“Martin is in a class of his own. He is such an expressive player; he is ingenious in his use of the guitar. You can listen to one of his songs and three or four minutes in, he has only used the top four strings and not even played a bass note yet, and when he does, it feels like an orchestra coming in. His clarity of playing is just amazing.” –Jackson Browne
The remarkable intimate solo performances Martin Simpson gives go from strength to strength - every gig is a masterclass. He travels the length and breadth of the UK and beyond, giving rapt audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his playing.
“What’s it like being the best guitar player in the world...?”Martin’s modesty and grace prevented him from answering this BBC Radio 4interviewer’s question recently, but the facts speak for themselves.
40 years after he recorded his first album, Golden Vanity, in 1976, Martinis 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 number 12 guitarist in the world in2005.
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 anartist at the very top of his game. Whether interpreting material from tradition or singing his own potent self-penned songs, Simpson is a remarkable storyteller: captivating and profoundly moving. His own songwriting produced the poignant ‘Never Any Good’, from Prodigal Son,2007’s Folk Album of the Year.
Martin continues to collaborate with a dazzling array of people from across the musical spectrum: Jackson Browne, Martin Taylor, June Tabor, Richard Hawley, Bonnie Raitt, Danny Thompson, David Hidalgo, Danú, Richard Thompson and Dom Flemons are among the great musicians he has worked with.
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Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!A popular feature of the Traverse programme, A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór returns this Autumn!
READ MOREMan's Best Friend is Douglas Maxwell's hilariously heart-warming story about the give-and-take of companionship, don't miss it at the Traverse Theatre in September!
READ MOREThe folk group Spælimennir, from the Faroes, have just celebrated their 50th anniversary and are touring in 2025 with a date at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 29th September!
READ MOREA darkly funny and deeply unsettling one-woman play is coming to the Traverse Theatre. Night Waking is an urgent, razor-sharp meditation on motherhood, colonialism, and the things we leave behind.
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READ MOREKathryn Tickell & The Darkening explore the connecting threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years.
READ MOREJoin multi-award-winning comedian Babatunde Aléshé as he this time guides us through family life, his new found fame and the joys of Costco in this hilarious new stand up show!
READ MOREThe Erik Palmberg Quartet has gained a lot international attention recent years and the group is one of the most interesting Scandinavian jazz acts today.
READ MORERyan Young is a multi award winning fiddle player injecting fresh and innovative ideas into the realm of traditional Scottish music.
READ MOREAgainst a stunning live soundtrack of gospel and blues, Through The Mud explores what it takes to become a revolutionary.
READ MOREAndy Irvine is one of the great Irish singers, don't miss him live at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 17th November!
READ MOREScottish Opera's much-loved Opera Highlights come to the Traverse Theatre on 22nd November, as they tour around Scotland with a brand-new show!
READ MOREAn accomplished London-based guitarist and composer, Jakub Klimiuk takes his quintet on tour with a brand new set of material, with a date at the Traverse Theatre on 12th January!
READ MOREWe’re famous for the Ceilidhs in our stunning Auditorium at the Ghillie Dhu, so come along a make it a night to remember!
READ MOREEdinburgh Ceilidhs invites you to their regular ceilidh in the Charteris Centre with caller Ken Gourlay, ceilidh band and piper!
READ MORECome along to the Granary Leith for this Day Disco Brunch with live saxophone tunes and DJ beats!
READ MOREAnnasach Ceilidh Band invites you to our regular ceilidh in the hidden gem of Edinburgh’s Old Town, The Counting House!
READ MOREReady to swap your Saturday lie-in for a standing ovation? Step into the limelight with Broadway Brunch, Brewhemia’s razzle-dazzle new dining spectacular.
READ MOREScotland's beloved over 30s afternoon clubbing event Disco Days returns to Club Tropicana Edinburgh in 2025!
READ MOREJoin us at Club Tropicana Edinburgh for an unforgettable day filled with the chart-topping tracks of Morgan Wallen, Dolly Parton, and many more!
READ MOREWith its high-energy party atmosphere and top live DJs, The 30+ Club at Edinburgh Corn Exchange is not to be missed!
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