Performing with Sue Stevens

Sue runs the Lighthouse Folk Club together with Pat Hall. The club meets on Thursday nights at 8:30pm. The new address is Rowley Regis Conservative & Unionist Club, Pennant House, 47 Hawes Lane, Rowley Regis, West Midlands B65 9AE.

Firstly the ethos of this fine club deserves a mention. The club is a non-profit organisation with every single penny made from raffles, subscriptions and visitor fees ploughed back for the benefit of the members (particularly at Christmas!). All performers are encouraged, whatever their ability, and the confidence and skills of these participants is usually seen to improve dramatically in a short space of time. Sue and Pat have created something really special here, and their dedication to the club really deserves recognition.

Sue is one of my favourite singers. There is a natural quality to her voice- bang on the note, no vibrato (ref. Judy Tzuke, Dido etc) and she sings as she speaks with no false accents. She is a very accomplished and precise fingerstyle guitarist who practises a great deal, unlike me! She has written some of the best songs I've heard- ask for her album "Stardust" and you'll see....some great songs have also been written since and as yet are un-recorded. Finally her stagecraft- the Lighthouse has brought her on as much as anyone, and she absolutely commands the stage.

Sue & Pat have become good friends of mine since I first ventured to the Lighthouse in 2001. Sue and I have collaborated musically on a casual basis more and more in recent times, with our mutual appreciation of Mary Chapin Carpenter's music, plus The Eagles etc. Now we have formalised the partnership as:

Please click logo above for more information.

 

 

Solo Work

I've been playing guitar and singing (in that order) since the age of 13 (see History), and I have a good few songs up my sleeve (see Setlist). I'm not a prolific songwriter, but those I've written seem to get a favourable reaction.

A legacy of my 15 years of duo experience is that I can play a 60's/70's night with MIDI backing for those who require it, but these days my first musical priority is the folk and acoustic scene.

My influences are very varied (see Links). I grew up with the Beatles generation, and was very soon also into British and American contemporary folk. I am just now beginning to understand how to play the blues, having been a blues fan all my life. Jazz is still a little beyond me but I enjoy jazz-funk and soul music. Luckily I can think on my feet musically, ie "busk" in most styles.

My current aims are to buckle down to some more songwriting whilst continuing to interpret the songs of others in an original way, to develop my stage presence and to promote my solo work. 

Check out my availability here.

P.S. I play a new Breedlove Atlas AC25/SR Plus with Fishman Classic 4T system (serial 06035145), a 2001 Taylor 314ce grand auditorium with Fishman Prefix Plus system (serial 20011031008), a Line 6 Variax 700 modelling acoustic (serial 04110498) and I practise on my old Pilgrim model II bowl-backed acoustic (serial 1782). I have a small Yamaha PA (Stagepas 300), a Shure SM58 to sing into and I record using a Korg D4 digital 4 track recorder. I use Elixir Nanoweb light gauge strings and have the t-shirt to prove it........doesn't everyone?!!

 

Tommy Dempsey

I provide guitar accompaniment for my friend Tommy on a regular basis around the local sessions, and appeared with him on Radio Shropshire in April 2006- (see Images and Clips).

I occasionally stand in with his regular band:  

Tommy is a consummate entertainer with his years of experience (since the Jug of Punch 60's era), his natural humour and sharp wit, and possibly a little blarney thrown in.

He is not just an Irish singer- he is a folk singer first and foremost, who happens to be Irish,  although he was born in Glasgow.

His knowledge of British & Irish folk songs is boundless, and he plays a mean bodhran!

I can pass on any enquiries to him if you contact me.

 

Sylvester's Kitchen

At last consensus on a name for this young, vibrant trio- finally named after our rehearsal space!

Richard and Rod are two of my oldest friends (ooops), recently rediscovered (see History).

We are undoubtedly the best rehearsed and least engaged trio in the Midlands, but we have notched up appearances at Lou & Bob's Strawbs night at Haven Pastures in Henley on 31/01/04, the Midland Acoustic Festival held at the Mailbox on 25/06/05, not to mention Rod's own 21 year anniversary celebration as the demon barber at Sylvester's in Harborne on 13/08/05.

Seriously, we often surprise ourselves with regard to the quality of our music, which is heavily blues influenced and without the impediment of a drummer of any sort. We are raring to go on the gig front. 

Rod on lead vocal and acoustic rhythm guitar, Richard on electric bass, me on acoustic lead guitar and backing vocal.

As always, you can contact us here.

Web Design

You are looking at the 3rd incarnation of my personal website, and this time I have built it from the ground up without relying on templates for any elements. I have also recently produced the Lighthouse Folk Club website, which I continue to maintain. Although currently working in Microsoft FrontPage, I am studying Macromedia Dreamweaver and Microsoft Visual Web Developer, and with the help of my daughter Jo, who has previously used Dreamweaver on a professional basis, I am able to offer a web design service to anyone interested. I can also do my best to steer you through the process of domain purchase and site hosting if required. My aim is to produce simple, practical, elegant websites, optimised to accomplish what you require- plenty of interested visitors. Please contact me to discuss your requirements.