Martin Simpson with, occasionally;
Kellie While (backing vocals)
Andy Cutting (melodeon)
Andy Seward (Bass)
Keith Angel (drums/percussion)
BJ Cole (pedal steel)
Nigel Eaton (hurdy gurdy)
Danny Thompson (bass)
Influences
Blind Willie Johnson, Fred Cockerham, June Tabor...much more
There is no doubt that after 35 years as a professional musician Martin is, right now, better than ever. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, his interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling . His solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving.
There is no-one who has more successfully combined the diverse elements of British, Afro-American and old-timey music than Simpson. His 15 years living in the US were well spent. In addition his own songwriting has produced some real gems, from the truck-stop epic, “Love Never Dies” to the profoundly moving “Never Any Good”.
His latest CD "True Stories" is generating rave reviews across the music press and media, with special guests including Phil Selway (Radiohead), Andy Cutting and Andy Seward (Kate Rusby Band), Nigel Eaton (Page & Plant), Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (Danu), Jon Boden (Bellowhead), Keith Angel, BJ Cole and Danny Thompson.
Simpson is a very regular nominee in the BBC Folk Awards and received Musician of the Year in 2002 and 2005, a nomination in 2009 and album of the year for Bramble Briar in 2002. 2008 saw an incredible 5 nominations and 2 wins. Whether playing American old-time music, blues, a Dylan song or his own material, Martin Simpson is unpredictable, individual and a guitarist of immense subtlety.
Just to let you know, Martin Simpson's song "One Day", has been named as Fatea song of the year for 2009. A full list of award winners can be found at http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/awards2009.html
I was at The Stables gig tonight and just wanted to say thanks for another fantastic night of music. It's over twenty years since I first saw you "Live" and you just keep on getting better! Also enjoyed Paul Curreri in support.
I really enjoyed the Lincoln gig on Tuesday. You and Andy Cutting fit together like beans and cornbread, like red beans and rice, like liver and onions....
Hi Martin thanks for the superb performance last night in montrose the new CD is an excellent collection of songs we travelled up from glasgow returning back to glasgow after the show It was well worth it & we all agreed we,d do it again how you managed to play so well in the 2nd half of the show after such a long interval was astonishing cheers
cool telecaster I hope we find someplace. I'm going to have a serious jones going by next year. Maureen and I are going to play with tony M in Oct in Toronto have a good summer( hi terry and kit) timf
We saw you at Grimsby last week. I was told you know your way around a guitar..... what an understatement. I can't wait 'till next time, hopefully soon
I stood within your wet audience yesterday at the Brosella festival. Happy to see and hear you on stage for the first time. I found your set too short (and the sound of your guitar not as near to the acoustic sound as I'd dream).
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