January 6th, 2024Treat for blues, soul lovers at Palais, Hepburn
Steve Hoy is an Australian singer and songwriting legend with a career that includes writing and recording collaborations with Joe Camilleri, Dingoes Chris Stockley and Ross Wilson and tours with The Black Sorrows, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, John Farnham, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam and Warren Zevon.
The Palais Hepburn Springs is a favourite venue for Hoy and right now he’s looking forward to playing live at the local venue next Friday January 12.
Steve Hoy first came to national attention in 1985 with the release of the Joe Camilleri produced Anticipation. The album, released on Camilleri’s Spirit label, contained rootsy versions of nine Hoy originals backed by Ross Hannaford, Wayne Duncan and Gary Young; Daddy Cool in all but name.
A single, Your Heart On My Sleeve picked up airplay in Canberra and Melbourne while the album received positive reviews.
The release of the mini-album Possession, recorded with The Hoy Boys – Mark Greig, Paul Norton and Grant Hampson – in 1987, followed a relocation to Melbourne where consistent live work headlining, or supporting acts such as The Black Sorrows, Paul Kelly, Stephen Cummings and even John Farnham had lifted Hoy’s profile.
A single Where I Come From, a song inspired by Hoy’s hometown of Newcastle, and an accompanying film clip picked up sufficient radio and TV interest to bring Hoy to the attention of music publishers Rondor Music and Jerry Moss, the M in A&M records.
The song also appeared on Three Triple R’s Also Used And Recommended By compilation of 1988.
In 1989 the radio success of the Mark Moffatt produced single Raindance led to the recording of Life Next Door, a critically acclaimed album that ended up in most newspaper ‘best of’ round ups for 1990.
A tour with Melissa Etheridge that year brought Hoy to a wider audience while another single Break Up Fall Out brought more airplay and was later recorded by Cameron Daddo.
A new version of Where I Come From was released being picked up by Triple J. However, the link with A&M was short lived, Hoy finding himself without a label at the same time the critics were praising his album.
Continued live work, principally during an eighteen-month residency at St Kilda’s Esplanade Hotel, saw Hoy develop a new, loyal audience. Hoy toured as opening act for The Black Sorrows, Warren Zevon and Tori Amos at this time, with Zevon offering to produce a record if the opportunity arose.
