Steve Roberts is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool, UK, described by The Guardian as an acoustic troubadour and bu RevolutionsUK as a songwriter to treasure.
His first proper band 16 Tambourines was a sprawling affair that played gigs as a 3 piece (the ‘angry young men’ set) up to an 8 piece with brass, percussion and on occasions a didgeridoo. The band played pubs and basement bars that usually only allowed cover bands. “We practised in the middle of town at a place called The Ministry, were the Bunnymen and Teardrops used to rehearse when they were dead famous and heard loads of great stories about them that just frustrated us. Round the corner from The Ministry was a bar called Rudi’s and we used to drink in there a lot and shout at the bands doing ‘Alright Now’ and all that. Obnoxious we were, but we felt like we were on a mission. We kept saying ‘let us play’ and they did to shut us up. “One day a lad we had seen around came up and said ‘I can get you a record deal in 6 weeks’ and we were like ‘oh go on then’ and within 6 weeks we had a deal with Arista, home of Barry Manilow. It was like a Tommy Steele film or something.” The band released their album ‘How Green is your Valley?’ and set off on tour. “They sent us off with Hue & Cry & playing stadiums with Wet Wet Wet. It was all very weird. A tour with Squeeze was great though”. The band was dropped when Arista decided to concentrate more on dance acts. A couple of weeks later the drummer joined another signed band and that was the end of it.
Steve licked his wounds and wrote songs and played in bars and one of them asked him to run a jam night. “The thought of that appalled me so I started an open mic singer-songwriter night the Acoustic Engine “. The Coral, The Zutons, Criss TT, John Smith, Tom Hingley, The Stands and Damien Rice all played it along with hundreds of great songwriters who escaped from their bedrooms onto stages.
In 2001 he put out his solo album ‘It Just Is’ on the Viper Label. The album, nominated for the Mercury Music Prize ( I wasn't shortlisted...) was a mostly biographical collection of songs written during a turbulent couple of years during which Steve’s oldest friend was murdered and a member of his family was imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit. Steve also got married and became a dad. Martyn Campbell of Lightning Seeds (now Richard Ashcroft) co-produced it. Mike Badger and Paul Hemmings ex the La’s played on it, as did Howie Payne from The Stands. “I then got lucky with some great gigs with the likes of Ron Sexsmith, Ian McNabb, Glen Tilbrook and Martin Stephenson. as well as my own tours. I got a number radio sessions and airplay, so I had fun going around on my own with just my guitar and spare undies.” He also ended up on Ricky Tomlinson’s album.”I played guitar on it and dueted with him on ‘Half The World Away!’” The fruits of this union can be heard, if you dare, on Ricky’s ‘Music My Arse’. “We did Parkinson and Noddy Holder was also in the band. I watched the show in a pub in the Highlands were I played a couple of days later. We stopped the gig halfway through and put the telly on. How odd.”
Steve’s latest album & ‘Shake It, Make It & Don’t Fake It’ is another largely acoustic based offering but rootsier and more melodic, combining samples, banjos, fiddles and 12 string guitars, but still recognisably classic Mersey-pop. Martyn Campbell, who co-produced ‘It Just Is’, is again present offering his melodic bass lines and vocals. Martyn also plays in Steve’s live band The Bank of England. Further assistance is given by Dan Dean guitarist with ex Probe Plus favourites The Onset, Robbie Taylor from bright new Liverpool band The Great North-western Hoboes and Brian Chin who co-wrote a number of songs on It Just Is.
Steve has also released a new album 'Shut Up & Sing' with his band Captain Pop.
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Steve Roberts & Zen Bank Of England's Friend Space (Top 24)
Steve Roberts & Zen Bank Of England has 610 friends.
This month we have Regina Spektor with the theme to the film Prince Caspian (but don’t let that put you off, it is really rather wonderful), Mermaid Skeletons with a great song that’s worth it for the chorus alone, the Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, who are as good as their name if not more so and finally the legendary Chip Taylor with the thought-provoking Former American Soldier. Great listening, and if you like the tracks, buy the albums!
Cheers Steve. I'm always made up to get yer seal of approval. I'll be doing my best to get to another of yer gigs soon. (gotta' book the babysitters months in advance. Literally..) Hope the family are well. Lee
Yeah, good thanks. The new Kashfi record comes out in September, so looking forward to getting stuck into promoting it. Looks like you guys are going strong as well.
Any idea who puts on gigs in Liverpool these days?
Alright Steve, Hope yer well mate. I've got a new one up that I just wrote this week. It's called 'You were Made for Me' but it's no relation to the Freddie & The Dreamers tune. Stop by & see what yer think. Take care, Lee
This Years Belladrum Tartan Heart Fringe Fringe will be opened by Little Feat. The Fringe sets the mood in the run up to Belladrum Festival August 8 9 2008 http://www. nessmp3. com/music/belladrumfestival from July 29th - August 7th and offers a highland trail for the intrepid musical explorer around some of the musical hotspots of The Highlands, with all roads leading to Scotlands freindliest family festival. Its the best week of the year to be in The Highlands. .... Click Poster to for more info
Really pleased your able to make this years fringe, I'll put you in the top friends, can't wait This Years Belladrum Tartan Heart Fringe Fringe will be opened by Little Feat. The Fringe sets the mood in the run up to Belladrum Festival August 8 9 2008 http://www. nessmp3. com/music/belladrumfestival from July 29th - August 7th and offers a highland trail for the intrepid musical explorer around some of the musical hotspots of The Highlands, with all roads leading to Scotlands freindliest family festival. Its the best week of the year to be in The Highlands. .... Click Poster to for more info
THE MOCHA LOUNGE 20 Sir Thomas Street (off Victoria Street) Liverpool L1 6BW
DOUBLE CAFÉ MOCHA FREE EVENT, ALL WELCOME
FRIDAY 6TH JUNE 2008 7pm-midnight
For writers: 7-9pm Recitals and an informal meeting to discuss your work with other writers. Dust off your manuscripts and share your words with us over a coffee or a glass of wine.
For musicians: 9pm-midnight Do ya want jam on it? A jam session, so you may play your music with other local musicians.
Let’s get to know each other and discuss how we independents can infiltrate a mass-market.
Sound equipment will be set up.
Not supported or sponsored by anyone, but ourselves.
The pleasure is all mine and thank you for accepting me! You where recomended by Alan in Darkhorse Radio who speaks very highly of you, and with good reason too I can hear. Your music is wonderful!
Have a great gig on Sunday Steve... sadly forces are against me and my party hungry mates have organised some birthdday chaos up her in Glasgow on Saturday night so the chances of me being sober or coherent enough to get my ass to the Cavern by 1.30 are zip!
Have a great gig... hopefully one day I'll get to see you again!
BRILLIANT gig at The Cavern last night - the best band I saw all evening at the IPO. DON'T MISS the chance to see Steve and the 'Bank' make their 2nd IPO appearance of the week on SUNDAY on the Cavern back stage at 1:30 pm. (with no football distractions!) Listen out for a SR track on the next Darkhorse Radio show too. Alan
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