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Martin Simpson
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Key Information

Martin Stewart Simpson (born 5 May 1953) is an English folk singer, guitarist and songwriter.[1] His music reflects a wide variety of influences and styles, rooted in Britain, Ireland, America and beyond.[2] He builds a purposeful, often upbeat voice on a spare picking style.[3]

According to his discography, Simpson has appeared solo (21 albums), as a session musician (16 albums), in collaboration (9 albums), in compilations, live, and on performance and instructional DVDs (7). He has also published a book. Between 2002 and 2010, he was awarded multiple honours among the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.[4]

Biography

[edit]
Simpson in 1977, with banjo
Simpson in 1977, with custom made acoustic guitar

Martin Simpson was born in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England on 5 May 1953.[5] He took an early interest in music, learning to play the guitar and banjo and performing at local folk clubs. In 1970, he dropped out of John Leggott College[6] to become a full-time musician.

In 1976, he recorded his first solo album Golden Vanity.[1] In the same year he opened for Steeleye Span on their UK tour. He performed with Ashley Hutchings' Albion Band in 1979. He also toured and performed with folk singer June Tabor, who did not play an instrument herself.[1] They later recorded three albums together.

In 1987, he moved to Bloomington, Indiana and married American singer Jessica Radcliffe,[1] and shortly afterwards they relocated to Ithaca, New York. He continued recording a mix of traditional and more contemporary material, including several entirely instrumental albums.

Notable work in the 1990s included, in 1995, an album with Chinese pipa play Wu Man, Music for the Motherless Child. The album was produced in a single session, between 7:00 pm and 2:30 am,[7] and blends western and Chinese improvisational approaches, although five of its six tracks come from British or US traditions. In a similar vein was Kambara Music in Native Tongues with David Hidalgo (from Los Lobos) and violinist Viji Krishnan, a mix of Hindu and contemporary songs.

Not until 1999 did he record several of his own compositions on Bootleg USA. It was then, along with Jessica Radcliffe, that he co-founded a record label called "High Bohemia". During his 1994 visit to the UK, he recorded Martin Simpson Live in Oxford. In 1999 he was a session musician for an album by Welsh singer Julie Murphy. The Bramble Briar (2001) was a turn to basics, a collection of English traditional folk songs.

2003 saw the release of Righteousness and Humidity, a set focusing almost exclusively on music from the Deep South, played on a variety of instruments and featuring Steeleye Span's Rick Kemp. This recording was a nominee for BBC folk awards album of the year in 2004. Simpson won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2004 in the category of Best Musician.[8] This was followed in 2005 by Kind Letters in which he mines once again the rich seams of English folk music which proved so fruitful for The Bramble Briar.

In 2007 Simpson released Prodigal Son. The 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards voted it as best album. The fRoots critics poll voted it as the 7th best new album of 2007. It is a mixture of traditional songs and Simpson originals, the highlights of which possess a distinctly southern American flavor. Jackson Browne, Kate Rusby and Kellie While guest star here. In December 2007 he performed on Later... with Jools Holland.

Simpson has written guitar instruction books and recorded DVD guitar tutorials. His career came full circle in 2003 when he teamed up with June Tabor again. In 2004 he surprised everyone by performing at a gig in Nettlebed, Oxford, where he played banjo all evening, without touching a guitar.[citation needed] A readers' poll of the magazine Acoustic Guitar voted him as number 12 in the world in 2005.[citation needed]

Performances of note to the general public include a 2007 appearance on Jools Holland's BBC show and a half-hour set at the Proms on 20 July 2008 broadcast on BBC4.[9] In 2015, Simpson released Murmurs (Topic) with Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr. In October 2016, Simpson collaborated with Dom Flemons (formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops) to release A Selection of Ever Popular Favourites.[10] He released Trails & Tribulations in 2017, featuring 'Blues Run the Game', by Jackson C Frank, and an acclaimed version of the traditional song "Reynardine".[11]

Awards and recognition

[edit]

He has been nominated 23 times in the 11 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including nine times consecutively as Artist of The Year, which he has won twice. His album Prodigal Son was named album of the year in 2008 and a song from that album, "Never Any Good" was named best original song of the year.

The accompanying book to the Topic Records 70-year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten lists Prodigal Son as one of Topic's classic albums.[12]: 94  "Never Any Good" from the album is track seven on the fifth disk in the boxed set and "Masters of War" from Grinning in Your Face is track four of the sixth disk. He was a session musician on June Tabor's album Aqaba which is another of the classic albums.

Instruments

[edit]

While best known as an acoustic guitarist, Simpson started as a banjo player, and also plays the electric guitar. He is renowned as one of the world's leading exponents of slide guitar.[13] His main performance instruments are:

  • Paul Reed Smith Angelus – Simpson currently endorses PRS acoustic guitars, and his signature model is available to purchase.[14]
  • Stefan Sobell Martin Simpson Signature Model – for many years, Simpson's main performing guitars were made by British luthier Stefan Sobell.[15]
  • Fylde 12-fret Custom model built by British luthier Roger Bucknall - Martin owns several Fylde guitars including a Fylde resonator.
  • Wolfram guitar slide – Simpson uses a special Wolfram Martin Simpson Signature Slide, made from solid tungsten carbide.[16]

He is known to have owned and played guitars by a number of renowned American luthiers including Ervin Somogyi, Jeff Traugott[17] and Bill Tippin, as well as British luthiers including Ralph Bown.[18] He recently acquired a Turnstone 14-fret cutaway guitar built by English luthier Rosie Heydenrych, and a 12-fret cutaway fan-fret Tirga Mhor model guitar with African Blackwood back and sides made by Rory Dowling of Taran guitars which he has been seen touring the UK with recently.

