Steep Street

We are a Dunedin alt-folk band who came together towards the end of 2022 as a recording project, but along the way we’ve performed at a few local venues including a support slot for Jay Clarkson. Steep Street is the name of a local paper road where – coincidentally – our bassist Bridget once flatted.

Steep Street comprises Harold Bernhardt (vocals, guitar and piano), Alan McCulloch (mandolin and violin), Bridget Ellis (bass and backing vocals) and Allen Frazer (drums). Our beginnings were with Harold and Alan playing music together at home, before we decided we would benefit from having a rhythm section, which is when friends Allen and Bridget signed up.

This time the original songs were written by Harold, who has previously recorded on his own and – a long time ago – with the duo the Kites. Bridget is an established Dunedin singer-songwriter and guitarist who performs as Swingbridge, and has released three albums, the latest being the moving contemporary contemplation, The Garden. Alan has been playing fiddle and violin for community orchestras around town for ages and has been a closet mandolin busker for even longer, preferring venues with plenty of reverb and not many people – empty squash courts are the best! And Allen has a history of playing drums going back to the Dunedin Sound era with the band Roger & Me.

Our debut album, Life’s Other Stuff, is due out in September, and will be available on CD from Relics, 165 George Street, Dunedin, as well as on all the regular streaming services.