Steve Simpson Benefit Gig

Aim

Benefit event for Steve Simpson

The term “musicians’ musician” is over-used but perfect in the case of guitar/mandolin/fiddle maestro and singer/songwriter Steve Simpson. For the last half century he has delighted audiences in such cherished company as powerhouse singers Frankie Miller and Roger Chapman, bluesman Eric Bibb, the late Ronnie Lane in Slim Chance (a version of which, to this day, keeps Ronnie’s legacy present), club favourites Meal Ticket and, in latter years, his own Steve Simpson Band as well as collaborations with (old Meal Ticket pal) the late Willy Finlayson, Papa George and Pete Bruntnell.

In the studio, Steve can be heard with acts as diverse as The Blues Band/Dave Kelly and The Rutles. His versatility and vast musical vocabulary made him a go-to for so many in the last few decades.

Since late 2023, Steve has been unexpectedly incapacitated and thus unable to earn a living. His old friends in Slim Chance and the Cavern Freehouse in Raynes Park have already staged benefit events for Steve and the opportunity to keep this momentum going via this crowdfunder and a performance at High Tide Twickenham 2024 proved irresistible.

‘A Goodly Thrape’ is the tongue-in-cheek observation Steve has often applied after a successful gig, and thus named the combo (including noted singer/songwriter Pete Bruntnell, Chas Cronk (The Strawbs), guitar master Papa George and organist Rob Millis (Dave Kelly/Steve Simpson Band) who will be performing a benefit set, with guests, at Patchworks, 8pm on Sun 28th July for High Tide 2024.

This project successfully funded on 11th August 2024