Col’s Chat – Locals through my Lens – Steve Williams

Col’s Chat –

Locals through my Lens

Steve Williams

Some members of our community live a life of quiet engagement. Some sing from the rooftops and some seek solitude. And then there are those quiet achievers; the ones that influence the way we go about our day-to-day life without the supporting fanfare.  

One such local is Steve Williams. If you have not heard his name, you most certainly have been touched at some point by his dedication, commitment and enthusiasm. Hailing originally from the Sunshine Coast, Steve has lived in The Gap since the mid-90s. His day job is in game development and the creation of tech to test other games. It’s a singular pursuit, but when Steve leaves his office, his driving passion is live music. 

“I came to live music late in life as it happens,” Steve said. “I was a parent at The Gap State School, and loved the Gap Soiree which, at the time had school bands and some guests.” By the late 2000s, the Gap Soiree had started to garner a little less interest, but Steve wasn’t happy to let it fade. 

“I had this vision for what it could be. I saw the Soiree as an opportunity to have a larger role in a live music project and influence the event moving forward. Mainly, I saw it becoming a wider community event, rather than just a school one.” 

It became a labour of love for Steve. He brought his own connections and resources to the project. Seeing the community coming together and engaged in the amazing talent we have locally. Steve looks at the music line ups each year with a sense of balance, but he’s always looking for at least one act that will get the crowd to its feet. “In 2024 we had the amazing Obisun, but it started with Amaidi, an Irish dance band who literally had people dancing in the aisles.” 

In 2023, Steve expanded the Soiree to include art works and demonstrations from The Gap Creative, and 2025 promises to be even bigger.  

So, with a family, full time work, the organisation of a major local event and popping up at many other community events to help with audio/visual tech, that surely leaves no time in Steve’s life for much else? 

“I had been visiting the National Folk Festival in Canberra for many years and in 2019 the opportunity came up to assist a local business working on the Woodford Folk Festival, as a camera person. I spent the whole week up there and got bitten by the bug. This included attending the monthly Woodford Folk Club, helping to maintain the site along with lots more.” 

The bug obviously bit hard. “After Covid, Woodford came back as a smaller event, and I offered to be one of the stage managers there. This became a regular thing and then in 2024 I put my hand up to run all the stage managers for each show, looking after 100 staff.” 

With 2025 now firmly underway, Steve’s attention once again turns to the Soiree. It will be back, bigger and better than ever on Saturday 23 August with even more music and creative arts. With live music taking a hit recently, Steve is still as enthusiastic as ever, but cautious. “Live music can be a hard sell. To get people to come along and see new bands. In terms of running an event we rely on the support of the community. We try to keep the financial risks low, but we need more people with a passion to step forward to make these events happen and support local musicians and creatives.”  

Finally, I can’t help but ask Steve who would be on his dream bucket list at the Soiree. “Jimmy Barnes, The Veronicas and the East Pointers (from Canada) would make a nice triple headline show!” 

You never know what the future might hold, but in the meantime lock in 23 August, and for ongoing information, check out The Gap Soiree.

Author and photographer: Colin Bushell / Colin Bushell Photography