Discography

[edit]

Solo albums

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Live

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  • Live (recorded 1994, Oxford) (1997)
  • 61 Highway (1999)

Collaborations

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Martin and Jessica Ruby Simpson

  • True Dare or Promise (1987)
  • Red Roses (1995)
  • Band of Angels (1996)

Martin Simpson and June Tabor

Martin Simpson and Wu Man

Martin Simpson, David Hidalgo and Viji Krishnan

  • Kambara Music in Native Tongues (1998)

Martin Simpson, Jessica Radcliffe and Lisa Ekstrom

  • Beautiful Darkness (2001)

Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr

  • Murmurs (2015)

Martin Simpson and Dom Flemons

  • A Selection of Ever Popular Favourites[10]

Other compilations

[edit]
  • The Collection (1992)
  • The Definitive Martin Simpson (2005)
  • Three Score and Ten (2009)
  • The Full English (2013)

Martin Simpson as session musician

[edit]
  • Andrew Cronshaw: Earthed in Cloud Valley (Trailer LER 2104) (1977)
  • Hot Vultures: The East Street Shakes (1977)
  • Andrew Cronshaw: Wade in the Flood (Highway LTRA 508) (1978)
  • Hot Vultures: Up The Line (1979)
  • June Tabor: Abyssinians (1983)
  • June Tabor: Aqaba (1988)
  • Albion Band: Lark Rise To Candleford (1980)
  • John & Mary: The Weedkiller's Daughter (1993)
  • Julie Murphy: Black Mountain Revisited (1999)
  • Chris Leslie: The Flow (2002)
  • June Tabor: An Echo of Hooves (2003)
  • June Tabor: At The Wood's Heart (2005)
  • Roy Bailey: Sit Down and Sing (2005)
  • Cara Dillon: After The Morning (2006)
  • Various Artists: Rubber Folk (2006) (Beatles Tribute)
  • Lorne MacDougall: Hello World (2010)

Role in the Albion Band

[edit]

He was one of the pool of musicians who played with the Albion Band during their residency at the National Theatre, London, playing for Bill Bryden's company, mainly in the Cottesloe Theatre. He appears on the recording of music from Lark Rise to Candleford, although the album's attributions are inaccurate.

DVDs

[edit]
  • Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals – Martin Simpson Vol 1 (1993)
  • Martin Simpson Teaches Alternate Tunings (2002)
  • Instrumentals 2 (2005)
  • Martins 4 (2005) – Martin Carthy, Martin Simpson, Martin Taylor and Juan Martin.
  • In Concert at the Freight and Salvage (Berkeley, California) (2005)
  • Guitar Maestros – Martin Simpson (2006)
  • Prodigal Son – The Concert (2009)

Book

[edit]
  • Cool and Unusual: Creative Fingerstyle Guitar Solos (2000).

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Martin Simpson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Martin Simpson (born 5 May 1953) is an English folk singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for his masterful fingerstyle acoustic and slide guitar playing, drawing from British folk traditions, American blues, and old-time music. Born in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, Simpson began playing guitar at age 12 and turned professional at 14, performing in local folk clubs before dropping out of college in 1970 to pursue music full-time. His debut solo album, Golden Vanity, was released in 1976, marking the start of a prolific career that includes collaborations with artists such as longtime collaborator June Tabor, accompanying her on albums starting in the late 1970s, and later with American musicians like Henry Gray and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos. In the mid-1980s, he relocated to the United States, living in Indiana and New York, where he explored diverse influences including Chinese music on the album Music for the Motherless Child (1995) with pipa player Wu Man. Now based in Sheffield, England, Simpson continues to tour and record, blending traditional material with original compositions on albums like Prodigal Son (2007) and Skydancers (2024), with Prodigal Son earning the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Album of the Year in 2008. Simpson's instrumental prowess has earned him widespread acclaim, including ranking as the number 12 guitarist in the world by Acoustic Guitar magazine readers in 2005 and a place in Gibson Guitars' Top 30 Acoustic Guitarists of all time. He holds the record for the most nominations at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, with 32 across its history, including 13 as Musician of the Year, which he won twice, and nine consecutive Artist of the Year nods, securing the award on two occasions. His song "Never Any Good" from Prodigal Son also won Best Original Song at the awards.

Biography

Early life and education

Martin Simpson was born on 5 May 1953 in , , . He grew up in a musical household in the industrial town, where his father—a man born in 1899 and described as a Victorian gentleman—cultivated an appreciation for light opera, , and Victorian parlor ballads through his extensive record collection, exposing Simpson to traditional British songs and emphasizing clear enunciation in performance. His older brothers broadened these influences by sharing records of rock 'n' roll, , rhythm and blues, and artists, including early encounters with tracks like Bobby Charles's "." At the age of 12, Simpson received his first guitar and began teaching himself to play, soon adding the to his repertoire through self-directed practice. From ages 12 to 17, he frequented the Folk Club, immersing himself in the burgeoning folk revival and drawing inspiration from live performances by key figures such as , , and , which shaped his early musical development.

