“It wouldn’t be what it is now, without Steve”   

For many, bands and fans alike, the Waterloo Music Bar is a rock n’ roll mecca, somewhere we all gravitate to, where you can be guaranteed a warm welcome as well as experiencing world class music.  But creating that atmosphere doesn’t happen by accident or chance, and at the Waterloo was in no small part due to the influence of Steve Guest.  Steve sadly passed away earlier this year and today’s GuestFest event, featuring a line-up of bands who were significant to him, is a celebration of Steve and his life. 

Standing at the bar, chatting with the Waterloo’s Ian Fletcher between sets, it’s clear just how integral Steve was in helping set the tone and blueprint for the Waterloo and what it has become.  When Ian took over the Waterloo and started to put bands on, Steve was one of the first onboard, always willing to help in any way he could, encouraging and supporting, especially when things got tough, the backbone of the place. In those early days, Steve managed the stage, always the first one there, ready at the door with a welcoming grin for bands as they arrived, making sure they were looked after and happy.   

And it’s clear from listening to the bands on today’s bill, just how much they respected and valued him.  The fact that three of the bands on the bill have either reformed for the night or are playing again for the first time after being on a long-term hiatus, just demonstrates the affection and high regard with which Steve was held by all those who knew him.  There are anecdotes aplenty, from Rhy Grooves “this is one I used to play to Steve in his kitchen” to The Atmospherics “this was one of Steve’s favourites”.  All the performances today, from the acoustic guitar troubadours, Rhy Grooves and Dom Corcoran, to the bands Soldato, Jekyll and Takeaway Thieves, seem to play with that extra something, that extra spark, knowing that they are playing for Steve, his family and friends.  When you look at the range of bands here today, from the young and the slightly less young, the breadth of talent and genres, shows Steve’s deep love of music, his deep knowledge of the subject and how much it meant to him. 

Speaking to other Waterloo regulars too, they all say the same, they remember his big smile, his passion for live music and that he was not just a gentleman, but a truly gentle man. Even those of us who never met him, get a real sense of this man who is spoken of so fondly by everyone you speak to. And all those qualities that everyone mentioned about Steve, are reflected in the Waterloo we know and love today.  That passion for bringing the best in live music to this small independent venue, the warmth of the welcome, the way the Waterloo just feels when you walk through its door, like you’ve come home, is testament to Steve, as well as Ian and Paul and their stewardship of this old Blackpool pub that has seen it rise from the ashes to become one of the North West’s premier music venues.   

Fans of live music in Blackpool and the North-West owe Steve a debt of gratitude – in these days of closing venues and an ever-tougher scene for bands and venues to earn a living, the continued success of the Waterloo and what it represents can only be down to those dedicated folk who have worked so long and hard to create somewhere truly special.  Some things just transcend music, they’re bigger and more important and that was what we saw today, a community coming together to celebrate one of their own. Steve was there from the start and a part of his legacy is this wonderful thriving venue that means so much to so many, as Steve so evidently did to all those who knew and loved him.