JOE MARTIN and his Amazing Band - So far So Good

SO FAR SO GOOD

Joe Martin's story with Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre runs deep. Long before the bigger stages and international recognition, Joe was honing his craft upstairs at McCullough's, performing at the Monday Night Live sessions from around 2018. It was there, in that intimate setting, that a Lancashire-born songwriter began shaping the voice and storytelling that would carry him far beyond the Pennines. On 5th March 2020, he stepped onto the BMAAC stage proper for the first time alongside fellow Americana artist Robbie Cavanah — a moment that now feels like the beginning of something much bigger.

Over the past decade, Joe Martin has grown into a true modern-day troubadour — a songwriter, singer and performer who has played to tens of thousands across the UK, Europe and the USA, steadily building a reputation on both sides of the Atlantic. His music draws from a rich lineage — echoes of Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Townes Van Zandt sit comfortably alongside contemporary influences like Jason Isbell and Kacey Musgraves. The result is a sound that feels timeless yet immediate — rooted in classic country, yet pushing forward with a modern lyrical edge.

A defining chapter in Joe's journey came in Nashville, Tennessee — the spiritual home of country music. Performing at the legendary The Bluebird Cafe marked a profound full-circle moment, inspired by years of watching the venue featured on the TV show Nashville. It was a night that didn't go unnoticed. As Jeremy Egner of The New York Times observed:
"The night I was at the Bluebird a young Englishman with a rich, resonant voice named Joe Martin seemed primed for bigger things."

That sense of "bigger things" has continued to follow Joe. From co-writing at RCA Studio A — a room steeped in history where artists from The Beach Boys to Dolly Parton and George Strait have recorded — to working alongside respected Nashville writers like Aaron Raitiere, Joe has immersed himself in the very fabric of the genre. Along the way, guidance from his songwriting hero John Paul White has further shaped his artistic direction.

His recorded journey reflects that growth. From the acclaimed 2017 debut EP Small World, through collaborations with members of Danny and the Champions of the World, to the 2021 EP Bound For Lonesome — written during his early Nashville experiences — Joe has consistently evolved. His live album The First Five Years captured the spirit of his early career, while singles like High Gravity pushed boundaries even in their release format. In 2023, he delivered his debut studio album Empty Passenger Seat to widespread acclaim, cementing his place as one of the UK's most compelling Americana voices.

Now, the story moves into its most exciting chapter yet. In April 2026, Joe releases his highly anticipated second album Alone In Valentine, recorded in Nashville and produced by Cal Campbell and Cornelius Webb — a project designed to bridge generations, blending classic country heritage with a bold, forward-looking sound.

And on 8th September, that journey comes home.

Returning to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre — the venue he has arguably played more than any other — Joe Martin will record a live album in front of the audience that has been there from the very beginning. Backed by his full band, this will be more than just a gig. It's a culmination. A full-circle moment. A night where every chapter of his career — from those early McCullough's sessions to Nashville and beyond — is brought together in one room.

From his very first recordings right through to Alone In Valentine, this will be Joe Martin's story, told live, in the place where so much of it began.

This won't just be another show.

It will be a landmark night.

And if you've followed his journey — or even if this is your first time — this is the one to be in the room for.