Career beginnings and early influences

Simpson began performing publicly in local folk clubs around at the age of sixteen, having already immersed himself in the local scene by attending weekly gatherings from age twelve and absorbing performances by visiting American musicians at blues festivals. These early experiences exposed him to the American folk revival, shaping his guitar style through encounters with slide techniques; by eighteen, he was touring across the UK, sharing bills with influential figures like , whose playing he had seen live and which further inspired his approach to acoustic and fingerstyle. In 1970, at age seventeen, Simpson dropped out of John Leggott College to pursue music professionally, marking his transition from amateur performances to a full-time career. His debut album, Golden Vanity (1976), released on Trailer Records, showcased his emerging talent on traditional English folk material, including sea shanties and ballads arranged for solo guitar and voice. That same year, he supported on their UK tour, gaining wider visibility in the British folk circuit. Throughout the late 1970s, Simpson formed early ensembles and took on session work that honed his versatility. He collaborated with Ian A. Anderson and Maggie Holland as the short-lived Scrub Jay Orchestra and guested on their Hot Vultures albums, blending folk and elements in live and recorded settings. These activities, alongside sporadic tours, solidified his reputation as a innovative rooted in tradition yet open to American influences.

Mid-career relocation and developments

In 1985, Martin Simpson relocated to the with his wife, American Jessica Radcliffe, whom he had married in 1985, initially settling in , before moving to . This move marked a significant expansion of his musical horizons, integrating American traditions into his British folk foundation while continuing to tour and record internationally. The relocation facilitated deeper immersion in the U.S. folk scene, influencing his performances and collaborations during the late 1980s and 1990s. During this period, Simpson co-founded High Bohemia Records in 1999 with Radcliffe to independently release his work, allowing greater creative control over his projects. The label's debut, Bootleg (1999), captured live recordings from American venues and introduced original compositions, signaling a pivotal shift toward songwriting as a core element of his artistry rather than solely interpretive folk arrangements. This evolution reflected his growing interest in personal narratives drawn from transatlantic experiences, blending acoustic guitar prowess with lyrical introspection. Simpson's mid-career trajectory culminated in The Bramble Briar (2001), a Topic Records release featuring interpretations of English traditional folk songs, which underscored his return to roots while incorporating subtleties honed in the U.S. The album highlighted his mastery of fingerstyle and techniques applied to timeless ballads, maintaining conceptual depth without exhaustive experimentation, and reinforced his reputation as a bridge between old-world traditions and contemporary expression.

Recent activities and personal life

Since returning to the United Kingdom around 2000 after an extended period in the United States, Martin Simpson has re-established his base in , , shifting his focus toward UK-centric touring while maintaining occasional international engagements. This relocation marked a significant personal and professional transition, allowing him to deepen his involvement in the British folk scene. Simpson has since become recognized as one of the most prolific performers in the UK folk and roots music circuit, undertaking extensive tours that span venues across the country and select global dates, demonstrating his enduring commitment to live performance. In his , Simpson is married to Kit Bailey, the daughter of renowned English folk singer Roy Bailey; the couple has been together since following his separation from his first wife, American singer Jessica Radcliffe, in the early 2000s. They reside in the , where Simpson balances his demanding tour schedule with family life, though specific details about children remain private. His return to the has been influenced by a desire for closer ties to his roots and family networks in . Simpson marked his 70th birthday in May 2023 with a celebratory party organized by his wife at a local venue, accompanied by fan tributes and reflective interviews that highlighted his career longevity. Despite turning 72 in 2025, he continues to tour vigorously, showcasing remarkable resilience and vitality in maintaining a packed schedule of performances. This ongoing activity underscores his dedication to music amid the physical demands of frequent travel and stage work. Beyond concerts, Simpson's recent non-album pursuits include a 2025 appearance on the Fretboard Journal , where he discussed his guitar techniques and through music. That same month, he headlined the St Ives Festival on September 19 at St Ives Theatre, delivering a set of traditional and original material to enthusiastic audiences. These engagements reflect his active engagement with media and festivals outside of recording projects.

Musical Style and Influences

Playing techniques and innovations

Martin Simpson is renowned for his mastery of , employing a thumb-and-finger technique that produces melodic lines with fluid precision and dynamic expression. His approach integrates banjo frailing—adapted to the guitar through rhythmic downstrokes with the back of the fingernail—combined with hammer-ons and pull-offs to create intricate textures in traditional arrangements. This method allows for simultaneous , , and , as demonstrated in pieces like "The Cuckoo Bird," where the right hand delivers percussive accents alongside flowing picking patterns. A cornerstone of Simpson's technique is his extensive use of alternate tunings, which he employs to unlock richness and facilitate Celtic-influenced modal playing. Tunings such as , open G, open D, open C, and suspended fourth modal variants (e.g., Gsus4 or DADGAC, sometimes called "Klingon Tuning") enable ringing open-string drones and complex voicings without relying on traditional barre chords. In his instructional work, Simpson systematically relates these tunings to standard EADGBE, showing how they expand chord forms and suit vocal ranges, as in adaptations of tunes like "Miss McCloud's Reel" in or "Donal Og" in Gsus4. This innovation draws from traditions but innovates by prioritizing depth in folk arrangements, allowing traditional British and Appalachian melodies to resonate with layered overtones. Simpson's innovations in particularly distinguish his acoustic folk style, where he adapts techniques to blend American traditions with British folk sensibilities. Using a custom slide—designed for its density (195 grams), mirror finish, and radiused ends—he achieves precise control, sustain, and overtone manipulation on light-gauge acoustic strings, facilitating hammer-ons and pull-offs without string drag. Examples include his slide interpretations of tunes on modified parlor guitars and arrangements like "Leaves of Life," influenced by , which merge slide glissandi with modal folk harmonies. He incorporates percussive elements into these, mimicking the rhythmic drive of players like Big Joe Williams and Clarence Ashley to add complexity to traditional tunes, such as through body slaps and string knocks that enhance improvisational phrasing. Over time, Simpson's techniques have evolved from early, imitative structures—rooted in and copying of artists like and —toward a highly improvisational approach suited to live adaptations. This shift emphasizes fluidity in both hands, as seen in his avoidance of fixed notation in favor of spontaneous arrangements, allowing harmonic complexity to emerge organically in performances of traditional material.

