Guitarman plays new tune
Veteran bluesman Steve Morrison has tuned into a new career as a music teacher – and he’s loving the vibe.
The guitar ace, who has lived and gigged around Berwick for the past seven years, is now scaling new heights and teaching the young stars of tomorrow.
Ezra, aged just six, playing to an audience of more than 50 at Berwick music venue The Radio Rooms
Ezra, a guitar star of the future
Ezra, now 12, with his electric guitar and teacher Steve
He says: “I used to think of teaching as less important than performing. I was a reluctant teacher. Moving away from London and the vast circuit of live venues I took to teaching to bring me an income that still related to music and the guitar.
“But as well as enjoying the opportunity to share my guitar skills I have learnt so much these past seven years of teaching. It has helped me grow and become the musician I always wanted to be. I now wish I had taken on teaching years ago."
“I’ve got some great local promising youngsters and a few have real star quality potential like 12-year-old Ezra Kerr who has been with me since he was five.”
Steve, 66, should know. He battled to the final of the Sky TV Guitar Star show in 2016 and wowed celebrity judges – including record industry giant Tony Visconti and American jazz great George Benson – with his distinctive bottleneck finger-style technique on a battered white Fender Bullet electric guitar.
Jamming with legendary Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson and moving classical musician Milos Karadaglic to tears with his playing were two stand-out memories from the show.
Self-taught Steve first picked up a guitar as a toddler encouraged by dad (also Steve) himself a keen acoustic player. He grew up listening to blues legends like Brownie McGhee, Mississippi John Hurt and his favourite Big Bill Broonzy.
He went on to carve out a career on the London music club scene clocking up thousands of appearances over the years.
Steve’s parents retired to Berwick and Steve eventually followed them north and fell in love with the area.
“I love the pace of life here, the peace and quiet after the buzz of London, the isolation, the fresh air of Northumberland and the distinct lack of speed bumps!” he says.
His group The Steve Morrison Band – also featuring Brian Martin on bass, Jock Leathen on drums and Martin Yves on guitar – still plays regularly around the North East, from clubs like Blues and Bourbon in Newcastle to the Barrels pub in Berwick and a host of Borders venues.
For a full list of solo and band gigs for the rest of 2024: