{{Short description|British-South African multi-instrumentalist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person | image=Oli_Steadman_of_Stornoway_playing_the_main_stage_at_Isle_Of_Wight_Festival_2011.jpg | name = '''Oliver Steadman''' | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|11|3|df=y}} | birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa | }} '''Oliver "Oli" Steadman''' is a British-South African<ref>{{cite web |last1=Frederick |first1=Dubya |title=Surprise Cast #91 Oli Steadman (Stornoway) |url=https://hiartontheedge.podbean.com/e/life-in-harmony-a-conversation-with-oli-stedman-of-stornoway/ |website=Podbean |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Frederick |first1=Dubya |title=Surprise Cast #98 Oli Steadman (Part 2) |url=https://hiartontheedge.podbean.com/e/exploring-nature-music-and-vulnerability-with-ollie-stedman-of-stornoway/ |website=Podbean |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref> multi-instrumentalist.
==Stornoway== Steadman is a founding member of Oxford band<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kenney |first1=Esme |title=New Oxford cultural centre could boost city music scene |url=https://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/25386645.new-oxford-humanities-centre-boost-city-music-scene/ |access-date=7 November 2025 |agency=This Is Oxfordshire}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gilyeat |first1=Dave |title=How did Oxford become the UK's 'rock capital'? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyqepv1vq8o |access-date=7 November 2025 |agency=BBC |publisher=BBC |date=18 October 2025}}</ref> Stornoway,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fedele |first1=Maria |title=AMAZING PEOPLE: AMAZING LIVES |url=https://stories.relx.com/amazing-people/index.html |access-date=19 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Rob Power |publisher=Music Radar |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/stornoways-oli-steadman-talks-tales-from-terra-firma-572086 |title=Stornoway's Oli Steadman talks Tales From Terra Firma |date=2013-03-08 |accessdate=2014-02-12}}</ref> and through them is a campaigner with many nature conservation trusts including HIWWT, RSPB,<ref>{{cite web |title=Let nature take its course |url=https://www.northnorfolkliving.co.uk/articles/little-living/headlining-this-season/ |website=North Norfolk Living |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jupp |first1=Emily |title=The weirdest places musicians have played gigs: From The Libertines and Reverend and the Makers to Kanye West and Craig David |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-weirdest-places-musicians-have-played-gigs-from-the-libertines-and-reverend-and-the-makers-to-kanye-west-and-craig-david-10506015.html |access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Blackburn |first1=Ralph |title=Oxford folk pop quartet Stornoway to play first ever gig in a nature reserve |url=https://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/things-to-do/21538559.oxford-folk-pop-quartet-stornoway-play-first-ever-gig-nature-reserve/ |access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust,<ref>{{cite web |title=Stornoway's page Fundraising for Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust |url=https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stornoway |access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> Woodland Trust,<ref>{{cite web |title=Stornoway, as Official Champions of @woodlandtrust , are working to spread the awareness of #ashdieback and its tragic effects on the British landscape. |url=https://twitter.com/MeltingVinyl/status/1734889941614592411 |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> and British Trust for Ornithology.<ref>{{cite web |title=SOC/BTO Scotland Youth Events Programme Online events for young people under 30 in Scotland |url=https://www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/soc-bto-scotland-youth-events-programme |website=Scottish Ornithologists' Club |access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> Steadman hosts the band's Conservation Conversations podcast<ref>{{cite web |title=Further Artists, Expanded Workshop Programme and Saturday Day Passes Announced for Manchester Folk Festival 2026 |url=https://manchesterfolk.com/news/further-artists-expanded-workshop-programme-and-saturday-day-passes-announced-for-manchester-folk-festival-2026/ |publisher=Manchester Folk Festival |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref> (whose guests<ref>{{cite web |title=Conservation Conversations is back! Oli Steadman’s (Stornoway) interview series returns |url=https://soundrootsconnect.uk/news/conservation-conversations/ |website=Sound Roots Connect |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref> have included Angeline Morrison, Bella Hardy, Rachel Sermanni, Jim Moray, David Ford, Chris Leslie, Yijia Tu, and Arthur Jeffes).<ref>{{cite web |title=Conservation Conversations is back! Oli Steadman’s (Stornoway) interview series with Manchester Folk returns |url=https://manchesterfolk.com/news/conservation-conversations-is-back-oli-steadmans-stornoway-interview-series-with-manchester-folk-returns/ |website=Manchester Folk Festival |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref> He is a patron of Sam Lee's Singing With Nightingales<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Sam |title=Stewards of the wild |url=https://www.singingwithnightingales.co.uk/supporters |website=Singing With Nightingales |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref> and a regular fundraiser for conservation projects<ref>{{cite news |last1=Otto |first1=Michelle Carolin |title=Musician takes on 42km walk to support ancient south London woodland site |url=https://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2025/10/musician-takes-on-42km-walk-to-support-ancient-south-london-woodland-site/ |access-date=7 November 2025 |agency=Easy London Lines |publisher=Easy London Lines |date=29 October 2025}}</ref> including around the Great North Wood.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oli’s 42km Hike for Fourth Reserve |url=https://www.justgiving.com/page/oli-steadman-bh2026-for-bcnr |website=JustGiving |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenwood |first1=Daniel |title=Stornoway's Oli Steadman on his 30-mile woodland walk in south London |url=https://unlockinglandscapes.podbean.com/e/stornoways-oli-steadman-on-his-30-mile-woodland-walk-in-south-london/ |website=Unlocking Landscapes |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref>