Key musical influences

Martin Simpson's guitar style was profoundly shaped by key figures in the , particularly , , and , whose innovative phrasing and fingerpicking techniques influenced his approach to . Jansch's intricate arrangements on albums like Jack Orion inspired Simpson to explore traditional tunes with a modern edge, while Graham's modal tunings and fusion of folk with global elements opened new harmonic possibilities. Nic Jones's rhythmic drive and storytelling through guitar accompaniment further informed Simpson's phrasing, evident in his early work accompanying singers. American roots music, especially Delta blues and fingerstyle traditions, played a central role in Simpson's development, with artists like and Rev. Gary Davis serving as pivotal influences for his slide and blues techniques. Hurt's delicate fingerpicking and melodic clarity captivated Simpson from childhood, encouraging a focus on emotional depth over speed, while Davis's gospel-infused blues and complex rhythms expanded his repertoire of alternate tunings and percussive elements. Simpson's exposure to these styles was deepened through Stefan Grossman's guitar workshops, where he immersed himself in the intricacies of American country blues. Beyond folk and , Simpson drew from broader genres, incorporating classical precision akin to Andrés Segovia's interpretations, swing from Django Reinhardt's gypsy style, and elements of such as Indian ragas through collaborations with Debashish Bhattacharya. These influences enriched his palette, allowing subtle nods to classical phrasing in ballads and rhythmic complexities inspired by ragas in slide passages. Simpson integrates these influences by adapting the raw intensity of US —such as the slide work of Hurt and Davis—into English ballads, creating a transatlantic that preserves narrative traditions while infusing them with bluesy grit and improvisation. This synthesis, rooted in his family's early exposure to American music via artists like and , results in a sound that transcends origins, blending British storytelling with American emotional directness.

Instruments

Primary guitars

Martin Simpson's primary guitars reflect his long-standing collaborations with renowned luthiers, emphasizing custom builds tailored to his fingerstyle and alternate tunings. These instruments have been central to his performances and recordings, showcasing his preference for guitars that offer clarity, projection, and versatility. The Stefan Sobell Signature Model, a luthier-built guitar from the British maker Stefan Sobell, has been a cornerstone of Simpson's arsenal since the early 1980s. Simpson began working with Sobell around 1982, commissioning instruments that evolved into the signature line, with the model featuring a medium-sized body, strong bass and treble response, excellent note separation, and sustain suitable for low tunings like D and C. This guitar was key for his early recordings, including contributions to albums like Grinning In Your Face (1983), where its balanced tone supported intricate folk arrangements. The signature version, developed collaboratively and first produced in 2002, uses European spruce or Douglas fir tops with Brazilian rosewood or blackwood backs and sides, an asymmetric ebony bridge, and a 650mm scale length; Simpson's long-term relationship with Sobell, spanning over four decades, involved multiple commissions and refinements to enhance playability. In the , Simpson partnered with Paul Reed Smith (PRS) to develop their acoustic line, resulting in the custom PRS Signature Model, which he has used for the majority of his live and studio work since its introduction around 2008. This endorsement stemmed from PRS inviting Simpson to provide input on design elements such as neck width, string spacing, materials, and electronics, leading to a guitar optimized for acoustic performance with a proprietary Piezo pickup and 18-volt preamp for reliable amplification. Built in PRS's shop, the features heirloom-quality craftsmanship, often with Adirondack spruce tops and or backs, delivering the projection and responsiveness Simpson requires for dynamic touring and recording sessions, as heard on albums like Purpose and Grace (2011). His ongoing collaboration with PRS has produced multiple prototypes, including a recent one tested for its vintage-inspired tone. Simpson acquired a 12-fret Custom model around 2016 through his long-standing relationship with British luthier Roger Bucknall, favoring it for slide playing due to its shallow body and clear articulation. This commission, part of Simpson's ownership of several instruments dating back to the , features a 12-fret neck joint for enhanced bass response and upper-fret access, incorporating ancient Brazilian backs, master-grade Swiss pine tops with bearclaw grain, bindings, and electronics like Highlander pickups. Built in , the guitar's lightweight construction and carbon fiber reinforcement without metal in the neck provide the stability and tone Simpson seeks for slide techniques, as utilized on his 2016 Rooted and extensive tours. His early championing of Bucknall's work underscores a commission-based acquisition focused on custom specifications for folk and applications. Simpson also plays other notable guitars, including a 1931 Martin 000-18 acquired around 2018, valued for its rich tone and used in recent studio recordings; a modified Washburn parlor guitar for slide work; a Taran Tirga Mhor model with African blackwood back and sides and Adirondack top, his second from the builder; and as of 2025, a new custom guitar from Guitars.

