Steve Tilston is an English folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from the United Kingdom, born in 1950 and raised in Leicestershire after being born in Liverpool. Before turning to music in 1971, he works as a graphic designer. His work combines classical music with Irish and English folk, and he also plays the arpeggione, a bowed guitar-like medieval instrument.

Career

Tilston records as a solo artist and also performs with Maggie Boyle as Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle. He is a former member of John Renbourn’s group Ship of Fools, which releases one album, and later joins WAZ! with Pete Zorn and Maartin Allcock. He also performs in the Steve Tilston Trio.

In the early 1980s, he runs a folk club with Bert Jansch in New Kings Road, London. In 1985 he tours with Ballet Rambert, with his guitar and mandolin playing contributing to the collaboration. He forms his own label, Run River, in 1987 and later sets up Hubris Records in 1995. He also releases music through Cornucopia Records and Hubrisity Music.

Recordings and collaborations

In For A Penny - In For A Pound is a rock album, after which he returns to quieter material. In 1990 he appears as a session musician on Peter Bellamy’s Soldiers Three. His 1992 album Of Moor and Mesa receives strong reviews in the United States and includes the compositions “Slip Jigs and Reels” and “Naked Highwayman”, both later recorded by Fairport Convention. In 1996 he records All Under The Sun with Maartin Allcock. In 2003 he moves towards melodic jazz on Such And Such, an album with saxophonist Andy Sheppard. Live Hemistry is a live album built around many of his best-known songs.

Reaching Back is issued as a five-CD box set of his songs, including rarities and contributions from Wizz Jones, Ralph McTell and Coope Boyes and Simpson.

Songs and influence

Tilston’s songs are recorded by other artists including The House Band, Peter Bellamy, Bob Fox and Fairport Convention. “Night Owl” is recorded by Dolores Keane and gives its title to her 1998 album. The Tom Paine Society selects “Here’s to Tom Paine” as its theme song.

Family and teaching

His daughter Martha Tilston is also a professional folk singer, and his son Joe Tilston performs with the ska-punk band Random Hand. He also works as a tutor at summer camps.