==365 Days Of Folk== In 2024 Steadman started ''365 Days Of Folk'',<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Neagle |first1=Autumn |title=365 DAYS OF FOLK |journal=Oxfordshire Music Scene |date=14 December 2023 |volume=55 |page=18 |url=https://www.back2left.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OMS-55-mag-web.pdf |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=365 Days Of Folk - song list |url=https://medium.com/@365daysoffolk}}</ref> a spin-off of Jon Boden's A Folk Song A Day,<ref>{{cite web |title=A Folk Song A Day - about |url=https://www.afolksongaday.com/?page_id=2}}</ref> featuring daily recordings of traditional music.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Balding |first1=Kate |title=Oli Steadman on technology, nature and ‘folk sensibility’ |url=https://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2023/12/stornoways-oli-steadman-on-technology-nature-and-folk-sensibility/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |date=21 December 2023}}</ref> Having completed an entire year of learning & recording a folk song daily the project appears to be continuing indefinitely (as of April 2026 with the publication of songs #460 & above)<ref>{{cite web |last1=May |first1=Colin |title=OXFORD FOLK FESTIVAL |url=https://nightshiftmag.co.uk/2026/may.pdf |website=Nightshift |access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=George |title=Oli Steadman and a Musical Marathon: “365 Days of Folk” Goes Beyond Its Goal |url=https://www.indieisnotagenre.com/oli-steadman-and-a-musical-marathon-365-days-of-folk-goes-beyond-its-goal/#google_vignette |website=Indie Is Not A Genre |access-date=8 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://airtable.com/app0wHIAKsGSxDfp8/shrZ0JeqDDGlBmXve|title=365 Days Of Folk: Song List|access-date=24 January 2026}}</ref> and now tours major folk events such as Manchester Folk Festival.<ref>{{cite web |title=Further Artists, Expanded Workshop Programme and Saturday Day Passes Announced for Manchester Folk Festival 2026 |url=https://manchesterfolk.com/news/further-artists-expanded-workshop-programme-and-saturday-day-passes-announced-for-manchester-folk-festival-2026/ |website=Manchester Folk Festival |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref>
==Other projects == Steadman has worked as a studio producer for artists including Nick Cope,<ref>{{cite web|author=Pete Hughes |publisher=Oxford Mail |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/11537077.Former_Oxford_Candyskins_rocker_completes_fourth_children_s_album/ |title=Former Oxford Candyskins rocker completes fourth children's album |date=2014-10-16 |accessdate=2014-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Sam Inglis |publisher=Sound On Sound |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/stornoway-recording-tales-terra-firma |title=Stornoway: Recording Tales From Terra Firma |date=2013-05-01 |accessdate=2014-02-12}}</ref> and as composer / musical director at the Stephen Joseph Theatre,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.yorkshirecoastgigs.co.uk/interviews-features/621-interview-no-78-oli-steadman| last=riley|first=adrian|title=“INTERVIEW NO 78: OLI STEADMAN”}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Review: Hansel & Gretel, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, until December 27 |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/14155556.review-hansel-gretel-stephen-joseph-theatre-scarborough-until-december-27/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Review: Hansel and Gretel, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough |url=https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/review-hansel-and-gretel-stephen-joseph-theatre-scarborough-2188154}}</ref> also serving as manager to many artists,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://themmf.net/membership/member-directory/?member_name=Steadman |title=Music Managers Forum Managers Directory}}</ref> including Willie J Healey,<ref>{{cite web|author=Ronan Munro |publisher=Nightshift |url=https://nightshiftmag.co.uk/2016/dec.pdf |title=A quiet word with... Willie J Healey |date=2016-12-10 |accessdate=2016-12-12}}</ref> The People Versus,<ref>{{cite news |title=Nightshift Magazine May 2023 |url=https://nightshiftmag.co.uk/2023/may.pdf}}</ref> Blue Bayou,<ref>{{cite web |title=Blue Bayou press release |url=https://ois20250502.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Hide+%26+Seek+Press+Release+.pdf |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> and Balloon Ascents / NEVERLND.<ref>{{cite web|author=Tim Hughes |publisher=Oxford Times |url=https://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/music/11727451.Balloon_Ascents_heading_for_heights/ |title=Oxford rockers Balloon Ascents come home for Bullingdon gig |date=2015-01-15 |accessdate=2016-12-12}}</ref>
