Stephen McCafferty at The Mash House 2025-09-27T18:00:00
Indie songwriter of wee ditties and occasional bangers.
‘A knack for writing songs’ - Jim Gellatly
‘The melody is addictive as it is authentic, a staple in Stephen McCafferty’s growing discography’ - Morgan Hermiston, Discovery Music Scotland
‘I fall in love with it a little bit more every time I play it’ - Mark McNally, Postcards From The Underground
‘Another strong release from the Scot and is a great addition to his growing repertoire’ - Iain Key, Louder Than War
‘One of my favourite tracks that I’ve heard in such a long time’ - Rachel Colton, Hidden Harmonies
‘The imagery, relatability, and philosophical approach to his writing really sets him apart from others.’ - Jake Morgan of Lost In Vancouver writing for Music Discovery Scotland
Stephen’s musical journey began with his gran’s old stereo and his mum’s vinyl and cassette collection. Influenced by artists like David Bowie, The Cranberries, and The Beatles, Stephen developed a love for music that laid the foundation for his future songwriting.
Combining introspective lyrics with anthemic choruses, Stephen draws inspiration from classic 20th-century songwriting, adding depth with existential themes influenced by literature and pop culture.
In his late teens and early twenties, he led a nomadic life across Scotland, sofa-surfing, sleeping in cars and wheelbarrows. Moving to Edinburgh and declaring himself homeless led to a transformative year in a shelter, where he wrote songs that gained national attention and three XFM Breakout tracks of the week with his band, Return To The Sun.
Performing extensively with bands like Beautiful By Design and Return To The Sun, Stephen graced stages at festivals such as The Isle of Wight and received airplay on BBC Introducing.
After a break to reflect and refocus, Stephen returned to his musical roots with a renewed vision, channelling his diverse influences into crafting songs that truly resonate with him. For fans of Gaz Coombs, Sam Fender, Ben Howard, Lord Huron, and Villagers. With five singles released in 2024, he is gearing up for an exciting 2025, planning to keep the momentum going with a new single every two months, starting in January.