Steve Turner is one of those artists who have been the backbone of the British folk scene. 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. His 9th album Curious Times, featuring Martin Carthy, was released in 2023, with his latest album A Host of Furious Fancies, due for release early in 2026.
Steve’s musical story started in the Manchester folk scene in the late 60s. His route to music was via the Beatles and then Dylan. Steve was playing a floor spot in 1971 where Canny Fettle were the main act and Bob Diehl, their fiddler, asked if he wanted to join the band. Steve was in the group for seven years during which time they made two albums, ‘Varry Canny’ and an LP of tunes from the Joshua Jackson collection – both groundbreaking albums for their time. After Canny Fettle, Steve spent three years dealing in folk instruments then went fully professional as a musician from 1980 until 1991. He made four solo albums, all with Fellside, setting the standard for a number of songs. 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. His 9th album Curious Times, featuring Martin Carthy, was released in 2023, with his latest album A Host of Furious Fancies, released early in 2026.
Steve is half Scots, his mother came from Clunie near Blairgowrie. Steve is from Manchester where his grandfather was a barber for the Manchester City players. A birth certificate lists Steve’s grandfather as ‘a journeyman hairdresser’. He was also a sailor who sang and played the concertina – playing and singing as long ago as the 1890s. Steve inherited his concertina. “The concertina lay in a box in the shed for over ten years. I popped in occasionally and opened the box but when I eventually took it out it came out of the box in two halves!”
Although Steve is generally modest with his talent, the Steve Turner this time around is more self-confident, although still understated. “All that I can do is what comes within my remit, but I would like people to be able to say – ‘If you want a concertina accompanist, Steve Turner is your man!’”
Steve thinks that this recording is his best work to date, which is saying something as he sets his own standards very high. As Series Director I have kept a very light hand on the production reins of these recordings and in every case I have been well rewarded by my trust in the artistry and taste of all of the singers presented within The Tradition Bearers. Although there is a common thread of tradition within the body of recordings, each singer brings their own distinctive interpretation to any song. I consider Steve to be one of a few in any generation who also takes an instrument to another level. There is depth in these songs and in these performances and I hope that they will bring you pleasure with each listening.
Pete Heywood – Series Director
Steve Turner – talking about his first Tradition Bearers release Whirligig of Time
This is my first recording in CD format, and my first album since my ‘Braiding’ LP (1986). It has taken just over three years to complete, so has been pretty much of a marathon for various reasons. Things have moved on over the period that I’ve been making this CD, mainly in that I’ve started to accompany some songs on the cittern made and kindly donated to me by Kai Dase. I’ve also reassessed a couple of songs from earlier albums; the Glendy Burke and Isle of St Helena.
I’ve noticed my approach to singing has changed over the years; a natural progression insofar as one of the few advantages of the ageing process is that experience of life offers perhaps a little insight into and more perception of a song, both vocally and emotionally. One of the things that I am trying to do with my music is to extend the boundaries and experiment with songs that can be accompanied on the English concertina and still hopefully sound credible, for example ‘Where’er You Walk’, and make people realise the potential of the concertina as an accompanying instrument.
The songs on the album encompass the whole spectrum of my musical life, from almost the beginning to songs I have learnt very recently after my twelve year break from the folk scene. Most of the songs on this album are traditional, not because I have a background or heritage in that or any other type of music, but because the first music I encountered when I began to sing in public was folk songs. My father was ‘the Man from the Pru’ and my grandfather was a barber – not a great source of songs, in fact the only hairdressing songs I know were written by Mozart and Rossini. If I like a song enough, and feel it has a strong tune and a good story, I will try and interpret it in my own style. I enjoy opera and listen to it and sing it enthusiastically, though not necessarily with a lot of skill.