Other instruments and accessories

In addition to his renowned work, Martin Simpson incorporates the five-string into his folk arrangements, favoring models such as the J. Romero “Birthday” , acquired for his 60th birthday in 2013 and featuring a goat-skin head for enhanced tonal warmth, alongside a more durable plastic-headed variant for touring. He also employs the Sobell banjola, a hybrid instrument with a five-string grafted onto a body and fitted with a pickup, which he amplifies through a to produce a singular, resonant that bridges traditional folk elements with modern amplification. For amplified settings, Simpson occasionally turns to , particularly his 1956 Gretsch Streamliner semi-acoustic model equipped with DeArmond pickups and flatwound strings, which he pairs with a quality and effects to capture a distinctive, vibrant tone inspired by traditions. This instrument allows him to explore electric textures while maintaining his folk roots, marking a departure from purely acoustic performances in select sessions. Simpson's signature accessories include the custom Wolfram Martin Simpson Signature Slide, crafted from solid nickel in a tapered with a hand-lapped mirror finish, weighing 195 grams to deliver exceptional sustain and clarity in slide techniques. He further adapts capos as a versatile tool for transposing keys and aligning guitar voicings with banjo-like resonances, while employing precise tuners—preferring ear-based tuning but resorting to visual aids onstage for accuracy amid performance demands. Throughout his career, Simpson's setup has evolved from banjo-centric acoustic explorations in the to more hybrid configurations by the , integrating electric guitars, amplified hybrids, and specialized accessories to broaden his sonic palette in contemporary folk contexts.

Major Collaborations

Role in the Albion Band

Martin Simpson joined in 1979, taking on the role of lead guitarist alongside playing and providing vocals, which helped shape the group's electric folk sound during a pivotal period in British folk-rock. During his tenure from 1979 to 1980, Simpson contributed to key projects, including the soundtrack album (1980), where he played on several tracks as part of the band's residency at London's National Theatre for Bill Bryden's adaptation of Flora Thompson's novels. His guitar work integrated acoustic elements into the band's arrangements, enhancing their blend of traditional folk with rock instrumentation. Simpson toured with the Albion Band on multiple occasions, including two major tours following his joining, solidifying his influence on their live performances and contributing to the evolution of progressive folk-rock in the 1980s.

Partnership with June Tabor

Martin Simpson's partnership with vocalist June Tabor began in 1977 when he joined her as her primary accompanist, providing guitar support for her recordings and performances. This collaboration marked a significant phase in Simpson's career, blending his instrumental expertise with Tabor's interpretive singing style rooted in British folk traditions. Their work together emphasized intimate, understated arrangements that allowed Tabor's voice to take center stage, often featuring Simpson's as the core element alongside minimal additional instrumentation. The duo's first major joint release was A Cut Above in 1980 on Topic Records, an album showcasing traditional songs with Simpson handling guitar accompaniment, arrangements, and occasional harmony vocals. Over the years, they contributed to three key albums together: Ashes and Diamonds (1977), where Simpson played guitar on multiple tracks; A Cut Above (1980), their signature duo effort; and Aqaba (1988), on which Simpson provided guitar and baritone guitar for several pieces. In these recordings, Simpson's role focused on crafting subtle, supportive textures—such as fingerstyle picking and modal tunings—that complemented Tabor's dramatic delivery without overpowering it, creating a hallmark sparse sound that highlighted emotional depth in songs like "Strange Affair" and "Unicorns." During the and into the , Simpson and Tabor frequently performed as a live duo at folk clubs, festivals, and concert halls across the and , including notable appearances in 1979 and 1980 that captured their chemistry on stage. These performances allowed them to explore and refine each other's selections from the folk repertoire, with Simpson adapting his arrangements to Tabor's phrasing and Tabor incorporating instrumental cues into her interpretations, fostering a mutual evolution in their artistic choices. The duo's onstage , characterized by seamless interplay and shared reverence for source material, influenced subsequent projects for both artists. Following Simpson's relocation to the in 1985, their regular collaboration paused, but they reunited occasionally after 2000, including Tabor's guest vocal appearance on Simpson's 2011 Purpose and Grace, where she contributed to tracks evoking their earlier sparse aesthetic. These later joint efforts, along with sporadic live appearances, reaffirmed the enduring impact of their partnership on .

Other notable collaborations

Simpson has collaborated with fiddler and singer on several projects, including contributing to the track "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" on her 2010 album with , where his playing added a distinctive Appalachian flavor to the traditional arrangement. In recognition of their shared contributions to the folk scene, both Simpson and Carthy received awards at the 2020 Folking Awards, with Simpson named Best Musician and Carthy honored as Rising Star, highlighting his mentorship role with emerging talents in British . A standout cross-cultural effort came in 1998 with accordionist David Hidalgo of on the album Kambara Music in , where Simpson's intertwined with Hidalgo's , South Indian violinist Viji Krishnan's Carnatic influences, and percussionist Palghat Ramprasad's rhythms to fuse British folk, Mexican roots, and Indian classical elements into innovative instrumentals like "El Jarabe Loco." This project exemplified Simpson's interest in global sonic dialogues, earning praise for its seamless blending of traditions. Simpson contributed to Bob Dylan tributes through his rendition of "Boots of Spanish Leather" on the 2001 compilation A Nod to Bob: An Artists' Tribute to Bob Dylan on His Sixtieth Birthday, delivering a haunting interpretation that captured the song's narrative depth and emotional resonance. His performance underscored his affinity for Dylan's , a thread seen in various session appearances drawing from American folk-blues traditions. In ensembles, Simpson joined Irish traditional band Danú for live and recorded explorations of Celtic material, incorporating his guitar into their repertoire of jigs and reels to bridge English and Irish folk styles. He further expanded this thematic variety in a 2014 project with American roots musician , tracing transatlantic folk song migrations from Britain to the U.S., which highlighted shared blues-inflected crossovers in old-time and . In 2023, Simpson collaborated with guitarist Thomm Jutz on the album Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands & Jane Gentry, interpreting traditional Appalachian songs. These endeavors showcase Simpson's versatility, from Irish traditional infusions to blues-tinged global fusions, without delving into exhaustive listings.

