Who in Darnation is Seasick Steve?

American hobo blues artist Seasick Steve is famous for his creative use of self-made guitars and the mature age he broke into the mainstream. He shot to stardom over ten years ago, with his gnarly, raw performance on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny in 2006. He has continued to enthrall music fans from every corner of the globe ever since with his expressive and rustic take on the blues.

Since 2006  Steve’s released seven albums as well as winning a MOJO Award in 2007 for Best Breakthrough Act and headlining the iconic SSE Arena, Wembley last year. Collaborating with rock legends such as Jack White and Led Zepplin’s John Paul Jones over the years he’s come a long way from living rough after leaving home at fourteen and playing to anyone who’d listen.

Part of his early life was spent riding freight trains around America, working from job to job; he’d been a cowboy and a farmhand before settling into a life of music. He famously said “Hobos are people who move around looking for work, tramps are people who move around but don’t look for work, and bums are people who don’t move and don’t work. I’ve been all three.” These stages in his life are often reflected in his music where he sings of his journeys on the open road; his stories of drinking and heartbreak and winning the hearts of his audiences through his honest and gritty lyrics.

Throughout the seventies, Steve worked as a session musician, as well as producing an album by indie rock band Modest Mouse. He released his first solo album, ‘Doghouse Music’ while he was in his sixties, with his more recent albums depicting a more confident performer.

He’ toured extensively since his rise to fame; playing a variety of festivals over the years from Glastonbury to Fuji Rock in Japan. He’s a charismatic live performer, both he and drummer Dan Magnusson combine raw sounds and emotion to create a captivating live experience. Regardless of Seasick Steve’s highly romanticised backstory, his music is compelling enough to support itself.

We’re thrilled to welcome Seasick Steve to the Orchard Stage and can’t wait for the toe-tapping hootin’ and hollerin’ to commence in true Nozstock fashion.