April 2011 - National Folk Festival
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Over the Easter Holiday weekend 2011 I travelled up (or is it down, i can never remember) to Canberra for the
National Folk Festival. Andrew Clermont had put my name down as part of the Supper Club who were also performing at the festival. It was a great chance to catch up with Andrew and the whole group again. I also had a good chance to catch up with Wauchope based luthier John Buckham. I also had the opportunity to play one of his guitars at the instrument makers concert towards the end of the week. The guitar was absolutely stunning to play and had amazing tone.
I got to play during the Supper Club performances and once again play 'Ocean' with Tullara with the addition of Paddy Montogomery (who we met and played with over Tamworth) who filled out the arrangement even more.
I received a call on the Monday morning of the festival from Joe Ferguson who informed me that I had been chose to receive the National Folk Festival Chris Wendt Young Instrumentalist Award for 2011. I was absolutely blown away by this. I attended the closing ceremony where I was handed the award and given the opportunity to thank Anrew Clermont and all of Supper Club for accepting me in and continually teaching and mentoring me.
Thanks again guys!!!
Steve
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January 2011 - Tamworth Country Music Festival
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After returning from Germany on a school exchange visit at the beginning of the new year I very excitedly made my way to the Tamworth Country Music Festival. My first time at the festival was last year and it was hectic. I had been in contact with Andrew Clermont and he said that there would be a performance spot at the Supper Club, which is Andrew's musical gathering of musicians that tours around the country. During the festival, Supper Club performances are held at the North Tamworth Bowling Club. I met up with guitarist friend Tullara Connors and had many an opportunity to perform our duet arrangement of John Butler's 'Ocean' which was, as always, soooo much fun!
I also entered the CCMA Talent Quest and performed Tommy Emanuel's 'Tall Fiddler' and with this, managed to win the Open Instrumental section of the competition. This was a brilliant experience and I'll definitely give it another go next year.
The festival was an absolute blast and I can't wait until next year!
Steve
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November 2010 - Schools Spectacular
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The experience that topped off the year in 2010 was having the opportunity to play at the 2010 Schools Spectacular. I auditioned earlier on in the year and was accepted as a solo instrumentalist to perform at the concert which was held in November. As an instrumentalist you never quite know what you are going to be put to work doing, whether that be backing up singers to playing in orchestra. So you would imagine my ectsatic suprise when I find out that I have been given a solo spot, where I had the entire stage, right in front of 10,000, to myself. The feeling of playing in front of such a large crowd is something that must be experienced to be believed. It was absolutely invigorating and amazing.
Big thanks to Peter Cook and Mary Lopez for giving me the opportunity!!
Steve
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30 October 2010 - Maldon Folk Festival
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On the 29th October 2010 I was off to Maldon in Victoria to perform at the Maldon Folk Festival. The weather decided to follow me and was very wet for the first part of the weekend, which made putting up a tent very interesting...
I ran into folk music guru Andrew Clermont which was a nice suprise.
The performers were sensational and I enjoyed meeting new people and hearing new music. I had three performance spots over the weekend. The first was at a small eatery/art gallery called the Penny School. The second was on site at the Tarrangower Wine Tent and the last was at 'The Maldon Hotel' I loved all three of these performances, but if I had to choose a favourite I think it would be the 'Penny School'.
I want to say a big thank you to the MC, Peter Titchener who gave me the best introduction and conlusion I think I have ever had. And also a big thank you to Greg Ginger (Outlook Communications P/L) who provided and operated the sound. Greg is one of the best sound techs I have ever had the pleasure to work with - your work was brilliant!
Some video of the event will be uploaded shortly.
I had a great weekend and will definately be back next year if invited!
Thanks heaps to Lynda Bullen who organised to have me come and play.
Steve
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23 OCtober 2010 - Dorrigo Folk Festival
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I had the great opportunity to play at the
Dorrigo Folk Festival a few weeks back. It was sensational! The performers there were amazing and also exceptionally friendly. The weather was rather suprising as it went from lovely and sunny to being absolutely soaking wet from a massive rain storm which was quite interesting.