Awards and Recognition

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards

Martin Simpson holds the record for the most nominations in the history of the , with a total of 32 nominations spanning from 2002 to 2019, surpassing all other performers. Of these, 13 have been in the Musician of the Year category, a record he shares for most nominations in that category, which he won in 2004 and 2016, highlighting his consistent peer recognition as one of the foremost instrumentalists in . His wins at the awards include in 2007 and 2010, reflecting his broad impact as a performer and innovator. In 2008, Simpson secured Album of the Year for his introspective solo release Prodigal Son, which explored personal and historical themes through arrangements, and Best Original Song for the poignant track "Never Any Good," a reflection on his father's life. This record-breaking tally underscores Simpson's enduring influence and esteem within the folk community, as the awards are voted on by industry peers, affirming his technical mastery and artistic contributions over more than two decades.

Other honors and nominations

In 2020, Martin Simpson received the Best Musician award at the Folking Awards, recognizing his instrumental prowess in the scene. Simpson has also earned international recognition through nominations at the International Folk Music Awards, including a nod for in 2017. To mark his 70th birthday in May 2023, Simpson was honored with tributes from peers and the folk community, including a special radio broadcast on Thank Goodness It's Folk and a celebratory interview highlighting his enduring contributions.

Discography

Solo studio albums

Martin Simpson's solo studio albums span over four decades, showcasing his evolution as a guitarist, banjo player, and composer within the folk, blues, and Americana traditions. His early work emphasized interpretations of traditional British and American folk songs, while later releases increasingly incorporated original compositions addressing personal reflections, historical narratives, and broader social concerns. Released primarily through independent labels like Trailer and Topic Records, these albums highlight Simpson's technical mastery and thematic depth, often blending acoustic instrumentation with subtle production. In 1976, Simpson debuted with Golden Vanity, his first solo studio album on the Trailer label, featuring 11 tracks of traditional folk material drawn from British and American repertoires, including sea shanties and ballads performed on guitar and . This release established his reputation for intricate fingerpicking and vocal delivery rooted in folk authenticity. Seven years later, Grinning In Your Face followed on Topic Records, expanding into contemporary covers such as an instrumental rendition of "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and Bob Dylan's "," alongside blues-influenced originals that explored themes of hardship and resilience, marking a shift toward more personal expression. Simpson's mid-career solo output deepened this progression, with Prodigal Son in 2007 on Topic Records presenting a mix of traditional tunes, self-penned songs, and instrumental pieces that weave British folk heritage with American influences, earning acclaim for its emotional range and winning the Best Album at the . By 2019, Rooted—his 21st solo studio album, also on Topic Records—delved further into original songwriting, addressing themes of displacement, identity, and environmental connection through folk-blues arrangements, accompanied by guest musicians like and , and including a bonus disc of instrumentals titled Seeded. More recent works reflect Simpson's introspective side amid global challenges. Home Recordings, released in 2020 on Topic Records from sessions during the lockdown, captures intimate solo performances of covers by artists like ("The Times They Are A-Changin'"), , and , emphasizing themes of isolation and solace through minimalistic guitar and settings. In 2024, Skydancers arrived as a twin studio and live release on Topic Records—his 12th full-length solo effort for the label since 1992—focusing on original compositions that tackle personal loss, migration, and hope, blending traditional folk structures with modern lyrical introspection to underscore Simpson's ongoing artistic maturity.

Live recordings

Martin Simpson's live recordings capture the spontaneity and intimacy of his solo performances, drawn from extensive touring across the and since the . These albums highlight his mastery of , vocal phrasing, and reinterpretations of traditional and contemporary folk material in front of live audiences at venues ranging from intimate halls to major festivals like and Towersey. His debut solo live album, Live, was recorded in 1994 at the Holywell Music Room in during a tour and released in 1996 by Red House Records. The recording features a setlist blending English and American folk tunes, such as "Donal Og" and "Betsy the Serving Maid," emphasizing Simpson's fluid fingerstyle technique and unaccompanied delivery in a responsive setting. In 1999, Bootleg USA on High Bohemia Records documented performances from Simpson's US tours while he resided in North Carolina, incorporating blues and old-time influences like "John Hardy" amid raw, audience-engaged sessions that reflect his immersion in American roots music scenes. A key collaborative live release, A Selection of Ever Popular Favourites (2016, Fledg'ling Records), was mainly recorded during an autumn tour with , featuring spirited audience interactions through call-and-response vocals, jug percussion, and medleys of ragtime, , and parlor songs performed on guitar, , and bones. The deluxe edition of Skydancers (2024, Topic Records) pairs studio tracks with a bonus live CD of solo performances recorded in late 2022 and early 2023 across UK venues, including improvisational takes on "Yew Piney Mountains" and "Buckets of Rain" that underscore his continued evolution toward extended, venue-specific explorations. Simpson's 2019 digital release Live Before Lockdown, Bootleg 2019 (self-released via Bandcamp) preserves an 18-track set from his December appearance at Towersey Festival, one of his final pre-pandemic shows, with unpolished energy in songs like "Palaces of Gold" and "Dark Swift and Bright Swallow" that highlight growing improvisational freedom in his later solo work.
ReleaseYearLabelKey Features and Context
Live1996Red House RecordsIntimate concert; folk medleys and guitar solos from 1994 tour.
Bootleg USA1999High Bohemia Records tour captures; blues-infused sets during residency.
A Selection of Ever Popular Favourites2016Fledg'ling RecordsTour with Flemons; audience-driven eclectic Americana and British mixes.
Skydancers (live disc)2024Topic RecordsRecent gigs; improvisational folk and covers from 2022–2023 tours.
Live Before Lockdown, Bootleg 20192019Self-released ()Festival finale; raw pre-lockdown energy with extended arrangements.

