by Nick Bidmade » Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:33 pm
DH
there are some good (young-ish) steel players here in the NE and further afield
Chris Hillman in Manchester.
Steven Hicken in Leeds
Tom Fletcher in Washington, Co Durham
Steve Broatch in Newcastle - he plays with a band called Little White - check their website.He is very good.
In London, Harry Bohay is an interesting player.
Interestingly, two of these players seem never to use the British Steelies website and a third only very rarely.
This is not a criticism of the website - far from it - but it does pose the question why not? surely youth alone is not the reason.
I know that many of the top players in the US do not use the US Forum because they seem to pick up nothing but flak and criticism, but our best players are stalwarts of this Forum with much knowledge and information they are happy to share... and rarely a harsh word!
Pedal Steel is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful sounding of instruments - but the instruments themselves are a prohibitive cost, particularly for younger players who may be on low salaries, saving for a mortgage or struggling to bring up a young family. Lap steel is much more affordable, but few seem to be taking it up.
It is hardly surprising, therefore, that most of us wait before splashing out some of our pension pot or inheritance on what may. after all, be a whim - and that makes us old before we start!