13/08/2026
Hirer Of The Month - Steve Carlson, take a bow! A huge pleasure to meet Steve, over for a one-night-only show at West Hampstead Arts Club at the end of June. Not the first time he’s played the club. A popular billing, and a triumphant return, delivering a 90-minute set of songs and conversation to a rapt and enthusiastic audience.
For previous appearances, he was able to make use of a guitar looked after for him in London by a local friend. This time, for a change, he chose the 2006 Gibson Hummingbird for the night, and loved it. He’s not alone. It’s one of those guitars that everyone falls in love with - on sight, on touch, on playing. Without a doubt the most photographed guitar in its own right in the collection. Steve is no retiring performer, but still someone in the crowd honed in on the guitar itself, as much as on the main man!
On a personal note, lovely to share stories and find we shared a mutual love of Soller, a town and port nestled among the mountains of Mallorca. Following on from his gig in London, he was off to Soller for a stay and a few shows. He has a name there. Last year, he released ukulele song Sail On with the opening rhyme “Love is in the air in the Port of Soller”. The song was picked up by DJ Claus Pieper, remixed with Steve, and became a sure-fire floor-filler at the local clubs in 2025. I’m no uke player myself, but I love the idea that a uke-based song can fill dancefloors in the 21st century. Uke players of the world, unite and take over! Your time is now!