I had three spots over the weekend. I first played at '33 On Hickory' which is a lovely pizza resteraunt in the centre of Dorrigo. Thanks for the pizza guys! The next morning I played at a 'Lick the Spoon' and enjoyed a lovely breakfast.
That afternoon I finished by playing at the 'Luncheon Pavilion' I met up fellow guitarist Tullara Connors and was amazed by her amazing voice and guitar playing during her blackboard spots over the weekend. But no folk festival would be complete without at least one playing of John Butler's Ocean, which we had a play of around the fire one night.
All in all the weekend was in my opinion, an amazing success and I will definately be back next year ready to do it all again if invited!
Thanks heaps to Bridget Sommers whom without, the festival would cease to exist and to Alison who put me up for the weekend and gave me a room and a bed. I really appreciated that. :)
Steve
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24 April 2010 - 3 Steve's Concert and my CD Launch
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Well, finally my CD has arrived and was released at the 'Three Steves Concert' held on the ANZAC long weekend. An American motivational speaker called Leo Schreven was in Australia running a weekend program and I was the pre-show musician. We incorporated the concert into the weekend.
The 'Three Steves Concert' consisted of guitar players Steve Thorneycroft, Steve Tafra and myself. It was a really cool concert and we all had heaps of fun! The 'Three Steves' are now running under the name UnEvenSteven which is derived from the duo of Steve Tafra and Steve Thorneycroft called Ephenstephen. This concert will be repeated at The Armidale Club on the 26th of June and should be a really great night.
I released my CD at this concert and have sold (and got to sign a few!) a nice couple of piles. It was a great weekend and I certainly had a great time. Thanks Leo, Steve Tafra, Steve Thorneycroft and everyone involved in making that weekend happen!
Steve
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April 2010 - National Folk Festival
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Over the Easter holidays I went to Canberra to attend the National Folk Festival. Andrew Clermont was able to get me in as a performer and I managed to get a spot in the Troubador tent run by Andrew Patterson. I also made myself at home in the Instrument Makers Building. I met many great guitar builders such as John Buckam, Jack Spira, Graham Caldersmith, David Worthy and Joe Gallacher.
I ran into Hamish Davidson who I had made contact with after Tamworth Country Music Festival and we had a good talk on numerous occasions. I managed to see the Davidson Brothers Band play one night and WOW! Those guys can REALLY PLAY!
I also saw an amazing group from Quebec called Genticorum and saw them at least twice. I also got to see the Taikoz Japanese Drumming group again after seeing them in Armidale. They were amazing as always. I also saw Mal Webb. I don't know how to describe him apart from the fact that he is a genius! He is a hilariously funny man who is unbelievable to watch. It was an absolutely amazing week and I can't wait until next year!
Steve
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January 2010 - Tamworth Country Music Week
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I recently drove down to Tamworth (I got my p's...YEAH!) for The Tamworth Country Music Festival. I had previously arranged to meet Andrew Clermont at the North Bowling Club where he was running an even called "The Supper Club". In typical musician/Steve style I got lost and ended up turning up about 15 minutes late. One of Andrew's friends told me to go up and introduce myself between songs. So I went up and introduced myself. He came up to me during the interval and simply said "So you wanna do a few songs in the next half?". So I said "Yeah why not?". Over the week I grew to love the casual and layed back manner in which events took place at the Supper Club. Basically the trick is to always have your guitar at a place where you can grab it and get up on stage because you never know when Andrew will call you up!
After playing a short set on stage a man approached me by the name of Matt Zarb. He explained to me that he had just come back from America where he had played with guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel and Andy Mckee. Matt told me how much he loved Mckee's mucic and was curious to see how long it would take him to hear that style of music played in Australia. Matt told me how much he loved my playing and my music. I continued to talk to him and he told me about his playing and played a brilliant piece he had written. Before leaving he mentioned that he was a good friend of Joe Robinson and that he would give Joe a call and introduce me to him.
I caught up with Matt the next day and he introduced me to a great guitarist/singer/songwriter called Minnie Marks. I listened to her play and MAN! can she sing! Matt introduced me to his wife Leslie and made me feel right at home with the at their busking spot outside "Filling Groovy" on Peel Street.
