Steve Berry is an eclectic Australian composer and musician with 40 years experience and a diverse set of influences. His music and prowess as an instrumentalist have seen him win awards and perform on some of Australia’s biggest stages. He has a growing list of credits for screen and radio, and alongside his own innovative projects has performed with some of Australia’s most notable musicians.
Steve was born in England in 1961 and schooled in the United States and Australia.
With guitar his primary instrument, Steve’s influences have been broad, from classical masters like Tchaikovsky to popular music luminaries like the Beatles, from jazz fusion legends such as John McLaughlin and Pat Metheny to acoustic and traditional innovators like David Grisman.
As a composer and band leader, Steve’s music has been equally diverse, combining to produce a sound and style that is truly his own. Examples can be found in his landmark acoustic trio Coolangubra, or his cross-cultural project Jaaleekaay, where he teamed up with virtuoso musicians from The Gambia.
He has worked on multiple projects as a guitarist and producer, including legendary Australian artists such as Kev Carmody and Shane Howard, while his guitar playing has also been featured on compilations showcasing Australia’s best talent on ABC records.
Steve’s musical prowess has led to performances on some of Australia’s most famous stages including the Sydney Opera House, and he has also played leading roles in major events such as the Woodford Folk Festival’s Fire Event finale, where he was musical director for several years.
Steve has a growing number of screen credits, including composer credits on a number of documentaries broadcast on the ABC, Channel 7 and the Discovery Channel. His music has also been used after release on numerous other productions. He has had his music appear several times as themes for nationally broadcast radio shows, the latest being the iconic Indigenous arts and culture program on ABC’s Radio National, “Awaye!”
As an educator Steve has already left a significant legacy, in particular the music based education charity Music Outback Foundation, which Steve founded back in 2002 and is still going strong. He continues to teach regularly, both on remote communities and in schools in his local area.
Steve lives with his partner in Northern NSW, working out of his studio as a composer, producer and mentor to up and coming young musicians.
SCREEN & RADIO CREDITS:
Woomera (ABC TV documentary, composer 1988); Endo What? (SBS TV documentary, composer 1992); For All The World To See (ABC TV documentary, composer 1993); Live to Air (Bay FM Radio Byron Bay, series producer 1993); Four Corners (Channel 9 TV, music 1994); Going Tribal (SBS TV documentary, sound editor 1995); Women of the Earth (Discovery Channel TV documentary, composer, sound designer, audio post 1995); Following the Fenceline (SBS TV documentary, composer 1996); Kissing Crocodiles (Channel 7 TV, Discovery Channel documentary, composer 1996); The Country Club (ABC Radio National music program, theme, 1998-2002); AiR (SBS TV animated drama, composer, audio production & post production 2001); Viva (SBS TV series sound editor & audio post 2003); Good Gardening (ABC Regional Radio program, theme, 2004-2018); The Life World (ABC TV, music, 2007); Bloodlines (ABC TV, music, 2007); AWAYE! (ABC Radio National program, theme, 2023-Present)
TOURED / PERFORMED WITH:
Kev Carmody; Coolangubra; Jaaleekaay (Gambia); Grace Knight; Robyn Archer; Greg Sheehan; Steve Elphick; Sandy Evans; Guy Strazullo; David Ades; Scott Tinkler; Cleis Pearce; Kangaroo Moon (Europe/Oz); Dan Crary (USA); Three Chord Wonders; Mambologists; David Jones Trio; Jim Kelly; Andrew Clermont; The Lovers; Seamus Begley (Ireland); Greenlife; King Marong (Gambia); Steve Berry Trio; Steve Berry’s Free Radical
ALBUM RELEASES:
with Jaaleekaay: “Jaaleekaay” (MGM Distribution, Australia, 2016)
with Coolangubra: “Storm Coming” (Celestial Harmonies, USA, 1994, worldwide distribution); “Coolangubra” (Celestial Harmonies, USA, 1995, worldwide distribution); “Spirit Talk” (Celestial Harmonies, USA, 1996, worldwide distribution); “Tales from the Ancestors” (Independent, 2005)
as Steve Berry: “The Open Road” (ABC Records, Sydney, 1997); “Guitar Australia” (Steve Parish Records, Brisbane, 1998); “Kingfisher Dreaming” (ABC Records, Sydney, 2004)
with Greenlife: “Greenlife” (Independent, 2006)
with Kangaroo Moon: “Alive and Hopping” (Independent, 1999)
ENGINEERING / PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Sharon Shannon (Ireland); Nollaig Casey (Ireland); Steve Cooney (Ireland); Kangaroo Moon (UK); Goanna (Shane Howard); Jaaleekaay (Gambia); Coolangubra; Utungun Percussion; Kev Carmody; Jim Haynes; Method; Hudibrastic Funk; Rachel Hore; Kirsten Mackenzie; Blue King Brown
