Timelines
Tilston’s Timelines ..
Steve’s story over the years …
1971
Steve records first album, “An Acoustic Confusion” on the Village Thing label. Becomes Album of the Month in Melody Maker.
Rod Stewart likes it and orders a box full to give to friends.
1972
Records 2nd album, “Collection,” for Transatlantic Records and MCA in the US, where his style is beginning to develop a fan base. Tours Scandinavia with Fairport Convention and Mott The Hoople.
Booked to represent Britain in a musical capacity at the Munich Olympics, but due to terrorist activity, has a week’s holiday instead.
1973-76
Continues touring Europe & Scandinavia. Moves to Bristol.
1977
Sets up own Cornucopia Record label and releases 3rd album, “Songs From The Dress Rehearsal,” with support from Mike Giles (King Crimson), John Parry and pre-fame Rupert Hine, who also produced. (This rare and sought-after album to be reissued on Market Square Records in late 2004)
1978-81
Moves back to London. Secures publishing deal and concentrates on writing, performing mainly around London with his band, Loose Shoes.
Meets and marries singer Maggie Boyle, by now a doyenne of London Irish scene.
1982-85
Back to Bristol, Steve forms and performs with his own rock band and releases a 4th album on the TW label: ‘In For A Penny In For A Pound.’ Also performs in an acoustic/folk duo with Maggie Boyle and the two become part of a group of touring musicians for the Ballet Rambert Dance Company which then tours Europe, Egypt and Jordan.
1985
Helps set up Run River Records and records its first album, the highly-acclaimed ‘Life By Misadventure.’
1986
Records tracks for US label Shannachie’s music of O’Carolan & Christmas album: ‘Silently Falls The Snow.’
1987
With John Renbourn, Tony Roberts & Maggie Boyle, forms ‘Ship Of Fools,’ and records album for US label Flying Fish.
Tours Canada and USA (playing New York’s Central Park) with great success.
1988
Embarks on a 2nd US Ship Of Fools tour and includes Italy & UK.
Fired by his own interest in the instrument, he commissions the Kinkade brothers of Bristol to resurrect the Arpeggione (bowed guitar)
1989-90
Records a 2nd Run River album, the all instrumental ‘Swans at Coole.’ Plays mandolin and arpeggione on friend Bert Jansch’s album ‘The Ornament Tree,’ also on Run River. Both albums released on Gold Castle in US. Moves to Yorkshire.
1990-91
Records ‘Of Moor & Mesa‘ with Maggie Boyle for Run River in the UK and Green Linnet in the US. 1992
‘Of Moor & Mesa’ voted Album Of The Year on Boston’s prestigious folk radio station, WUMB. 1993
Steve and Maggie tour USA and Canada.
1995
Sets up own label, Hubris, and releases ‘And So It Goes.’ Secures a US release on Rounder/Flying Fish. Completes a solo tour of US.
Fairport Convention record Steve’s classic songs, ‘The Slip Jigs & Reels’ and ‘The Naked Highwayman,’ for their album ‘Jewel in the Crown’.
1996
A further Rounder release for he duo, ‘All Under The Sun,’ is recorded with backing from Fairport Convention members.
1997
Tours Australia. Steve and Maggie Boyle split up. Fairport Convention records ‘Here’s to Tom Paine,’ from ‘All Under The Sun.’
Irish songstress Dolores Keane records ‘The Night Owl,’ (from ’Of Moor & Mesa’) as the title track of her latest album.
1998
Steve records ‘Solorubato’ for Fellside; as the title suggests it is virtually solo Steve vox and guitar. Tours US.
‘An Acoustic Confusion,’ re-released on American label, Scenescoff.
1999
Releases first ‘Best Of,’ album: ‘The Greening Wind‘ for Hubris to great critical acclaim. Tours US. Fairport Convention records ‘Rocky Road’ from Solorubato.
2000
Tours UK &US.
2001
Tours UK with Fairport Convention. Releases 1st Live Album ‘Live Hemistry’ for Hubris with tracks taken from tour plus Australian live radio recordings.
‘Life by Misadventure’ re-released on Market Square Records. 2002
‘I Really Wanted You’ from ‘Acoustic Confusion,’ covered by Chicago band Mascott. Track subsequently used as a Super Bowl soundtrack.
2003
New album ‘Such & Such’ released to further acclaim on Market Square. Voted Album Of The Year on WUMB Boston. Steev publishes his first Songbook. Tours UK with support from Anna Ryder, Jethro Tull’s Maartin Alcock and Clive Bunker. Special guest is daughter Martha who has now recorded her first album.
Back in UK, watching TV at home, surprised to find himself the answer to a question on popular quiz show, ‘Mastermind’!
2004
UK, US and Australia dates support ongoing sales of ‘Such & Such’ and an ever-expanding back catalogue.
2005
Tour with Brooks Williams - A Transatlantic Song-Swap.
Of Many Hands released to critical acclaim – a favourite of BBC Radio 2s Mike Harding, in the top ten WUMB Boston and the top five best of 2005 theacousticstage.net.
2006
Toured with Chris Parkinson – A DVD in the Guitar Maestro series released in March.
2007
Touring for the first time with daughter Martha Tilston the “like father, like daughter…” tour.
Reaching Back CD boxed set retrospective released by Free Reed Records.
2008
New CD Ziggurat released June 2008.