Collaborative albums

Martin Simpson's collaborative albums stem from his long-standing partnerships with fellow folk artists, where he typically contributed guitar, , arrangements, and co-production. These projects emphasize traditional and contemporary folk traditions, often blending acoustic instrumentation with vocal performances. His partnership with singer June Tabor produced one of the most acclaimed co-billed releases in British folk music: A Cut Above (Topic Records, 1980), on which Simpson served as guitarist and arranger, accompanying Tabor's powerful vocals on a selection of traditional songs such as "Flash Company" and "Strange Affair." The album highlighted their complementary styles and remains a benchmark for duo folk recordings. Simpson also played guitar on Tabor's Angel Tiger (, 1991), contributing to arrangements and production for tracks like "All This Useless Beauty," co-written by specifically for her. He further collaborated on Against the Stream (, 1994), providing guitar and arrangement support for Tabor's interpretations of songs including "He Fades Away" by Alistair Hulett. Other notable collaborative albums include Martins4 (Traditional Music, 2005), a guitar-centric project with , Martin Taylor, and Juan Martin, where Simpson showcased his acoustic virtuosity on original and traditional pieces, emphasizing instrumental interplay among the four musicians. In 2019, Simpson released Rooted (Topic Records), a family-oriented project featuring contributions from his wife, fiddler Nancy Kerr, on several tracks; Simpson handled vocals, , and production, exploring personal and traditional themes with a rootsy Americana influence. A recent duo effort, Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry (Topic Records, 2023), paired Simpson with American guitarist and producer Thomm Jutz; the album arranges Appalachian ballads for dual guitars, with Simpson on guitar and occasional vocals, and guest appearances by singers like to evoke the original collectors' spirit. This release followed Simpson's recognition at events like the Folking Awards, underscoring his ongoing influence in collaborative folk work.

Session musician contributions

Martin Simpson has made significant contributions as a session musician across more than 16 albums, often lending his expertise on acoustic and slide guitar to enhance folk, Americana, and traditional music projects. His work frequently elevates tracks with intricate fingerstyle arrangements and emotive slide playing, bridging British folk traditions with American roots influences. Early in his career, Simpson supported Steeleye Span on their UK tours in the late 1970s, including high-profile shows at venues like the Hammersmith Odeon, where his guitar work complemented the band's electric folk sound. In the realm of Irish music compilations, Simpson featured prominently on Stefan Grossman's Music of Ireland: Airs, Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes and Marches Arranged for Fingerpicking Guitar (1988), contributing to the track "The Dark Plaintive Youth," showcasing his adept adaptation of traditional tunes to solo guitar formats. He also appeared on Andrew Cronshaw's albums, providing guitars and on Earthed in Cloud Valley (1977) and The Great Dark Water (1982), where his contributions added depth to the experimental folk soundscapes. During the 2000s, Simpson's session work extended into Americana, including his involvement with the American band Metamora and collaborations with blues pianist , infusing tracks with Southern flavors through techniques. A notable highlight was his participation in the tribute album A Nod to Bob: An Artists' Tribute to on His Sixtieth Birthday (2001), where he delivered a poignant guitar-and-vocals rendition of "Boots of Spanish Leather," praised for its intimate folk interpretation. In the 2020-2022 period, amid restrictions, Simpson participated in remote session recordings for various projects, continuing his tradition of versatile support roles while adapting to virtual collaborations. These efforts, often featuring his signature , helped sustain musical connections during the .

Compilations and other releases

Martin Simpson's compilations provide overviews of his extensive catalog, drawing from his solo and collaborative efforts across decades. The Definitive Collection, released in 2004 by High Point Recordings, assembles 20 tracks spanning his early acoustic folk explorations to more mature interpretations, including renditions of traditional like "" and "Dives and Lazarus." Topic Records has issued several retrospectives highlighting his foundational work with the label; notable among these is The Collection (1992, TSCD430), which compiles 14 selections from his initial three albums—Grinning in Your Face (1983), Sad or High Kicking (1985), and Nobody's Fault But Mine (1986)—showcasing his innovative guitar and techniques on pieces such as "" and "." Reissues of Simpson's albums often include remastering and additional material to enhance accessibility for new audiences. The 2019 deluxe edition of Prodigal Son (originally 2007, Topic Records TSCD567), remastered for improved audio clarity, adds nine live bonus tracks recorded during his 2008 U.S. tour, featuring extended performances of songs like "Bachelor's Hall" and "Lakes of Champlain." Similarly, the 2015 deluxe edition of (Topic Records TXCD591), a collaborative project with Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr, expands the original 12-track album with five bonus audio tracks and an 18-minute making-of documentary on DVD, including outtakes like alternate versions of "Dark Swift and Bright Swallow." Among miscellaneous releases, the EP Kambara Music in Native Tongues (1998, Water Lily Acoustics WLA-CS-63-CD) stands out as a experiment, blending Simpson's with David Hidalgo's , Viji Krishnan's , and Poovalur Srinivasan's on five instrumental tracks such as "Waltzing's for Dreamers" and "El Jarabe Loco," recorded in a single-room acoustic setup to capture natural resonances. More recent efforts include extras tied to Simpson's 2024 album Skydancers (Topic Records TSCD633), where the deluxe edition incorporates two bonus tracks—"Flash Company" and "Cactus Tree"—expanding the original 16 songs with intimate arrangements emphasizing his vocal delivery and fingerstyle guitar. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Simpson contributed bonus tracks to various projects, including live recordings added to digital reissues of earlier works on platforms like Spotify.

