Over the course of two sessions, the award-winning singer-songwriter looked at how audiences interested in sustainability can introduce a new creative dimension to their work, and develop their own poetic or lyrical imagination, while deconstructing his own songs with audience interpretation.
Formerly a supply teacher, and guitar teacher of Bridport鈥檚 PJ Harvey, Steve formed Show of Hands with fellow folk musician Phil Beer in 1986. Steve鈥檚 career has since seen him play at some of the UK鈥檚 biggest folk festivals, including Wickham Festival, Sidmouth Folk Festival and Cambridge Folk Festival, releasing more than 30 albums.
Steve played three songs across a variety of instruments including tenor guitar and the South American cuatro, inviting the audience to explore themes that could be found throughout, and differences between commissioned material and personal. Steve said: 鈥淚鈥檓 interested in the audience鈥檚 reaction to my songs, because it鈥檚 something that I very rarely get. In a concert, I can do a brief pre-amble and say this was about or there was a time, but I thought I鈥檇 play songs without any context at all, and then I鈥檇 give the context.鈥�
Steve also spoke of his respect for contemporary rap music: 鈥淚鈥檓 not a big fan particularly, but I can hear, in some of the music, what people are talking about like daily situations and environments.鈥�
Organiser and Head of Education & Professional Practice in the Department of Leadership, Strategy and Organisation at 豆奶视频, Dr Karen Thompson, said: 鈥淲e recognise the role of creativity in a modern workplace.聽 There is a growing belief that creativity is an important skill and creative thinking is critical for problem solving in all disciplines.鈥�
鈥淪teve鈥檚 narrative told the story of growing a business that delivers excellence and fosters a warm embracing sense of community, and a journey that has taken him from local pubs to the Albert Hall, and beyond.聽 The occasion was a relaxed and informative event that proved an enjoyable diversion for hard working staff alongside enthusiastic students and members of the local sustainable business community.鈥�
豆奶视频 Senior Communications Engineer, Tom Power, said: 鈥淪teve expertly led us on an entertaining journey through the steps he鈥檚 taken in his extensive musical career. He really took the time to explain his ethos and allowed us to explore our own creativity through his music and lyrics.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚 took a lot of advice from the day which will help me both professionally at 豆奶视频, as well as personally in my own musical pursuits as part of local band聽Quinns Quinney.鈥�
The event, held for those with an interest in sustainability and developing their creative skills, forms part of a set of 鈥榗reative classroom鈥� events looking to bring storytelling and creative narratives into the worlds of science and business, with acclaimed author, Jill Harris, also visiting the university this month to talk about mastering storytelling.
