Glory Days, is the glorious new single from this Clare based artist’s highly anticipated second album, Street Wisdom For Lost Souls; and as Glory Days was confirmed as a new addition the RTE Radio 1 Recommends List, so was Steo’s contribution to Ireland 100: Old Song Re Sung.
We are also delighted to share the beautiful video for this beautiful track now also:
The video was filmed in Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare and the full credit list is available in the link.
“Beautiful; Steo Wall is worth a good listen” – Christy Moore.
“Dublin accent dripping from each syllable, ‘Glory Days’ is as classic as Irish folk music can get- and at the same time, it’s refreshing and modern”– Hot Press
Referred to by Hot Press as“One of the most pioneering voices in the Irish folk music scene”; this has to be one of the most accurate statements relating to any Irish artist in 2023 so far and with his new single, Co. Clare based STEO WALL, displays with the greatest of ease just why this statement is seamlessly true!
STEO, whose proud Traveller heritage is a big theme in his music endearingly talks of Glory Days;‘‘…It came to me in a few hours during the pandemic, like a musical hug from the ancestors.” Steo continued affectionately; “I wanted to get the words, me auld segotia into a song. Then once I did, memories of old friends and characters from my childhood flooded my mind and I just followed the path. I hope the listener gets the same nostalgia filled buzz from listening as I did from the writing.”
It’s been some week for Steo; he travelled to London to performas part of Glór Nua, at London’s Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith. Steo and South London based jazz synth musician Rosa Theodora the cultural haven in the heart of London. While in London Steo was told the news of Glory Daysbeing an immediate add to RTE Radio 1’s Recommends list and on his return this week, details were announced for Ireland 100: Old Song Re Sung.
RTÉ, in association with South Wind Blows and supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023, will present this live concert event, which will be free to the public to attend, to mark the first 100 years of the Irish State on Saturday 7, October, 2023 at the RDS. “It is a great honour for me to be part of Old Song Re-sung, marking the end of a decade of centenaries. To sing a song that means so much to me and to my family, is the honour of a lifetime. For my family to feature in this way, in a celebration of Irish culture among some of the most important artists and poets of the century is very special indeed. The ancestors are smiling.” – Steo Wall
Ireland 100: An Old Song Re-Sungcommemorates in performance, song, music, dance and spoken word the hundred years from 1923 to 2023 through the lens of Irish culture. The television celebration will be recorded in Dublin on October 7th and broadcast in a 90-minute special later the same month. Woven into the show are key themes of our 100-year story of achievements, failures, challenges, and changes. Human experience and identity and the cultural and artistic response to these events are at the heart of the show. Together with Steo, this very special celebration also features; Damien Dempsey, Aiden Gillen, Tolü Makay, Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Síle Denvir with Bláth na hÓige and Liam Ó Maonlaí, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Loah, Donal Lunny, Martin Hayes, FeliSpeaks, Diarmaid Ferriter, Sally Mulready OBE, the London Irish Pensioners Choir and many more.
Taken from Steo’s highly anticipated second album Street Wisdom For Lost Souls; Glory Days is the fourth track to be taken from the album and is preceded by Borstal Boy, My People and More Blacks More Dogs More Irish. The most recent single, More Blacks More Dogs More Irish featuring vocal powerhouse Toshín was released last winter and is an anti-racism/protest song written as a middle finger to anyone who looks down their nose at anyone else. Steo speaks more on this track later in this document. Written by Steo, Glory Days is produced with Martin O’Malley, who co-produced the new album also, with Steo and is mastered by the inimitable Brian Masterson @Soundscape.
After first breaking onto the Irish music scene in 2018, Steo’s star is on a distinct upward trajectory. Steo can refer to Christy Moore as being one of his biggest supporters’ while also being a most welcome and sincere confidant and a fan. Steo has also captivated audiences throughout Ireland and the UK; his live sets have been described by Damien Dempsey as pure alchemy.
Steo has an eclectic taste which shines through in the multi-genre array of songs on his roster. Having shared a stage with Damien Dempsey on national tours in 2016, 2017 and again opening for Damo’s stage in Vicar Street in 2018 it was obvious Damo had become a fan of Steo and his music. He subsequently featured on Steo’s debut single release called, What’s Wrong With The World Ma?
Steo’s distinct music style and inspiration for writing is only surpassed by his performances; Steo’s mix of spoken word and folk-inspired melodies weave together in an acoustic groove as pure and passion fuelled as you will find, down the road. His musical influences include fellow luminaries such as The Fureys, Bob Marley, Shane McGowan, Sinead O’Connor, Christy Moore and Tupac; artists not afraid to tell the tales needing to be told.
TradFest
Earlier this summer Steo’s My People podcast series, opened Tradfest’s Talking Trad 2023 series with his beautiful conversation with Christy Moore.Talking Trad, a three-part podcast series delves into the rich and often overlooked contributions of marginalized groups to the flourishing Irish music tradition and scene.
My People also featured Steo in conversation with fellow Irish travellers Sharyn Ward, renowned for her captivating performances as a finalist on Ireland’s Got Talent, and young Galway musician PJ Mongan. In addition, the podcast features conversations with veteran Clare-based musicians Tommy Fagan and Oliver O’ Beirne, who bring a wealth of experience and wisdom to the discussions. The series is produced by all round music lover and ridiculously talented individual and former RTE senior producer, Aidan Butler
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