Bob Stewart - where is he now?

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 05:05 AM

His other vinyl was 'Rise Up Like The Sun'. Oh yes, and 'Tomorrow We Part' with Finbar Furey.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 04:59 AM

Sean,

well that web site is amazing! I don't know what to say really. No, I really don't. I guess it's basically harmless? But then look at Scientology.

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 03:20 PM

Barbara, thank you so much for that information! Now I know what to scour eBay for.

He was still playing it as of last year's con, but I think he only uses it for non-vocal work. This year he concentrated on songs rather than tunes, so possibly that was why he didn't bring it.

C

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: BB
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 03:01 PM

That 'psaltery' is, in fact, a harpeleik, one of which we used on our most recent CD. It's a Swedish form of the psaltery. Tom used to work with Bob so was very familiar with it, and when one came up on eBay recently for an astonishingly small sum, we couldn't resist it. It has an absolutely stunning sound, and Bob is/was undoubtedly a superb player. Sad if he's no longer playing it. It can be a wonderful instrument for accompanying songs.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 02:53 PM

and found it a bit like a jigsaw made up from other jigsaws

I couldn't agree more, Les - but I've always had a fondness for Where Is St George? - flawed though it undoubtedly is; hell, I even like The White Goddess and there are passages of The Manifesto of the Communist Party that might still bring tears to my eyes. The worst of it is when you put R J Stewart into Google and you get something like this!

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 01:34 PM

I seem to recall that he lives in Sonoma County (California) these days.

I loved "The Unique Sound of the Psaltery," and every year when my local Pagan convention (Pantheacon) books him, I go to hear him play. His coterie is amusing, and hardly any of them understand why I go to his yearly mini-concert but not to his much better-attended lectures.

This year, sadly (for me), he concentrated on songs accompanied on guitar and mandocello. The beloved psaltery was not in evidence.

You've just reminded me, though, I thinj I was able to but "The Unique Sound..." on CD at the con. Now, where did I put it????

Claire

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 01:09 PM

Sean,

I had a couple of tries at "Where Is Saint George? - A Search for the Pagan Imagery in British Folk Song"

and found it a bit like a jigsaw made up from other jigsaws. Shame really his music was good.

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 10:39 AM

Nice chap he was and a very good musician

And now a prophet of the New Age! How the mighty are fallen! Actually, the cracks were showing early on but as part of the overall Alt-Folk Hippy thing we could accept the various misgivings on Up Like the Swallow and even his book Where Is Saint George? - A Search for the Pagan Imagery in British Folk Song as being somehow par for the course, but his recent stuff looks soul sappingly earnest, and 100% codswallop to boot. Still, a nice wee earner for the man! Nice work if you can get it, or are prepared to sell your soul to the New Age in return for the wealth & riches that are the right & entitlement of the successful, thus reaping the spiritual rewards of enlightenment...

Subject: RE: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 10:10 AM

http://www.dreampower.com/rjbio.html You'll find R.J. Stewart (as he now prefers to be known) here! He's been an American citizen since 1996 apparently.
Once had him at the Hartshead Moor Folk club back in 1975. Nice chap he was and a very good musician

Subject: Bob Stewart - where is he now?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 09:12 AM

Bob Stewart lived and made excellent music in Bath and the west around 1974.

The Unique sound of the Psaltery

Any current news?

Cheers

L in C