Steve Turner

Steve Turner, (UK) traditional and contemporary singer, concertina accompaniment, cittern, mandolin, tenor banjo.

Steve Turner can boast a long list of accolades from the folk world including “majestic, brilliant, sheer genius and foremost concertina player of his generation”. 

He is known as a pioneer of highly sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments, stretching the boundaries of traditional forms, with one of the best voices in the business. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who also accompanies himself on the cittern, and also plays mandolin and tenor banjo.

Steve began his career on the Manchester, UK folk scene at the end of the ‘60s, with the Geordie band “Canny Fettle”, touring with them for eight years and making two albums with them.

In 1979 he won the UK Melody Maker’s national “Stars of the 80s” competition, which persuaded him to turn professional, and for the next 12 years he toured solo, nationally and internationally, releasing four albums with Fellside Records during this period (Out Stack, Jigging One Now, Eclogue and Braiding).

After 13 years away from the folk scene he made a welcome return in 2004 performing in folk clubs and festivals, and in 2008 producing his 5th album, the highly acclaimed “Whirligig of Time” which featured UK luminaries Martin Carthy, Nancy Kerr and Miranda Sykes.

Since then he has released further albums, “Rim of the Wheel” , “Spirit of the Game” and “Late Cut”, and his latest much anticipated 9th album “Curious Times” featuring Martin Carthy, which was released in Spring 2023.

He has also been interviewed in leading articles in the UK folk magazines fRoots and Living Tradition and RnR.

Quotes:

“For me in terms of song accompaniment, he is the foremost concertina player of his generation – the Master” [Pete Hayward, Living Tradition]

“When asked what’s the best gig you ever saw, Nancy Kerr answered “… Steve Turner …“” [fRoots interview]

Discography

The following CDs are available directly from Steve Turner’s website;

• Curious Times (2023)
• Late Cut (2019)
• Spirit of the Game (2016)
• Rim of the Wheel (2012)
• Whirligig of Time (2008)
• Braiding (1986)
• Eclogue (1984)

The following CDs are currently unavailable:

• Jigging One Now (1982)
• Out Stack (1980)