Steve Andrews
# Steve Andrews

Steve Andrews (aka "The Bard of Ely"), was born in Canton, Cardiff in 1953 and lived in Ely for 25 years, a suburb on the outskirts of Cardiff in South Wales. He is a singer-songwriter, writer and Journalist with a strong interest in botany and conservation. Andrews is known for having a brightly coloured beard and being a Welsh icon.

## Writing career

He was dubbed "The Bard of Ely" by Big Issue Cymru when he had a regular column in the publication.

Andrews is the author of "Herbs of the Northern Shaman" published by O-Books and Hummadruz and a Life of High Strangeness.

He has written articles and features for many publications including Tenerife News newspaper, Big Issue, Kindred Spirit, Eye on Life magazine, Prediction, Permaculture, Feed Your Brain, Living Tenerife and the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners magazines.

He has a Cardiff University BA (Honours) degree in Journalism, Film and Broadcast.

## Television and radio

Andrews was a co-presenter for two series of "In Full View" on the BBC Choice Digital channel and has also been featured on HTV's "Weird Wales" and appeared as a musician on BBC Cymru Wales' "The Slate", and a guest on BBC2's "Roll over Beethoven". Also his song "Rubber Ducky" was used in the drama Y Tŷ ("The House") on S4C.

Andrews was a guest on many of Steve Johnson's radio shows in Wales.

## Music

Andrews has released a number of albums since 1989 on various indie record labels, including a collaboration with Ian Kaye and Philip Moxham (from "Young Marble Giants") called "Taffia EP" and has had tracks released on a number of compilations.

Discography:

| Year | Album | Record label | Media | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 | Sound of One | Very Good Records | vinyl LP | |
| 1998 | Mask | Pink Lemon Records | vinyl EP | |
| 2002 | Taffia EP | Crai Records | CD | Collaboration |
| 2003 | Best of the Bard | mp3.com | CD | |
| 2019 | Songs of the Now and Then | bandcamp | digital album download | |

Tracks contained in compilations:

| Year | Album | Record label | Media |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1989 | Meltdown the Album | Chariot Records | vinyl LP |
| 1993 | Pop Vocals and Instrumentals | Off the Shelf Music | CD |
| 1998 | Take It to the Bridge Vol. 3 | Bridge Records | CD |
| 2001 | United World Underground | MMATT | CD |
| 2002 | Dim Apathi | Dockrad Records | CD |
| 2003 | Green Man Festival album | Double Snazzy | CD |
| 2003 | Bands United | Bands United | CD |

## Featured in

* the book "The World's Most Mysterious People" by Lionel and Patricia Fanthorpe
* the book "The Last of the Hippies" and other titles by C.J. Stone
* as Peter's guide to the west of Cardiff in the book "Real Cardiff" by Peter Finch
* quoted at length in the book "Leonard Cohen: a remarkable life" by Anthony Reynolds
