Événement

Mike Silver at EFC/Edinburgh Folk Club

EFC welcomes back singer and songwriter Mike Silver, a performer whose voice, musicianship and song-writing talents have been honed over a rich and well-lived lifetime. Mike's easy rapport with his audiences, the bottomless well of stories, plus his finely wrought songs based on experience, observation and wisdom - all that suggests a life-story worth many more songs and stories to come.

Mike grew up in postwar Britain influenced by early rock-n-roll acts like Buddy Holly, Presley, Everlys, Donegan, the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, Slim Whitman, Phil Harris, Connie Francis and many more. At age nine a found guitar, left by a older b rother's friend, sparked Mike off in a career path which has lasted now almost 65 years! And along the way he added in singing and songwriting to guitar-playing.

Drawn to acoustic music, Mike was soon developing his skills as a floor-singer in folk clubs, forever learning from established visiting performers until he too had the experience and expertise to take to the stage area himself, as the guest artiste. Singing his own songs, telling his own stories, following his own road, Mike toured Britain and the continent extensively during the 60s, 70s and 80s, ever gaining in confidence, strength and ability - to the extent that he was signed to Elton Johns Rocket Records in 1973, touring the USA with the likes of Dory Previn, and Ashford and Simpson.

Since those early days Mike has worked as a studio musician and backing vocalist for Charles Aznavour, Chris de Burgh, Ralph McTell and Ray Thomas of the Moody Blues and, amongst other recordings, appeared as a guest on Show of Hands Live 1992 produced albums for Martyn Wyndham-Read (Jackaroo), Anna Shannon (Overland). His ability to write and perform songs which transcend so many guitar and musical styles is recognised by many, not the least, Moody Blues Justin Hayward, who recorded Mikes song, Maybe Its Just Love on his solo album Night Flight.

Mike has accumulated an impressive portfolio of albums featuring many of his own superb compositions. Accompanied by his own multi-faceted guitar playing, as well as the contributing musicianship of many other fine players, including Gloucesters Johnny Coppin, with whom Mike has been touring and recording since 2005, the outstanding guitar work of Jo Partridge, a friend since the late 1960s and more recently the wonderfully talented multi-instrumentalist Nils Tuxen (Denmark); each of Mikes songs takes the listener on its own special journey.

When Mike was 70, a couple of years ago, he released Silver Collection, an album of 'covers' sung and performed in Mike's own style.