Bluenose B
Working under the name Bluenose B since the 1980s, Liverpudlian songwriter Stephen Lawson is a child of one of our toughest city’s harshest estates, an environment to which he returned, having qualified as a mental health professional. Unsurprisingly, his hard-edged indie-folk reflects his experiences as both participant in and observer of those who have been left behind.
As a musician his pedigree can be traced back to the second Scouse Invasion, playing in bands alongside the likes of Echo and The Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes and enjoying the support of the legendary John Peel, among others.
More recently, his writing has become more folk-oriented, as he looks to tell the stories of people at the margins, often forgotten, frequently overlooked, but while life can be hard, it can also offer richness, fulfilment and hope.
The Single:
Based on a short story by Stephen, Minstrel of the Wasteland offers a vision of the near future where music is outlawed, and musicians are punished for spreading messages of love and hope. Join the journey of a brave minstrel in his search for a legendary songwriter who defied the authorities by playing a forbidden song. Wandering a world where words have been twisted and meanings have been changed, where the power of music can still bring hope and unity, will the minstrel succeed in finding the secret to breaking the oppressive regime? In a story of defiance and creativity, does the minstrel find the desolate bar in which the magic of ‘Hey Jude’ can still be heard and felt?
In another prophetic view, both the booklet and the video make use of AI images generated through Stephen’s descriptions of his friends, fellow musicians and the dystopian, post-apocalyptic wasteland through which they search.
The Album:
Perhaps more introspective than his previous albums, which looked at the lives of those around him, the 14 tracks tell tales of fine times with good friends, good love lost, bad love regrets, opportunities missed, the passing of time and inevitably of comrades too, ending on a personal note, as the years take their toll on the street-fighting prowess of his father - Stephen can never be described as your average folkie and his songs often reflect a grittier, very different side of life to the one that most of us know. Folk North West magazine described him ‘as modern as folk gets’.
The Minstrels:
Besides his own vocal and keyboards, Stephen is joined by his sister Rachel, making her recording debut, plus long time musical companion, Merry Hell’s John Kettle, along with contributions from his bandmates Virginia Kettle providing vocals and fiddle maestro Simon Swarbrick.
Music
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Minstrel of the Wasteland
1. Minstrel of the Wasteland
2. Ride
3. Raise A Glass
4. Madre
5. By My Side
6. Samantha MacCann
7. My Girl Summer
8. Spanish Sun
9. Sweet Release
10. Knowing You
11. The Trap
12. Sing
13. Walk Out Your Door
14. Time Is Quicker Than Me
Harrowby Road
1. The Water
2. Strange People
3. Freak
4. Dark Inside
5. So I'm Gone
6. Rodeo Clown
7. Where the Rubbish Collects
8. Home
9. Midnight Train
10. Dob't Give up Hope
11. Mother (Harrowby Road)
12. Another Place
13. So I'm Gone - Extended
The Lost Estates
1. The Lost Estates
2. Mother's Love
3. Trundle Trolley Blues
4. Need Your Touch
5. Fury
6. Driving
7. Creased Wedding Dress
8. Doing Fine
9. Lanterns
10. Dream Of You
11. Greet the Day
12. The Lost Estates (Instrumental)