Martin Simpson

Martin Simpson

"Martin Simpson has transcended borders and oceans to quietly become a superb storyteller and musician of great depth and unquestionable taste." Stephen Fearing

The remarkable intimate solo performances Martin gives go from strength to strength – every gig is a masterclass. He travels the length and breadth of the UK and beyond, giving rapt audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his playing.

"What's it like being the best guitar player in the world…?" Martin's modesty and grace prevented him from answering this BBC Radio 4 interviewer's question recently, but the facts speak for themselves.

40 years after he recorded his first album, Golden Vanity, in 1976, Martin is known as a guitarist of formidable talent. Equally at home playing English traditional folk, American folk and blues and his own compositions, he is consistently named as one of the very finest fingerstyle guitar players in the world.

He is listed in Gibson Guitars' Top 30 Acoustic Guitarists of all time, and Acoustic Guitar readers voted him number 12 guitarist in the world in 2005.

Universally acclaimed as one of the finest ever acoustic and slide guitar players, and a fine banjo-picker to boot, his solo shows bear witness to an artist at the very top of his game. Whether interpreting material from tradition or singing his own potent self-penned songs, Simpson is a remarkable storyteller: captivating and profoundly moving. His own songwriting produced the poignant 'Never Any Good', from Prodigal Son, 2007's Folk Album of the Year.

Martin continues to collaborate with a dazzling array of people from across the musical spectrum: Jackson Browne, Martin Taylor, June Tabor, Richard Hawley, Bonnie Raitt, Danny Thompson, David Hidalgo, Danú, Richard Thompson and Dom Flemons and Thomm Jutz are among the great musicians he has worked with.

Martin's most recent solo album called Skydancers was released in March 2024. The album is a twin release featuring a live CD recorded at gigs and a studio CD including some of Martin's absolutely favourite musicians.

He has had the most nominations of any performer in the 18 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, an astonishing 32 times, 13 of those as Musician of the Year, winning that particular accolade twice.

A virtuoso player without question, but above all Martin Simpson conveys his diverse treasure trove of material from the heart, performing with rare subtlety, intensity and honesty. A true master of his art.

Praise for Skydancers:

"an excellent record from a master of his craft" – KLOF MAG

"acoustic finger-picking magic" – UNCUT

"Penguin Eggs-good. Seriously" – **** MOJO

"It's stunning and without doubt his finest work in almost half a century of being at the vanguard of british guitar players, songwriters, singers and true custodians of folk music" – RICHARD HAWLEY

"I do believe this set could be equal to, maybe better than, anything he's ever done" – Ian Anderson, TRADFOLK

Praise for Martin Simpson/Thomm Jutz – Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs Of Mary Sands And Jane Gentry (2023):

"Likely to be one of the folk albums of the 2020's. Art with a capital A to rhapsodise about." 5* RNR

"Drizzling with Simpson's shining guitars." The Guardian

"A genuinely stunning, life-affirming, and beautifully produced listening experience. It's an instant classic." Folkradio

"Richly recorded and wonderfully played throughout, this is destined to be another classic and essential release from Topic." 4* Songlines

"Sublime British folk-songs, rescued from time in Appalachia. A record of rare power and significance." 9/10 Guitarist

"Sun-dappled and splendid." 4* MOJO

"Fascinating collection of historic folk covers curated by two legends." 8/10 Americana UK

"It's a triumphant project and a very special kind of magic." Rootsworld

Praise for solo album 'Rooted' (2019):

"Every track cuts like glass. The folk singer and guitarist continues his winning streak." Sunday Times

"Martin Simpson is a superb teller of a song. You just have to listen to the opener on this double album, his own composition, Trouble Brought Me Here, to appreciate how his articulation brings the substance of a song alive, borne on his flowing guitar or banjo accompaniment." The Scotsman

Other quotes:

"Martin is in a class of his own. He is such an expressive player; he is ingenious in his use of the guitar. You can listen to one of his songs and three or four minutes in, he has only used the top four strings and not even played a bass note yet, and when he does, it feels like an orchestra coming in. His clarity of playing is just amazing." Jackson Browne

"One of the virtuoso instrumentalists of the English music scene" 'Sounds better than ever' **** 4 Stars The Guardian

"Simpson has become a fine interpreter of traditional and other songs, as well as a notable writer of his own." The Times

'Simpson's latest is a potent blend of the highest calibre…Simpson has never sung or played better' Acoustic Magazine

'One of our finest traditional musicians, Simpson's latest album offers a roving overview of his talents' **** 4 Stars Uncut

'An excellent collection of material drawn from both sides of the Atlantic handled with loving care by Simpson and aided by some of the biggest names in folk' **** 4 Stars Maverick