I guess I was 18 or 19 when I first heard Steve Foster play.
I used to attend the lunchtime concerts held in Union Hall at Adelaide Uni.
They were usually band gigs, but Steve played a couple of shows there on his
own. I was smitten on first take. I had been playing guitar for a while,
learning the same few chords that most beginners latch on to and I thought my
guitar playing was pretty average.
Steve had just released his Coming Home in a Jar album, and most of the songs I heard him play
at these Union Hall concerts were from that album. They were strong songs –
catchy and meaningful. And by and large simple. Steve used chords I played, and
didn’t use any fancy picking. He just strummed. And the songs and his delivery
of them were beautiful.
It was a moment when I thought “you know, I could do this. I
know those chords, I can strum, and I have a reasonable singing voice. “ It was
a moment I’d never forget. I learnt a couple of Steve’s songs and had great
pleasure over the years telling people who liked them that they were written by
Steve Foster, the Adelaide Steve Foster. (There is a much more famous Stephen Foster – the American songwriter responsible for a great many famous songs like
Oh Susanna and Camptown Races.)
Steve left Adelaide for Melbourne and ports beyond in an
attempt to make the big time and for whatever reason he didn’t quite get there.
He should have – he got close – but that’s a story for others to tell. In my
eyes he was certainly good enough.
Fast forward to 2016 and the Adelaide Fringe. Steve was back
in Adelaide and performed his Dylan &
Donovan: The Prophet, The Poet & The Sorcerers’ Apprentice at the
Semaphore RSL Club. It was a wonderful show. As I wrote at the time, it was a real treat to hear that beautiful musical soul sing and play and tell his stories again.
Some months later Steve contacted me. He wanted to meet for
coffee and thank me for my review – he figured it had gone some way to getting
him invited to the Edinburgh Fringe. I hope it was that way. If so, it would be
some repayment for the enormous influence Steve had had on my musical
development. I was really pleased to be able to tell him firsthand about the
impact his Union Hall concerts had had on me.
I told him how he had unknowingly helped me believe in my musical self.
Steve was to do another show featuring songs of the sea in this year’s Fringe but alas it won’t be happening. Steve died yesterday. One
of Adelaide’s finest voices will sing no more. Thank you dear man. Rest in
peace Steve.
