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2010 Folk Awards winner 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 he has produced some real gems, from the truck-stop epic, “Love Never Dies” to the profoundly moving “Never Any Good”. His career includes collaborations on stage and record with June Tabor, Kelly Joe Phelps, Jackson Browne, Danú, Martin Carthy, Cara Dillon, David Lindley, Roy Bailey, Martin Taylor, David Hidalgo, Steve Miller, Dick Gaughan and many more. Simpson is a very regular nominee in the BBC Folk Awards having received Musician of the Year in 2002 and 2005, album of the year in 2002 and, most recently, Best Traditional Track in the 2010 awards (in which he received an unprecedented 6 nominations in 5 of the categories). 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. “Although it’s his guitar virtuosity that’s frequently lauded, it’s as an interpreter of song that Martin Simpson really scores. Simpson delivers narratives with colour and conviction. Fittingly be-gonged several times at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Martin Simpson is taking his place, not just as a hero for guitar-besotted acolytes but as one of the national treasures of English traditional music." BBC Radio 2 "His
performances elicit powerful emotions and subtle, understated
beauty" "Distinctive coiled-spring beauty and power. A revelation...Exquisitely at one with the All-English repertoire.. A master " Mojo Support for this show is from the delightful singer-guitarist, Emily Slade. |
