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Steve (right with guitar) at Stonehaven

Steve was just a year old when he moved to East Yorkshire with his family who were originally from Durham in the North East of England. They settled in this area after travelling the world. Steve's dad was in the RAF and was stationed at the RAF base during his last years of service. Although his parents were accordion players, Steve in his mid-teens picked up and learned to play the guitar. He's been a musician ever since.

In the early guitar playing days he joined a 'Goth' band emulating the likes of Sisters of Mercy during their heyday. Although he's always been a fan of the music of Roy Harper. His 'Goth' years are a far cry from hisΜύ interest in folk music today. The original band produced a couple of singles and performed a session for Janice Long's Radio One show and also went out on the road.

His band, 'Stiff Kittens'. gigged around the country and also in mainland Europe picking up a small but loyal following in a number of countries along the way. They played their last gig Berlin in 1988 but shortly afterwards went their separate ways. One man from Dundee was so devastated when they gave up, they wrote to him personally to apologise.

Steve travels up and down the country to various festivals and the pictures on this page were taken at the recent Stonehaven Folk Festival in eastern Scotland where Steve played with musicians from all over the country including musician, Gibby MacNaught, who's travelling from Scotland to be at this year's Driffield Folk Festival which takes place between 22nd-23rd August.

For the past four years Steve has been involved with the festival and the event has attracted more and more performers. Steve praises Margie MacNaught for being a driving force behind the first event in 2004. This, the fourth festival, which is being supported by a grant from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and promises much for local people and tourists visiting the area.

On Friday, there will be an 'open stage' event with Gibby MacNaught and his band Schiltrum and Edwina Hayes, which will take place at the Blue Bell, Riverhead from 8.00pm. At the same time, Bridlington band Tablets of Stone will be at the Tiger Inn, another prime location for events taking place during the festival.

On Saturday, there are Open Stage, Open Sessions and workshops too. Stewart Hardy, described as one of the most talented fiddle players in Britain, will be joined by guitarist Frank McLachlan for those wanting to improve their musical skills at special workshops. Steve will also be playing his guitar at some of the events too.

During the interview for the Late Show Steve picked up his guitar and performed, 'The River Flows' a song of his own composition inspired by his travels around Scotland.

In addition to local talent which also includes The Alley Cats and Punch the Horse, the event also has a talent competition for under-16s called the 'Extra Factor. Entry is free and the winner will receive the Mima Mackinnon Wright Memorial Shield.

Full details and times of events at the Festival can be found using the links on this page.