkenwell's best Monday Night Folk Night will next be taking place on Monday 2nd November, featuring: Chris Sarjeant and Emma Scarr,plus floor spots and more
Emma Scarr has been active on London’s live scene for approaching two decades. A proficient performer on guitar, fiddle and banjo, in recent years she has concentrated on song craft.
Chris Sarjeant has been recently described as,".a very major addition to the British Folk Scene.." by BBC Folk-musician of the year Tom McConville who added that his guitar work is "...impeccable.."
missed you in Dachau!!!! oh, I hope your hand is better! will be back in london soon! Can I chase Harry around the yard? No stupid airports this time, germans learn slow, but they learn!
Hey People! Delta Blues legend David Honeyboy Edwards plays The Luminaire tonight at the incredible age of 94. This show kicks off another round of the 5 Years of NTSOBC Festival which continues with shows next week by The Handsome Family, Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, Kelly Joe Phelps and The Jim Jones Revue . Click on flyer for tickets..... "> Five Years of NTSOBC Festival Schedule
September
Friday 25 David Honeyboy Edwards @ The Luminaire,London, NW6 Monday 28 Handsome Family @ Bush Hall, London, W12 Tuesday 29 Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir @ The Luminaire, London, NW6 Wednesday 30 Kelly Joe Phelps @ The Union Chapel, London, N1
October
Thursday 1 October The Jim Jones Revue @ Cargo, London, EC2A
Tuesday 27 October Oysterband @ The Union Chapel, London, N1
Hi guys, we looking for gigs at any cool blues/rock clubs you might
know of?? Check out our little gift below and see if you can think of
anywhere you'd like to see us play....Any ideas and we'll follow them
up with gratitude!
">
