 | | Reviews | | |  MARTIN SIMPSON with
Pete Morton & Emily Slade
Wombwell Folk Festival
24th May 2003
Sadly, not realizing that Pete and Emily were supporting Martin, we arrived half-way through their set - a shame because Pete Morton is always good to see live and Emily Slade is a fast-rising star. She was the one who really stood out in the songs that we caught; she has a captivating voice and a lovely guitar style, coupled with a natural ease behind a mic - all of which led to one of her CDs being purchased for the Martin Simpson tour mobile.
The man himself was in spellbinding form. His trademark opening triple set of Air For Maurice Og, One More Day and Boots Of Spanish Leather make worlds shift somehow and you come out at the other end having been transported away by the songs and liquid notes that flow out of his guitar.
Tonight's set reflected the material from his forthcoming new CD, Righteousness and Humidity, which concentrates on music from America - a real treat for the soul as slide guitar and powerful blues singing are a forceful part of Martin's repertoire. It's somehow beautifully poetic to think that after a year of living in Whitby his next album is of American tunes and songs, and fantastic ones at that.
On stage Martin is as relaxed and chatty as ever - his tales of moving to and living in New Orleans are a delight and you really can't go wrong if you ever get a chance to go and see him live. It's a moving experience as well as a jaw-dropping one. For all his extraordinary talent and skill he is as self-effacing off-stage at the merch desk as he is on stage and you are free to marvel, relax and above all enjoy great material performed superbly by a unique performer.
Kit Bailey - May 2003
See also:
More from Martin Simpson in our reviews archive.
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Folk & Acoustic
