The remarkable, intimate solo performances Martin gives go from strength to strength - every gig is a masterclass, giving rapt audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his playing. Martin’s modesty and grace prevented him from answering “What’s it like being the best guitar player in the world?” on 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 still 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 #12 guitarist in the world. 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. 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.
In recent years, he has been a lynchpin in the award-winning Full English, The Elizabethan Sessions and, in 2015, recorded Murmurs, an exciting new album with Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr. Martin's most recent album was released in November last year to the usual critical acclaim. Home Recordings was recorded at his home by his regular producer, now neighbour, Andy Bell, and finds Martin singing and playing, literally amongst his beloved guitar and banjo collection and out on his Peak District-facing porch. 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 Simpson has transcended borders and oceans to quietly become a superb storyteller and musician of great depth and unquestionable taste.”
Stephen Fearing
“One of the virtuoso instrumentalists of the English music scene” ★★★★
The Guardian
"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."
★★★★ Maverick
Event: Friday 7 October, 7.30pm
Tickets: £15 advance / £18 on the door
Book now for Martin Simpson at Hampshire Cultural Trust's Forest Arts Centre, New Milton now!
