Steve Hill, One-Man Band Casts A Spell At Academy Islington

Being an opening act is always tricky. You never know what to expect or how many people will turn up early in the hope of some good music. And then there are venues like O2 Academy Islington, where I’ve seen great opening bands playing to an almost empty room. So if challenges are your kind of thing, top of the list would be a one-man band opening for rock veterans Wishbone Ash.

But young Canadian one-man blues-rock machine Steve Hill is totally up for the challenge.

Far from the mainstream, Hill does things his own way and, in a world where most people try to follow others, we need those who take the road less travelled. His innovative approach to music lets him do and be whatever he wants on stage. He’s a singer, lead guitarist, rhythm guitarist, drummer, magician. Singing and playing guitar, he also plays bass drum, snare drum, and the audience (as they are clearly another one of his instruments).

A short, seven-song set offered a mixture of all of his released albums, called simply Volume 1, 2, and 3. Volume 3 was released just a few weeks ago on 6th of October. This performance, along with multiple dates through October and November, are part of an extensive UK promo tour.

One of the best parts of being a music photographer is being able to discover a new band and fall in love with them. That’s exactly what happened to me on that magic night. Somewhere between The Ballad Of Johny Wabo and the latest single Dangerous, I fell in love entirely with the music created by the one man standing in the blinding lights of O2 Academy Islington. When the last song of the set, a brilliant cover of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love, sounded from the stage, I looked around at the amazed audience. It was clear, that I wasn’t the only one to discover something that night. It was my all-time favourite song that once again gave me goosebumps, but this time played by just one man.

Steve Hill is currently touring as a support act for Wishbone Ash, and I strongly recommend you see him at one of his upcoming dates in a town near you. He’s one of my favourite discoveries of 2017.

Wishbone Ash – October 2017 UK Tour with special guest Steve Hill

Tuesday 31-Oct- 17 Princess Theatre, Hunstanton

Thursday 02-Nov- 17 Floral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton, Wirral

Friday 03-Nov- 17 The Tivoli, Buckley

Saturday 04-Nov- 17 Whitby Pavilion Theatre, Whitby

Sunday 05-Nov- 17 The Lowry Manchester

Tuesday 07-Nov- 17 The Flowerpot, Derby

Wednesday 08-Nov- 17 The Irish Centre, Leeds

Thursday 09-Nov- 17 Bootleggers, Kendal

Friday 10-Nov- 17 The Jam House, Edinburgh

Saturday 11-Nov- 17 The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen

Sunday 12-Nov- 17 The Ferry, Glasgow

Tuesday 14-Nov- 17 Riverside Lodge, Morpeth

Wednesday 15-Nov- 17 ARC, Stockton-on- Tees

Thursday 16-Nov- 17 The Layton, Blackpool

Friday 17-Nov- 17 The Picturedrome, Holmfirth

Saturday 18-Nov- 17 ASHCON, Clitheroe

Steve Hill was live at O2 Academy Islington, 19th October 2017

Photography & Words by Edyta K

Good Grief, Bastille Show No Bad Blood At The O2 Arena

Tonight was a night of reflection. Of celebration. Fifteen years in, Bastille sound as good, and appeal to more people than ever. The fourth time the London band have played the biggest arena in the capital and they feel at home on this stage this size, with their visuals, their anthems and their devout relationship with their fans, they belong here.

Amy Macdonald @ Hammersmith Apollo (Kalpesh Patel)

Amy Macdonald Warms A Frozen Hammersmith Apollo With Heart, Humour & Huge Hits

“Are we having a nice time so far? Are we getting a bit warmer?” Amy Macdonald grins, peering out at a Hammersmith Apollo audience bundled into coats and scarves. It’s a question that becomes a running joke throughout the night — because despite the November chill and the decidedly frugal heating, Macdonald sets about warming the 5,000-capacity venue the only way she knows how: with humour, heart, and a powerhouse performance that leaves no seat unshaken.

&U&I @ Muthers Studio (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

&U&I: Back From The Break, In The Room, And In Their Element

There’s a particular kind of electricity that happens when a band reunites after years apart. Sometimes it’s cautious,...

&U&I, Back In Birmingham As If They Never Left

Some gigs feel significant before they even begin. The return of &U&I, after nearly a decade off the radar,...

Bad Nerves @ O2 Institute, Birmingham (Nick Allan)

Never Mind A Wet Night In Stoke, Bad Nerves Made The Best Of A Cold Tuesday Night At The O2 Institute Birmingham

Bad Nerves rolled into theBad Nerves tonight armed with a setlist built for chaos, and although the room was a little quieter than expected, the people who were there lit the place up. A smaller Tuesday night crowd didn’t dull the spark – instead it made the gig feel like a secret show shared only between the band and the diehards. And the band fed off it.

Police Dog Hogan Announce New Album The Light At The Top Of The Stairs And 2026 UK Tour

Beloved Americana collective Police Dog Hogan will return this spring with their most emotionally resonant work to date. The band have confirmed that their new album, The Light At The Top Of The Stairs, will be released on 10th April, accompanied by the reflective new single Passing Through.

KillerStar Announce Second Album ‘The Afterglow’, Lead Single ‘So Easy’, And Two-Night 100 Club Residency

London art-rock outfit KillerStar have announced details of their anticipated second album, The Afterglow, set for release on 20th March. The news arrives alongside the record’s lead single, So Easy, and confirmation that the band will celebrate the album with two intimate launch shows at London’s legendary 100 Club on 6th and 7th March.

Hot Milk Bring Fire, Fury & Pure Catharsis To London’s Roundhouse

On a bitterly cold Wednesday night in Camden, Manchester hard rockers Hot Milk turned London’s Roundhouse into a...