Are steel gigs on the up?

[saddletramp]

Having lurked on several discussions on the US SGF about the supposed demise of the steel guitar in modern country music, I got curious to know how many steel players in the UK and Ireland are getting regular gigs either in country or non-country bands. It seems to me there are pockets of interest across GB in Scotland and London, of course, and when I lived in Ireland there was always a thriving country music scene, but is there much steel activity outside of there?

I've seen adverts from a few steelers in the South Wales area, where I'm living, but not much evidence of activity in, for example, Cardiff music venues. I play with a singer-songwriter on occasional weekend and local gigs, but I don't come across many other steelers apart from those who are on tour and are based in London. One guy told me recently in Bristol that PSG players are very hard to find, but I'm sure I've seen posts from people here near there. Am I oblivious to some vast underground country/alt-country scene?

I was also slightly surprised to see little mention of the C2C concerts last weekend apart from a note to say Tommy White was touring with VInce Gill. Were there other US players in the lineups? There seems to be a resurgence in interest in country music and so I'm wondering if anyone here is noticing an increase in numbers of young people taking up steel playing?

Sorry. These are mainly just idle thoughts, but I am fascinated by how music trends change

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

My view from the frozen north is that there has been little difference in gig work for steel players over the past few years.
I keep in touch with several of My countrymen and they,like Me, do not get enough gigs to satisfy their need to play.
A great many of the clubs are in a financial bind and seem to think it best to book solo and duo acts with the dreaded backing tracks.
With very few exceptions the steel players in Scotland are lucky if they get an average of two gigs a month.A few years ago it was easy to pick up at least two gigs a week.
Billy

[Malcolm]

What Billy said.