All solo and duo tracks on this CD are played live with no concertina double tracking. The concertina I play on this record is a wooden ended 64 key Wheatstone English system bass / baritone / tenor aeola in High Pitch (i.e. A-452). Its serial number is 32306 made in 1929. It is an ex-Salvation Army band instrument with the buttons arranged to be played comfortably in flat keys. The four bottom buttons on the left hand side have ‘anglo’ action, i.e they play two notes per button, thus extending the range of the instrument to 68 notes. The Doncaster Salvation Army band was one of the top bands in the country in the early 20th century and I bought the concertina in the late 1970s from a Salvation Army Colonel who played in the in Doncaster Band in the earlier years of the century.
The piccolo concertina I use on ‘Dudley Boys’ is a 48 key Wheatstone amboyna ended aeola with gold buttons, serial number 30953 made in 1926. It makes more noise than the rest of the band put together if not seriously “strangled”!
Steve Turner, March 2008
STEVE TURNER RELEASES
WHIRLIGIG OF TIME – LTCD1103
The Isle of St Helena, The Dry Cardrona / One Bad link in the Chain, The Poor and Single Sailor, Bonnie George Campbell, The Rambling Beauty, The Glendy Burke, Young Waters, The Gold Watch, Sir Colvin, The Brave Dudlley Boys, Where e’er you Walk
Steve Turner – vocals, English concertina, piccolo concertina, cittern and tenor banjo: Martin Carthy – guitar: Nancy Kerr – fiddle, harmony vocals: James Fagan – harmony vocals: Oliver Knight – guitar: Kevin Brown – slide guitar: Miranda Sykes – double bass: Gill Redmond – cello: Riki Gerardy – cello: Pete Flood – drums
RIM OF THE WHEEL – LTCD1104
Jordan, William Glenn, Peace Descends, Lass of the Moorland Hill, Flowers of Manchester, Boomers Story, Thomas of Yonderdale, Follow the Drum, The Crows they Crow, Claudy Banks, Napoleon’s Farewell to Paris
Steve Turner – vocals, harmony vocals, English concertina, cittern: Moira Craig – harmony vocals: Martin Carthy – guitar: Pete Flood – percussion/drums: Oliver Knight – electric guitars: Riki Gerardy – cello
This album received rave reviews – David Kidman in N.E. Folk Roundabout called it “sheer genius a sure contender for one of my folk albums of 2012” This was backed up by many festival bookings and re-plays on the radio on the Mike Harding Show Radio 2 and Late Junction Radio 3.
SPIRIT OF THE GAME – LTCD1105
Green Mossy Banks of the Lea, Blow Ye Winds, Lampedusa, Loose Every Sail, The Maid of Erin, Old Maui, Gentle Lena Clare, Highland Soldier, Wholly and Fairly, Plains of Waterloo, Done with Bonaparte,When the Roll is Called up Yonder
Steve Turner – vocals, harmony vocals, English concertina, cittern, tenor banjo: The Wilsons – choruses: Riki Gerardy – cello.
LATE CUT – LTCD1106
Lily of the West, Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow, Sullivan’s Farewell, On the Road to Tipperary, Babylon is Fallen, Palestine, Evening Love Song, Is Your Love in Vain, The Two Sisters, The Rambling Sailor, Mary of Argyle, Bide a While
Steve Turner – vocals, English concertina: Sam Carter – guitar, harmony vocals: Eliza Carthy – harmony vocals: Martin Simpson – five string banjo: Gina Le Faux – fiddle: Simon Dumpleton – keyboard
Riki Gerady – cello: Tim Yates – double bass: Bob Hallard – harmony vocals.
CURIOUS TIMES – LTCD1107
When Ladies Go A-Thieving, The Cruel Mother, Sail On, Fare You Well My Dearest Dear, Little Fishie/When The Boat Comes In , Bonnie Brid, Come Come My Brave Boys, The Snowy Breasted Pearl, With Wellington We’ll Go, In Rochester City, Cane On The Brazos, The Vacant Chair, Tom Bowling
Steve Turner – vocals, English concertina: Martin Carthy – guitar: Moira Craig – harmony vocals: Riki Gerady – cello: Rob van Sante – baritone guitar, synthesizer, harmony vocals: Liz Turner – harmony vocals: Alan Rose – harmony vocals.
