Whether playing American old-time music, blues, a Dylan song or his own material, Simpson is unpredictable, individual and a guitarist of immense subtlety.

• BBC Musician Of The Year (for the second time) awarded to Martin Simpson BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2004

• "His performances elicit powerful emotions and subtle, understated beauty' (Guitar Player)
• "Distinctive coiled-spring beauty and power....A revelation.....Exquisitely at one with the All-English repertoire.....A master" (Mojo)

MARTIN SIMPSON KIND LETTERS TSCD553

Martin says of his latest release, echoing the words of the writer Kazuo Ishiguo, “Traditional music is a treasure chest waiting to be opened”, and he was never more aware of the beauty and the value of the contents of that hoard than in the process of making this recording. Kind Letters is a kind of follow-up to the his award-winning 2001 release The Bramble Briar (TSCD513) in that he has chosen songs largely from the English repertoire – some of which have been with him for as long as he can remember.

Martin’s unequalled talents on guitar, banjo and vocals are joined by a host of outstanding musical accompanists including Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Chris Parkinson and members of the celebrated Irish group, Danu, to produce what is probably Martin’s best album to date.

1The Cruel Brother
2 Love Henry
3 Bareback to Bullhassocks
4 Here's Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy
5 Adieu, Adieu
6 Creeping Jane
7 The Flying Cloud
8 House Carpenter
9 A Blacksmith Courted Me
10 When First I Came To Caledonia
11 Peggy & The Soldier
12 Clerk Sanders

Produced by Martin Simpson & Oliver Knight
Martin Simpson acoustic & electric guitars, 5 string banjo & vocals
Dónal Clancy guitars
Éamon Doorley bouzouki
Tom Doorley flute
James Fagan bouzouki
Donnchadh Gough uillean pipes & bodhrán
Nancy Kerr violin & viola
Oísin McAuley violin
Brendan McCarthy accordion
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh whistle & vocals
Chris Parkinson piano accordion & harmonica

MARTIN SIMPSON RIGHTEOUSNESS & HUMIDITY TSCD540

Released in August 2003, this follow up to the award-winning album "The Bramble Briar" is a collection of new recordings, this time drawn from the American tradition and featuring his unequalled instrumental and vocal ability. As Martin says in his album notes, this record allows him to tip his hat to the music and people of the Southern US, and features a mix of traditional song and Martin’s own compositions. Alongside his singing, Martin plays acoustic guitar, ukulele, electric guitar, lap-steel, percussion, 5-string banjo and slide guitar. Much of the album was recorded in New Orleans and he is joined by a crack team of local musicians. Steeleye Span’s Rick Kemp features on some of the tracks recorded in the UK.

1 John Hardy
2 Horn Island
3 I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes
4 Easy Money
5 Payday
6 This World Is A Trouble And A Trial
7 Ghosts In the Pines
8 The Coo Coo Bird
9 Love Never Dies
10 Some Dark Holler
11 Rico
12 Georgie
13 Wild Bill Jones
14 The Devil's Partiality
15 Rollin' And Tumblin'
16 The Last Shot Got Him

Martin Simpson guitars, ukelele, lap steel, banjo, vocal
James Singleton acoustic bass
Rick Kemp electric bass, percussion
Jessica Radcliffe backing vocals
Carl Budo drums
Amassa Miller organ
Reggie Scanlan Fender bass
Dave Malone electric guitar
Mike Skinkus percussion

MARTIN SIMPSON THE BRAMBLE BRIAR TSCD513

Arguably the finest finger style acoustic guitarist on the planet, Martin Simpson returns to Topic Records after a break of almost fifteen years. Surprisingly, this is his first recording of exclusively English material - predominately traditional, completely English and totally outstanding. Martin Simpson's guitar and vocals have never sounded better and classic traditional material is delivered in subtle and innovative ways.

Best Album of the Year & Instrumentalist of the Year - BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2002

Included in the Mojo Magazine "Top 10 Folk Albums of 2001"

"a musical genius at the height of his powers" folk buzz

"Simpson is a master of acoustic guitar styles. His supreme musicianship raises this CD of predominantly traditional and exclusively English songs to new heights." Daily Telegraph

1 Polly On The Shore
2 The Lover's Ghost
3 Fair Annie
4 Dives and Lazarus
5 The Four Angels
6 Betsy The Serving Maid
7 The Bramble Briar
8 Banks of Sweet Primroses
9 Rounding The Horn
10 The Princess Royal
11 Sammy's Bar
12 Leaves of Life
13 Air For Maurice Ogg

Martin Simpson guitar, vocal
Martin Carthy guitar
Chris Parkinson accordion, harmonica
Jessica Radcliffe backing vocals
Barry Phillips cello

MARTIN SIMPSON THE COLLECTION TSCD430

This collection, drawn from three Topic albums, finds him working both solo and with other musicians in a variety of inventive settings

1 First Cut Is the Deepest
2 Roving Gambler
3 This War May Last You for Years
4 Masters of War
5 Reuben's Train
6 Handsome Molly
7 Moonshine
8 Green Linnet / Grinning in Your Face
9 Shawnee Town
10 Moth
11 For Jessica, Sad or High Kicking / My Dearest Dear
12 No Depression in Heaven
13 Stillness in Company
14 Lakes of Ponchartrain
15 Doney Girl
16 Essequibo River
17 The Keel Row