Steve Andrews, The Green-bearded Bard, calls for peace and fights for the environment 🔊 WhatsMusic Blog

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Steve Andrews, The Green-bearded Bard, calls for peace and fights for the environment

written by Steve Andrews and WhatsMusic.de

June 24, 2022

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Interview with Steve Andrews

Tell us about yourself, who are you and where do you come from?

I am originally from Cardiff in Wales where I lived on the Ely estate and gained the title Bard of Ely from Big Issue magazine, in which I had a column. I now live in Portugal. I am a singer-songwriter, poet, author and activist. I have a protest song about plastic pollution entitled “Where Does All The Plastic Go?” It was produced by Jayce Lewis, as was my latest single, “A Real Love and Communication,” which calls for world peace. I am famous for having a green beard and for having been featured on Britain’s Got Talent.

How was your passion for music born? Who are your idols?

I was first inspired to become a singer-songwriter by Bob Dylan. Neil Young is another of my musical heroes. Dylan’s lyrics were what hooked me and made me want to follow.

What kind of music do you do?

I play acoustic folk rock songs. I get audience participation for my song “Butterfly In My Beard,” because I ask the audience to “make butterflies” with their outstretched palms. I play a few covers too, including “Stand By Me,” and it was this song that got me on to Britain’s Got Talent.

What is the most important song for you? What message do you want to convey to the listener?

I think my most important song is “Where Does All The Plastic Go?” and I feel I am leading the way with songs about this issue. I am hoping to inspire action, and took action myself in writing this song.

Why should a listener who doesn’t know you listen to your music?

I would say I have songs on important issues that others are not singing and writing about. Plastic pollution is one of my subjects. I am keeping the art of protest singing alive. My new single, “A Real Love and Communication,” calls for world peace, which is needed in the world just as much now as it ever was.

What are your future projects? Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I am hoping to inspire “Ocean Aid” concerts. I am continuing to write environmental protest songs and have expanded my genres with “Mother Nature Rap,” which was my last single and had a music video produced for it by Pedro Augusto Almeida. A lot can happen in five years and my motto is to just keep on keeping on, so, I guess, I will find out in the future.

Tell our readers a funny episode that happened in your career as an artist.

I once got to meet Van Morrison, who is one of my favourite singer-songwriters, and I was so star-struck by the experience that I made a complete mess of my first words to him because I said: “So you are Van Morrison then?” He answered: “Yeah!” We were standing at the edge of a marquee tent on a very wet midsummer day. The conversation didn’t improve, and everything I said was met with a “Yeah,” from Van. Then my 11-year-old son Isaac, asked me: “Dad, do you see this rope?” He signalled to a guy rope for the tent. “Yeah,” I answered, realising I was now sounding like Van the Man. “Well, can you put you face by it?” my son went on. “Of course, I replied, doing s. At which point, Isaac twanged the rope and a shower of water went all over me. My son cackled with laughter, as I grabbed his hand, muttered something, and beat a hasty retreat into the rain!