Steve McGrady
Meet Scotland-born UK Open Mic performer, Steve McGrady:
Hi Steve McGrady, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:
Do you play solo only, or also in a group?
Solo
How old are you?
66
Where were you born?
Scotland
Where did you grow up?
Nottinghamshire
How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)
From my roots, I like the Celtic influence in Scottish and Irish folk music plus the influence it had on Americana. Nottinghamshire wasn’t a great place to hear live music when I was growing up but I had friends who were involved in the folk circuit and built a record collection working in a record shop while I was still at school. After that I had an internship at the local BBC radio station and met a lot of musicians ranging from the Nolan Sisters to Carl Perkins. I did my first recordings there too – Bob dylan covers!
Where are you based now, and why?
Just outside Cambridge which is a great location for playing music and meeting other songwriters and musicians.
What got you into making music in the first place?
While I was at school I became a big Fleetwood Mac fan and wanted to get a Les Paul like Peter Green. I started building my own electric guitar in woodwork class but never managed to complete it. I started playing guitar when my friend Rob passed on his 12 string acoustic that could only take 6 strings without the neck bending. Not an easy machine to play!
What instrument/s do you play?
Singing
Guitar
Guitar
Bass
Harmonica
Music Producer
Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?
Peter Green and Jeff Beck were my early guitar heroes then I had a prog rock phase out of which I would say my enduring influence was Peter Gabriel. Bob Dylan has been there since I discovered him through Desire and Blood on the Tracks (I subsequently bought all his albums and still do). Following hard on Bob’s heels would be David Bowie – also a massive influence. Emmylou Harris is amazing and listening to her introduced me to Lucinda WIllliam’s music. Talking Heads, The Clash and Elvis Costello are in there too. More recently the two top ones would be Wilco and Josh Ritter
Do you write your own songs?
Yes
How many years have you been writing songs for?
40
What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?
My preference is to develop a lyric and then work out the melody and chords but, really, the tune is usually there in my head while I’m writing the words. Sometimes I will work out a tune first then add lyrics but that isn’t my natural approach.
How long have you been playing open mic nights?
7
Why did you get into playing them in the first place?
I was playing guitar at home then started to learn how to record and overdub but found it lacked something and realised I wanted to test myself by playing live. I now play support slots and festivals but still enjoy open mics, especially to try out new songs and develop the arrangements before recording them.
What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?
Don’t worry about it, especially if you worry you’re not ready. Most audiences are supportive of newcomers and don’t hear the mistakes that you will worry about. The main thing to remember is that everyone you listen to or admire had to play live for the first time too and will have made all the mistakes you will. Each set you play will be better than the last so get up there and play.
What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?
The weirdest was definitely my first. I was about 17 and a bunch of us decided to play an anarchic version of Greensleeves at the school folk concert. The event was quite serious and we weren’t – one of the teachers set off a fire alarm to bring our set to a premature end!
If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?
Yes
What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?
There are a lot of singer songwriters trying to get an audience and there’s already a vast amount of music available (both live and recorded) so you need to choose how much time and money you’re prepared to invest in developing your career.
What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?
I’m finalising the mixes for my third album (my second solo project) and writing songs for the third with a very supportive group of similarly ‘mature’ singer songwriters and I find their talent and songs really inspiring – some give me inspiration for my own songs and some just make me want to improve my craft.
Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?
https://youtube.com/@SteveMcGrady
Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?
https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/steve-mcgrady/1563522754
Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?
What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?
stevemcgrady.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stevemcgrady.com/
instagram.com/steve_mcgrady_music" target="_blank" rel="noopener">instagram.com/steve_mcgrady_music
www.facebook.com/stevemcgradymusic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.facebook.com/stevemcgradymusic
twitter.com/stevemcgrady" target="_blank" rel="noopener">twitter.com/stevemcgrady
youtube.com/@SteveMcGrady" target="_blank" rel="noopener">youtube.com/@SteveMcGrady
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/6FVQEqyA1ihD9dWK8
We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?
No thanks!