In 2013 Steadman founded Count Drachma,<ref>{{cite web |author=OneNoteForever |url=http://onenoteforever.com/spring-offensive-st-barnabas-14062012/ |title=Spring Offensive @ St. Barnabas – 14/06/2012 |date=2012-06-14 |accessdate=2016-12-12 |archive-date=1 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401060309/http://onenoteforever.com/spring-offensive-st-barnabas-14062012/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Heather Nash |url=http://www.thegryphon.co.uk/2017/02/17/in-the-middle-with-stornoway/ |title=In The Middle with Stornoway |date=2015-02-17 |accessdate=2017-03-12}}</ref> performing at festivals from WOMAD<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liversedge |first1=Belinda |title=Oxford band brings Zulu sounds to Womad festival |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/move-to/south-africans-abroad/oxford-band-brings-zulu-sounds-to-womad-festival/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |website=The South African |access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref> to WOOD to Festival N°6, co-headlining London's Southbank Centre with the Mahotella Queens,<ref>{{cite web|author=Bilen Shifferaw |publisher=Ethiobeauty |url=https://www.ethiobeauty.com/article/mahotella-queens-count-drachma-220715 |title=Mahotella Queens & Count Drachma - 22.07.15 |date=2015-06-15 |accessdate=2016-12-12}}</ref> and filming a documentary with The Guardian's Education channel.<ref>{{cite web|author=Century Films |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/video/2015/apr/10/stornoway-zulu-languages-maskandi-music-video |title='Maskandi music is the way we recall our South African identity' – video |date=2015-04-10 |accessdate=2016-12-12}}</ref> It was a vehicle for importing the isicathamiya and mbaqanga sounds of South Africa to UK audiences.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whiley |first1=Jo |title=BBC Radio 2 2026-04-15 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002tr57 |website=BBC Sounds |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 April 2026}}</ref>
In 2014 Steadman founded music-tech startup Tigmus,<ref>{{cite web |author=Eleanor Langford |url=https://eleanorlangford.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/interview-stornoways-oli-steaman-discussing-tigmus/ |title=INTERVIEW: Stornoway's Oli Steadman discussing Tigmus |date=2015-06-15 |accessdate=2016-12-12 |archive-date=1 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401061120/https://eleanorlangford.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/interview-stornoways-oli-steaman-discussing-tigmus/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Monetising the Music Industry event, 9 March, 2015 |url=https://otmn.co.uk/monetising-the-music-industry-event/ |website=Oxford Technology & Media Ltd |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref> with Stornoway's touring trumpet player Thomas E Hodgson.<ref>{{cite web|author=Pledgemusic |url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/blog/tigmus-interview-2015 |title=Tigmus Improves Touring Experience for Musicians & Fans |date=2015-06-15 |accessdate=2016-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=The Creative Times |url=https://soundcloud.com/thecreativetimes/006-oli-steadman |title=Oli Steadman (Count Drachma / Stornoway) |date=2017-06-15 |accessdate=2025-11-07}}</ref>
Since 2015 Steadman has been endorsed by Aria Bass Guitars,<ref>{{cite web|author=Aria Guitars |url=https://ariaguitarsglobal.com/oli-steadman-of-stornoway-played-feb-flf/ |title=Oli Steadman of Stornoway played FEB-FL/F |date=2015-12-20 |accessdate=2016-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Aria Guitars |url=https://ariaguitarsglobal.com/oli-steadman-with-sb-1000rib/ |title=Oli Steadman with SB-1000RIB |date=2017-03-20 |accessdate=2017-03-21}}</ref> touring with 2x basses ''Detroit 313-DR'' & ''Detroit 313-BB'', and recording with ''FEB-F2/FL'' or a Mexican Fender Jazz Bass. All are strung with roundwound strings except the Fender, on which Steadman has played with exclusively flatwound strings since 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aria Guitars Global |url=https://ariaguitarsglobal.com/portfolio/oli-steadman-2/ |access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref>
In 2024 Steadman established "Traildance".<ref>{{cite web |title=Traildance |url=https://www.canva.com/design/DAGEMtwkjZ8/8Uy1qdpuDGwKj3iNRKEYZw/view?utm_content=DAGEMtwkjZ8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor |access-date=6 May 2024}}</ref>
In 2025 Steadman as a Friend of Blythe Hill Fields<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steadman |first1=Oliver |title=BHF Woodland Stage 2024 |url=https://olisteadman.medium.com/woodland-stage-2024-c77cf11472b3 |access-date=16 April 2026}}</ref> accepted Gold and Category Winner awards on their behalf<ref>{{cite web |title=Lewisham’s parks shine at London in Bloom 2025 |url=https://lewisham.gov.uk/articles/news/lewishams-parks-shine-at-london-in-bloom-2025 |website=Lewisham Council |access-date=16 April 2026}}</ref> following their creation of a wildlife garden, tiny forest, cherry orchard, and newly dug pond & swales.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whiley |first1=Jo |title=BBC Radio 2 2026-04-15 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002tr57 |website=BBC Sounds |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 April 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://twitter.com/olisteadman Oli Steadman on Twitter]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steadman, Oliver}} Category:Musicians from Oxford Category:Musicians from Oxfordshire Category:South African emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:South African bass guitarists Category:British bass guitarists Category:British male bass guitarists Category:English male bass guitarists Category:Living people Category:1987 births Category:Musicians from Johannesburg Category:21st-century bass guitarists