Acclaimed musician Steve Pledger says he’s excited to make his debut performance in Gloucestershire this month.

It’s been a particularly busy year for the award-winning musician, who has been touring all over the UK playing tracks from his three albums. On 5th September he will be playing at Café René, one of Gloucester’s premier music venues. “I’m really looking forward to visiting Gloucester and playing at such a great venue,” Steve said. “I’ve heard so many great things about Café René from musicians who have played there before. I’ll be playing all my favourite songs from my first three albums and might even throw in some of my new songs as well. I’m really excited for the opportunity to play at a new venue,” he added.

Steve’s powerful vocals and rhythmical guitar riffs have been well received by audiences far and wide. His 2016 album ‘Somewhere Between' received a hugely positive response from fans and critics alike and went on to win both the coveted FATEA Album of the Year Award and Folkwords' Album of the Year by a Male Artist. Steve continued: “I’d be lying if I said the awards weren’t important. When I set out it wasn’t with the aim of winning awards, I just wanted to write and play music but to get recognised by industry media and fans means the world to me. I love what I do, I still get excited every single time I get on stage and perform, whether that’s playing at a small venue in front of a few dozen people or performing for hundreds of people at a larger event.”

One of Steve’s most memorable performances came earlier in the summer when he opened for Billy Bragg at Durham Town Hall. Steve continued: “That was a very special gig. Billy is a musician I admire, there was an amazing crowd in who were really supportive, it was one of those perfect nights every musician dreams of. A lot of the songs I write are quite political so to be able to step out in front of Billie’s audience was a very special occasion.”

It was during his teenage years that Steve’s passion for writing and playing guitar began. He continued: “I’ve always really enjoyed listening to music. Growing up mum and dad would always have the radio on, although neither of them were in any way musically gifted. I wrote my first song when I was 14, it was appalling! After writing a few more songs I started to enjoy what I was doing, I love the creative side of writing. It wasn’t until six or seven years ago that I started to perform regularly. In 2012 I released my first album and I’ve been busy since.

“I write songs about things that I’m passionate about, whether it’s in a direct or forceful way or in slightly more subtle fashion. My aim is always to write songs that are original and come with a message. People may agree or disagree with the message I’m trying to get across but as long as I stay true to myself I’ll be happy.

“I love travelling and playing new venues. Obviously when you’re the other end of the country from your family it can be tough at times but that’s part of being a musician. Playing live is the peak of what I do, I’m sure that’s the same for 99% of musicians.

“One of the main priorities for me is to carry on playing as many gigs as I can. I love performing and engaging with audiences, I’ll never tire of it. I’ve been testing some new songs over the last couple of months, so the fourth album is definitely on the way, hopefully sometime in 2019.”