Universally acclaimed as one of the finest ever acoustic and slide guitar players, and a fine banjo-picker to boot, Martin Simpson is a remarkable storyteller: captivating and profoundly moving.
Martin will be playing Live to Your Living Room on Friday 26th January. He’ll be playing some of the requests he’s had from audience members, and telling us about his new album, Skydancers, which is out in March.
Ahead of the gig, we caught up with Martin to find out more about his new album and what else he has in store in 2024. Here’s what he had to say…
A few words from Martin
The Q&A
It’s wonderful to have you back with us, Martin! And you’ve got a new album on the way – tell us about that.
The album is called Sky Dancers, which is the nickname of hen harriers. The title track was commissioned by Chris Packham…not a commission to take lightly. Hen harriers are a red listed endangered species, but only because of the management of grouse moors, which employ gamekeepers to destroy anything that might interfere with the fun of shooting grouse. It’s illegal to interfere with hen harriers and it’s downright stupid and irresponsible to burn Heathland, but that’s what happens.
The songs on the album vary from traditional, to my originals, and wonderful songs from Woody Guthrie, Craig Johnson and Nancy Kerr.
The album features guest appearances from lots of your favourite musicians. Tell us about who was involved, and what it was like collaborating with them all.
I am fortunate to be able to call on friends who are simply wonderful musicians. Andy Cutting, Nancy Kerr, Ben Nicholls and Liz Hanks are all musicians I’ve worked with on many occasions; they always give me what I want to hear, even if I don’t know in advance what that is!
On this record I was also lucky enough to call on my friend Jackson Browne to record Greg Leisz playing pedal steel on two tracks. Greg is a monster of the instrument; he’s played with Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Alison Krauss and Robert Plant and it is a joy and a privilege to hear him on my record.
Many people are inspired by your music, but who are your own inspirations musically?
I have so many influences from 65 years of listening to music. Starting with Paul Robeson singing Spirituals, that made me want to be able to move people as he moved me as a child. Storytellers in song, Roy Bailey, Marty Robbins, ballad singers like Hedy West, guitar players, Doc Watson, Blind Willie Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Martin Carthy, and many more. And great songwriters, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, Leon Rosselson… I could go on…….
You’re renowned as one of the finest guitarists around – how did you go about developing your playing style?
I started to learn the nuts and bolts of guitar playing, and then a year later at 13 I got a 5-string banjo. That set me off into the world of alternate tunings, which I’d already tried while learning to play slide guitar. I attempted to play like my heroes, and soon realised that I would be far better off just trying to sound like myself, so 59 years later I think I do make my own noise.
Is there anything still on your career bucket list that you’d love to achieve?
I want to feel like I continue to improve as a musician, a singer, player and writer, and to get better at the job of communicating through my music.
What’s your advice to young artists starting out today?
Whatever you do, do it for love.
What do online gigs mean to you as an artist?
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to play to audiences online. Obviously the pandemic forced us into the necessity of online gigs, but I rapidly came to appreciate the experience and to realise that there is an accessibility from an audience point of view which is really valuable.
What else are you up to in 2024?
I have a solo tour coming up in March, but before that, a first tour with The Magpie Arc, in which I play electric guitar… big fun. I’ll be writing and listening and playing and working with new and old friends. I just finished making a record for Matthew Byrne from Newfoundland, with Tom Wright engineering and co-producing, and our wonderful gang of brilliant musician friends. Maybe another trip to Nashville, who knows. I’m also staying home and looking after my family and walking the dogs.
Martin Simpson will be joining us live online on 26th January (tickets here!), and you can also watch it on catch-up for 72 hours after the show. Martin’s new album, Sky Dancers, will be out in March.