Other Media

DVDs and video releases

Martin Simpson has released several DVDs and video productions capturing his live performances, instructional techniques, and collaborative appearances, spanning concert films, teaching materials, and featured segments in broader guitar documentaries. These releases highlight his virtuosic work, alternate tunings, and interpretations of folk, , and traditional music, often including interviews and tuning demonstrations to provide insight into his creative process. One of his earliest video releases is Martin Simpson in Concert at the Freight and Salvage (2004), a 70-minute recorded in 1996 at venue, featuring tracks like "Betsy the Serving Maid" and "The Coo Coo Bird," showcasing his dynamic arrangements and vocal delivery. This DVD emphasizes Simpson's command of traditional English and American folk repertoires, with clear audio and visuals that capture the intimacy of his live style. Instructional content forms a significant part of his video output, beginning with Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals: Martin Simpson Volume 1 (originally in 1993, later DVD), where he demonstrates fingerstyle techniques on pieces such as "She Slips Away" and explores chord voicings for intermediate players. A follow-up, Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals Vol. 2: Creating Your Own Arrangements (early 2000s), teaches how to develop personal arrangements using alternate tunings and traditional material. Another, Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals #3: Developing Style and Repertoire (2005), co-taught with , focuses on building original arrangements through examples like "John Hardy" and "Blackwaterside," including and performance tips. His standalone instructional DVD Alternate Guitar Tunings Demystified (2005), produced by Homespun, runs approximately 90 minutes and demystifies retuning to open D, open G, , and other configurations, with playable examples including "Come Write Me Down" and printable tab files, aimed at reducing the intimidation of alternate tunings for guitarists. Concert DVDs from the 2000s include Guitar Nights Proudly Presents The Four Martins (2005), a collaborative video featuring Simpson alongside Martin Carthy, Martin Taylor, and Juan Martín, performing a mix of jazz, flamenco, and folk guitar pieces in a shared stage setting that highlights their individual and ensemble interplay. Another key release is Prodigal Son: The Concert (2009), a two-hour live recording from London's Union Chapel tied to his 2007 album, with 5.1 surround sound capturing expanded interpretations of tracks like "Pretty Saro" and bonus material, blending storytelling with intricate instrumentation on guitar and banjo. Simpson also appears in World of Slide Guitar (2004), an 80-minute documentary-style DVD that includes his segment on English folk slide techniques, alongside global artists like Bob Brozman and Mike Auldridge, demonstrating emotional phrasing on pieces such as "Masco Blues." In the 2020s, Simpson's video presence has shifted toward digital streaming and promotional releases, including archived live sets from platforms like and , where he shares tuning demos and performance clips from tours. A notable recent example is the official video for "Skydancers" (2024), accompanying his album of the same name, which features a collaborative visual piece with , integrating his guitar playing with dance interpretations of the track's themes of flight and nature. These modern outputs maintain the focus on live energy and educational elements seen in his earlier DVDs, adapting to online formats for broader accessibility.
Release TitleYearTypeKey Features
Martin Simpson in Concert at the Freight and Salvage2004Concert DVD; 70 minutes; folk arrangements
Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals: Martin Simpson Volume 11993 (VHS/DVD)InstructionalFingerstyle techniques; includes tab
Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals Vol. 2: Creating Your Own Arrangementsearly 2000s (DVD)InstructionalDeveloping personal arrangements;
Alternate Guitar Tunings Demystified2005Instructional DVD; 90 minutes; printable tabs
Guitar Nights: The Four Martins2005Collaborative concert DVDWith Carthy, Taylor, Martín; ensemble folk/jazz
World of Slide Guitar2004Featured documentary DVD; global styles; 80 minutes
Prodigal Son: The Concert2009Concert DVDLive at Union Chapel; 2 hours; 5.1 sound
Skydancers (official video)2024Promotional videoAlbum companion; collaboration with Ballet Folk

Books and instructional works

Martin Simpson has authored several instructional books focused on acoustic guitar techniques, particularly emphasizing alternate tunings and fingerstyle arrangements of traditional and gospel material. His early work, The Acoustic Guitar of Martin Simpson (1994), edited by Mark Hanson and published by Accent on Music, provides complete transcriptions in tablature and standard notation of Simpson's original arrangements, serving as an introduction to his fingerstyle approach using alternate tunings. The book highlights his systematic exploration of open and modal tunings, including practical examples drawn from his repertoire to illustrate harmonic and melodic possibilities on the acoustic guitar. In 1994, Simpson released Just a Closer Walk with Thee through Publications, featuring nineteen instrumental arrangements of American gospel songs in and notation. This collection captures the melodic and rhythmic essence of gospel traditions, employing alternate tunings such as open D and suspended fourths to evoke haunting modal temperaments suitable for intermediate players. Simpson's Martin Simpson Teaches Alternate Tunings: A Systematic Approach to Open and Altered Tunings (2006), published by Alfred Music, offers a comprehensive guide to tunings including open G, D, C, , and suspended fourth modal variants. The book details chord forms for each tuning, traces their historical use by composers from the to modern rock artists, and includes exercises demonstrating how these tunings interrelate to expand the guitar's harmonic range, with a focus on fingerstyle and slide applications. Beyond these publications, Simpson has contributed and arrangements to various folk guitar method books, enhancing resources on traditional British and American styles. Since the , he has provided digital instructional materials through his official website, including purchasable collections and custom tabs upon request, often tied to his teachings on alternate tunings and slide techniques. These online resources complement his books by offering updated examples for contemporary learners.

References

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