Steve Bonham announces new album

SongsmithSongsmith – a bold new album of powerful and highly individual songs.

“Totally of its time” was how the first comeback album from Steve Bonham, The Moon’s High Tide, was described by one reviewer. Following its release Steve spent a year successfully gigging across the UK re-establishing himself as someone who people wanted to listen to. Now with its follow up Songsmith, released at the end of September, Steve can stake a claim to have really arrived as a distinctive voice in acoustic music producing of body of songs which challenge, intrigue and beguile.

Steve writes songs which draw their inspiration from an eclectic mix of acoustic and folk styles but he is not bound by them. The result is unique, coherent and absolutely belonging to itself. And this musical individuality is also matched by the subject matter and lyrics of the songs. ‘Songsmith is at once highly personal and universal, perhaps best summarised by the writer Jason Webster as a “quest for an authentic life – – reflected in the mirror of adventure”.

But is no collection of restrained introspection: songs like ‘Sister of A Dirty Moon’ and ‘Can Someone Tell Me’ are full on, full tilt featuring great percussion from Jim Higgins; ‘We Were The First’ simmers with anger and frustration at the ongoing genocide of Bushmen of Southern Africa and ‘Take The First Step’, a piece about defiantly going your own way, is just built for live performance. More thoughtful pieces such as ‘Walking the Wall’ and ‘Running Much Too Long’ are unafraid to ask some big questions and the radio hit ‘They Came Home’, is apoignant countryesque song of survival and memory.

The album will be previewed at BAAfest 11-14 September and the launched in with gigs at the Harrison in London (10th October) and National Brewing Museum (11th October) before growing number of list of gigs in the UK Autumn 2014 – Spring 2015.

‘They Came Home’ official video:

Recording Songsmith

Songsmith like the previous album was recorded in Pat Coyne’s little studio in Cong in County Mayo Ireland. It features many of the great local musicians from the area including Pat himself, Jimmy Higgins ex of the Saw Doctors and Altan; on percussion; David Doucey on fiddle and banjo and the astonishing Stephen Doherty on whistles. Once again Chris ‘the Bishop’ Lydon fulfils his role as musical director, keyboard and tuba layer and co-producer keeping things cool and together.

Also contributing, rich and varied playing of fiddle, slide guitar, bazouki,and guitar is folk veteran Tom Leary (Lindisfarne etc). Bass was provided by Steve’s old mate Kev Moore, reuniting the two for the first time in 30 years. Kev is best known for his bass playing with heavy metal and rock bands like Witchcross and Saxon but on Songsmith , Kev proves himself to be equally talented in this genre offering astonishing subtle and adept playing on tracks like ‘Sister of A Dirty Moon’. Songsmith also offered the opportunity for Steve to be reunited with his great friend Nicci Keeling (a folk diva!)on backing vocals along with beautiful voice of Sammy Carter.

Artist’s website: www.stevebonham.net