The next day when I showed up to where Matty was he said "Stevie! Come and meet Tullara!" He introduced me to a guitarist who to my amazement had the similar playing style as me! She even played Ocean by John Butler! Later that day I was doing a show at the Telstra Stage and felt like playing Ocean. So I went up to her and asked her if she minded me playing it. We ended up deciding to do a duet of Ocean instead. It went really well and that became the signature piece we played together for the week as well as Phunkdefied by Justin King.
I spent the rest of the week playing down the street with Tullara and also with her at The Supper Club. She then took out the CCMA Talent Quest. Nice one Tullara! And to add to this Matty Zarb won, not only the People's Choice Busking Award, but he took out the Tamworth Country Music Festival Busking Award. You deserve it Matty!
Finally the week ended and I had to return to Armidale where I will have to wait another 12 months to get to play at Tamworth Country Music Festival. However I had a great week, met GREAT people, and got to play guitar all week..what more could a man want? Thank you sooooooooo much to Matty, Leslie, Minnie, Tullara and everyone else that made it a week I will never forget! You guys are my second family and I can't thank you enough for the week. I also can't wait until next year when we can do it all again!!!
Steve
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9 January 2010 Recording CD - Winnipeg Canada
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On the 16th of November I left Sydney airport to travel to
Canada to visit with family in London, Ontario. In the week before Christmas flew to
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to record my first commerical CD. I stayed the three guys
from Absurd Machine Studios
(www.absurdmachine.com)
Michael Sanders (my cousin), James Rewucki, and Colin Muslak. The recording was
done over the weekend and after 3 days I had an album. James Rewucki did the recording
and sound mastering and Michael Sanders did the photo shoot. My first commerical album...SO PUMPED!
You can check out two of the tracks
Distance
and
2 Inches Thick
on my YouTube channel.
I then flew back to London with my cousin for Christmas. I have been here for New Years
as well. At the moment it is Saturday th 9th of January and I get on a plane tomorrow to
come back to Australia which I am also very exited about! I have had a great time and
have learnerd heaps along the way. A big thank you to: David and Donna
(my Uncle and Aunt) for puuting me up whlst I've been here, Michael and James for all
the work you have and are still doing to get my CD finished, and of course to
my parents who organised getting me over to Canada. Its been awesome!
Steve
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19 September 2009 - RSPCA Benefit Concert
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I did a gig at the Armidale RSL Club on 19 September 2009 as a fundraiser for the RSPCA.
It was a great night and the crowd was really great. In fact i think I ended
up having just as much fun as the audience did. Thank you to everyone who came
along and supported me and the RSPCA. Thanks also to Neen Brown and Naomi O'Hern
who organised the whole thing. Without you two it wouldn't have happened so thank you.
If you weren't able to come to the concert, exerpts from the concert are on my YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/stephenohern
Steve
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July 2009 Hats off to Country
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It was really fantastic to do 2 gigs at Hats off to Country to promote Lag guitars. The crowd was great and
a pleasure to perform to. They provided great encoragement and really made me feel welcome. Thanks Tamworth.
Here are a few photos of the gig by June Underwood (www.ccimage.com.au).
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July 2009 LAG Guitar Endorsement and Concert
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It was just unreal to have receive a gold endorsement from LAG Guitars as recognition of my guitar skills. It
is great to have an international guitar company demonstrate their support of up and coming your performers.
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9 May 2009 - Vorn Doolette
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I did a support gig for Vorn Doolette last night on the 9th of May. great bloke. his performance was great.
He sung all his songs with passion and soul and his voice was fantastic. He made me feel very welcome and accepted.
As it only being my second support gig, i felt it went really well. Thanks Vorn.
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23 April 2009
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Did a support gig for Benjalu.
Had a great time and really loved Benjalu.
Great music and great guy's. If you ever get to see them your in for a treat.
As for me, I really enjoyed the audience feedback which was very encouraging and lots of fun. great crowd.
Thanks to every one who came.
My next support gig is at the
Armidale
Club
on Saturday night 9 May 2009 as a support act to
Vorn Doolette
commencing at about 8:30pm.
I would love to see you there.
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22 April 2009
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My web site is being build this week. Very exiting.
Please keep dropping in and keep an eye on what is added.
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Next date
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Something coming soon!
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Thanks for dropping In.
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