A Host of Furious Fancies – LTCD1108
Erin’s Green Shore, Adieu My Lovely Nancy, The North Sea Tug, The Navigator’s Song, The Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle, Van Diemen’s Land, Mr Ineas, The Outside Track, Love Minus Zero No Limit, The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow, Tom a Bedlam’s Song
Steve vocal – English concertina: Rob van Sante – guitar, baritone guitar, bass guitar: Chris Parkinson – keyboard.
BRAIDING
Glendy Burke / Swanee River Hornpipe, The Lorry Ride, Nelly was a Lady, Joe Liddy’s Reels, Emily Jane, Hard Times, 1812: Napoleon’s Dream / Napoleon’s Grand March / Bonaparte crossing the Rhine / Bonaparte’s Escape from Russia / Bonaparte’s Retreat
Steve Turner – Vocals, Concertina, Mandolin, Tenor Guitar: Linda Adams – Backing Vocals: Steve Czwortek – Electric Guitar, Harmony Vocals: George Faux – Fiddle, Viola, Guitar, Harmony Vocals: Julie Murphy – Harmony Vocals: Bill Martin – Keyboards: Paul Adams – Percussion, Backing Vocals: Dave Walters – Acoustic Guitar.
ECLOGUE
The Wounded Whale, White Copper Alley, Prospect Providence, The Old Manchester Hornpipe, The Boomers Story, The Girls Of Glossop Road, The Diamantina Drover, Napoleon’s Farewell To Paris, The Bunch Of Rushes, Lord Thomas Of Winesbury, Me And My Uncle, Tamlin / Carlisle / Francis T. Robertson (Reels)
Steve Turner – Vocals, English Concertina, Mandolin, Bouzouki, Tenor Banjo, Tenor Guitar: Linda Adams – Backing Vocals: Pete Young, Steve Greenmantle – Bass Guitar: Jim Couza – Hammered Dulcimer: Martin Colledge – Guitar: Martin Simpson – Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar: Cockersdale – Harmony Vocals: Tristram Robson – Harpsichord: Paul Adams – Wood Block.
JIGGING ONE NOW
The Squid Jigging Ground, Salt Creek / Hare-Lipped Susie / The Growling Old Man And The Cackling Old Woman, Johnny Laddie, Bonnie Annie, Few Days, Make And Break Harbour, The Bracelet / Jack’s Getting A Wife (Slip Jigs) / The Skipper’s Wedding Song / All Hands Upon Deck / Morpeth Lasses (Reels), The North Sea Tug, Down By The Greenwood Side, The Keepers And The Drivers
Steve Turner – Vocals, Concertinas [English, Treble, Tenor-Treble and Bass], Mandolin, Guitar, Bouzouki, Octave Mandola: Sara Grey – Banjo, Harmony Vocals: Nic Jones – Guitar, Fiddle: Ellie Ellis – Harmony Vocals: Paul Metsers – Harmony Vocals, Guitar: Richard Smith – Hurdy Gurdy.
OUTSTACK
Plains Of Waterloo, Barratt’s Privateers, The Red Joak, The Isle Of St. Helena / Spailpin A Run, The Flowers Of Bermuda, Valentine O’Hara, Farewell Dearest Nancy, Saxa Vorda / Da Saandie Burn Reel, The Cruel Sister, Is Your Love in Vain
Steve Turner – vocals, tenor banjo, English concertinas: Martin Colledge – guitar, whistle: Bill Hyde – five string banjo: Gerry Murphy – Northumbrian small pipes, English concertina: Pat Knowles – piano: Bob Tracey – fiddle: Nan Trench – flute.