Steve Eaves

Steve Eaves is a poet, songwriter and singer, working in Welsh. Born in 1952, in Stoke-on-Trent, England, he has lived for most of his life in the Bangor area of North Wales. He has been a performing musician for over 40 years. During the late 1960s and early 1970s he worked as a labourer and musician, with frequent forays to Chester, Crewe and other locations to perform at folk clubs and underground venues of the period. He also performed at the now legendary Les Cousins folk club in Soho, sharing the floor spot with legendary blues singer Jo Ann Kelly. He also performed with various 'underground' luminaries of the time such as Al Stewart, Tea and Symphony, and the Sutherland Brothers.

During the mid-1970s, he became a student of Welsh and French at the University of Lampeter and gained literacy skills in Welsh. He came to prominence in the early 1980s, with the publication of two volumes of poetry - mainly written in free verse - Noethni in 1983 and Jazz yn y nos three years later. In the same period, he began to apply his poetry to music, performing as a singer and guitarist, initially with his Triawd (Trio), which evolved into his current backing group, Rhai Pobl (Some People). The influence of the Blues is very significant in both his poetic and musical style.[1] Jazz, folk and rock are also cited as musical influences. Allusions to Christianity and Taoism beliefs are seen in his lyrics.

To date, he has released nine albums and two volumes of poetry. He lives in the Bethesda area of Gwynedd, North Wales, with three children. The 2007 album Moelyci, recorded over a six-year period, largely deals with his reaction to the death of his wife, Siân.

Eaves' eldest daughter, Lleuwen, is an accomplished jazz singer and musician. His youngest daughter, Manon Steffan Ros, is the author of three novels. She is twice winner of the Drama Medal for playwrights at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. On 7 June 2012 she won her second Tir na n-Og Award, primary school category, by which the Welsh Books Council honours the year's best Welsh-language book.[2]

Eaves also works as a language planning consultant.

Bibliography

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Steve Eaves" (Welsh language). Shon Williams. BBC LLEOL. British Broadcasting Corporation.
  2. ↑ "Tir na n-Og Awards". Welsh Books Council. Retrieved 8 June 2012.