Seasick Steve - Manchester Apollo

Walking onto the stage you felt an immediate presence as SeaSick Steve faced his fans of the Manchester Apollo.

They erupted into applause and screams as he walked on playing one of his many battered old wooden guitars, looking in wonder to the sight of a sold out Apollo audience.

With his response to many women yelling out to him he replied “I can’t believe it…the girls are screaming at me!”. The Manchester venue erupted with women and even men screaming louder for him.

Steve was born in 1941 and he learned to play the guitar at the young age of 8 years old. By 14 Steve had left his household.

He ended up living on streets across the U.S.A and he would travel long distances often by jumping onto freight trains to look for work.

He found work in varied places working jobs as a carnie, a cowboy, a migrant worker, a farm labourer but often living as a ‘hobo’.

He has in recent years toured extensively at a large number of venues and festivals throughout the UK since his first appearance on Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny on BBC which was broadcast on New Years Eve 2006.

This tour being his 4th UK tour and recently being nominated for a Brit Award in the category of International Solo Male Artist.

I think it’s safe to say he’s come a long way since his days of living on the streets of the States!

The stage at the Apollo had been transformed into what looked like a warm cosy Deep South front veranda with coloured fairy lights and tasselled lampshades, the only form of lighting on the stage.

A clothes line was hung right across the back with dungarees’, Jeans and T-shirts suspended from it, along with a neon ‘Budweiser’ sign.

My personal favourite was the ‘Dirty Horrible Scummy Bastard Local Crew’ T-shirt pegged up behind Steve.

‘Started out with nothing’ was one of the first songs that Steve played; this being possibly my favourite of his songs.

The distinct Deep South bluesy twanging sounds of his guitar are unique to say the least, delighting the crowds with each track…a memorable concert.

If you ever get the chance, it’s one not to miss!

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