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24 - 26 August 2012
FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE

MARTIN SIMPSON
The Centre Stage, Bournemouth
November 25

Making a welcome return, multi award winning Martin Simpson played to a packed Centre Stage gathering that turned out in force to see one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players around. Having collaborated with the likes of June Tabor, Jackson Browne, Danny Thompson, Martin Carthy, Cara Dillon and many more, Martin needed no introduction to the expectant Bournemouth Folk Club regulars. Supported by Andy Cutting (accordion) and Andy Seward (bass), Martin launched into Lakes of Champlain and the traditional In the Pines which featured some amazing bottle neck slide. An Englishman Abroad recalled his many years living in New Orleans and his neighbours on Bourbon Street, before he switched into an instrumental interlude, Pretty Crowing Chicken being the highlight which saw Martin exchange his acoustic guitar for the banjo. Another traditional long time favourite, Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man was followed by Sir Patrick Spens which Martin performed on BBC’s Folk Awards. A terrific first set drew to a close with the beautiful instrumental Greystones from his excellent TRUE STORIES album and the lovely Killing the Blues, made popular again recently by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant on their superb album RAISING SAND.

As expected during the interval, there was a brisk trade on the merchandise counter before Martin returned with Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man and Chris Wood’s Come Down Jehovah. Mike Seeger’s old timey and catchy number Handsome Molly was followed by Home Again, which had Martin reminiscing over his Scunthorpe birthplace, and Bruce Springsteen’s Brothers Under the Bridge a poignant song highlighting the plight of Vietnam war veterans. By contrast, Martin continued with The Sheffield Apprentice, a nineteenth century ballad from the North East of England and John Hardy from his RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HUMIDITY album and which featured some great work from Andy Cutting on accordion. It was hard to believe that this memorable evening was drawing to a close and Martin finished with the Cajun number Lakes of Ponchartrain which he learnt from a recording made by short lived bluegrass outfit the Louisiana Honeydrippers. Having listened intently all evening, the impeccably behaved audience roared for more and they were not to be disappointed as the trio returned to encore with the hit song Stagolee recalling Christmas night 1895 when Lee Shelton murdered Billy Lyons. Martin had however, made subtle changes to the words to reflect ‘what actually happened’!

What a terrific and varied evening. Playing everything from traditional ballads, blues, Cajun, old timey, folk et al Martin displayed all his experience gained from thirty-five years as a professional musician. His guitar playing was, to say the least, exceptional and one can only hope that he will make time in his punishing tour schedule for another visit to the South Coast before too long.

John Roffey