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Martin Simpson plus Support
Quick summary
Event description
Friday 3 April, 7.30pm, Tickets £15
“★★★★ One of the virtuoso instrumentalists of the English music scene… sounds better than ever” – The Guardian
Martin Simpson is one of England’s most revered folk performers, 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 remarkable solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving.
Never one to rest long without a guitar in his hands and a song in his head, Martin Simpson continues to travel the length and breadth of the UK. Martin has been nominated an astounding 32 times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards – more than any other performer – and has won numerous awards.
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.
Martin’s latest solo album, Skydancers, was released in April 2024. The album is a twin release featuring a live CD recorded on recent gigs and a studio CD including some of Martin’s favourite musicians.
Last year’s album with Nashville’s Thomm Jutz, Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs Of Mary Sands And Jane Gentry, received superlative reviews from both sides of the Atlantic.
“Drizzling with Simpson’s shining guitars” The Guardian
“A record of rare power and significance” 9/10 Guitarist
Support Acts
Laurie Shepherd and the Moonfires
Steeped in playful non-conformity, with themes of bureaucratic dullness and corporate destruction, Laurie Shepherd and the Moonfires alt-folk trio will have you moving through wild-wooded hills, messy living rooms and the picketed lines of past and present.
Their songs combine soulful melodies, intricate vocal arrangements and unusual rhythms to create deeply emotional atmospheres, sometimes upbeat and playful, other times slow and moving. Every song is vivid and distinct, with subject matter ranging from the beauty and challenges of motherhood, the suffragettes movement, and the pain and joy of what it means to be a human being living in an age of crisis and wonder.
Callum O’Neil
Callum O’Neil is a young and prolific songwriter, whose deeply personal songs shine through, leading him to win the Sunderland Music City songwriting competition in 2024. He is about to release his debut single and following on from sold out support slots with local artists Patrick Gosling and Swindled is looking to build some momentum throughout 2026!
