Martin Simpson's new album, 'Skydancers' hits number 2 in the Official Folk Albums Chart

 Martin Simpson's new album, 'Skydancers' hits number 2 in the Official Folk Albums Chart

Topic Records have announced that ‘Skydancers,’ the new album by  Martin Simpson reached an all-time high in April’s Official Folk Albums Chart  at number 2.   His 12th full length solo record for Topic, collects new,   Simpson-penned originals alongside 18th century broadside ballads  and reverent reworkings from the songbooks of, amongst others, Bob Dylan,  Joni Mitchell, Woody Guthrie, Nancy Kerr, June Tabor and Craig Johnson.   ‘Skydancers’ is available as a double CD, vinyl album and to download/stream... Skydancers (lnk.to) Reviews “an excellent record from a master of his craft” - Klof Mag “acoustic finger-picking magic” - Uncut  “Penguin Eggs-good. Seriously” - ★★★★ MOJO "It’s stunning and without doubt his finest work in almost half a century of  being at the vanguard of british guitar players, songwriters, singers and true  custodians of folk music” - Richard Hawley  "I do believe this set could be equal to, maybe better than, anything he’s ever done" - Ian Anderson, Tradfolk Visit The Topic Records Shop… Proper Music | Supporting independent music since 1988 Topic Records Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution 1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford Kent, Eng DA1 1JD United Kingdom

 

Martin Simpson – Skydancers The new album - out 12 April 2024 on Topic Records

Martin Simpson – Skydancers The new album - out 12 April 2024 on Topic Records

Topic Record report that Martin Simpson is not a man to sit still for very long.  Undoubtedly one of the hardest-touring musicians on the UK folk/roots circuit, he also averages a brand-new studio album almost every two years. ‘Skydancers,’ his 12th full length solo record for Topic since 1992, comes hot on the heels of last year's guest-packed collaboration with the American producer/guitarist, Thomm Jutz, ‘Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry.’
 
Recorded by Tom Wright and Andy Bell in Simpson's hometown of Sheffield, ‘Skydancers’ collects new, Simpson-penned originals alongside 18th century broadside ballads and reverent reworkings from the songbooks of, amongst others, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Woody Guthrie, Nancy Kerr, June Tabor and Craig Johnson.
 
Skydancers' title track, commissioned by TV presenter and naturalist, Chris Packham, highlights the plight of the endangered Hen Harrier – ornithology, a keen interest of Simpson's.  Elsewhere he narrates the life and times of Billy Waters, a black, peg-legged man who became famous busking in London in the nineteenth century.  'Roger's Cascade' is a very personal, jaunty, 5-string banjo homage to master instrument craftsman, Roger Bucknall

Simpson is joined on ‘Skydancers’ by American pedal steel maestro, Greg Leisz, Andy Cutting on diatonic accordion, Louis Campbell on acoustic and electric guitar, Liz Hanks on cello, Ben Nicholls on string bass and a bevy of accompanying singers.   ‘Skydancers’ will be available as a double CD, vinyl album and to download/stream.  Those pre-ordering from Propermusic.com (only) will also receive a limited edition ‘Skydancers’ guitar pick and signed postcard.    Tracklisting :

 

CD1 & Vinyl 1. Skydancers      2. New Harmony  3. Alan Tyne Of Harrow    4. Tom Sherman's Barroom          5. Lowlands/Billy Waters  6. Roger's Cascade 7. Fragile Water   8. Cherry Tree Carol         9. Deportee         10. Donal Og         CD2 Only 1. Leaves Of Life (Live) 2. Yew Piney Mountains (Live)      3. Buckets Of Rain (Live)   4. Donal Og (Live) 5. Ridgeway (Live) 6. In The Pines (Live)        7. Flash Company 8. Cactus Tree

Pre-order Skydancers

 

News From Topic Records - May 2023

 News From Topic Records - May 2023

Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay Eponymous Album Out May 26 on LP, CD and Digital

Topic is delighted to announce this eponymous collaboration between Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay - their first since 2018's 'The Hawksworth Grove Sessions.’  Postponed for two years due to the small matter of a global pandemic, finally, as some semblance of normality took shape, in February 2022, the duo headed into Giant Wafer Studios, mid-Wales, with very little rehearsal time and recorded the entire album live, with no edits or overdubs over three days.

Watch the new live video for Gylfinir, the third single from the new album.

Jim and Toby are both prolific, praised and established artists in their own right. Hailing from South Yorkshire, Ghedi's previous work has often been instrumental, exploring the natural world and his relationship to it, as seen on 2018's A Hymn For Ancient Land but also developing into using his voice, songwriting and traditional material on his more recent album, In The Furrows Of Common Place. Toby Hay, hailing from the Cambrian mountains, professes likewise, that the landscape serves as eternal muse and the spiritual groundwork of his entrancing guitar playing which has dazzled critics and listeners alike throughout his career. All of this makes their collaboration with the world's oldest independent label and custodians of UK folk music, Topic Records, a natural home for this exceptional record.   The album artwork includes beautiful liner notes by Andrew Male.

Pre-order the album on CD, LP or Digital

Album Release Tour June 10th - Chapter, Cardiff Tickets June 11th - The Lost Arc, Rhayader Tickets June 12th - The Greystones, Sheffield Tickets June 13th - The Old Church Stoke Newington, London Tickets

Happy Birthday Martin Simpson

Today (Friday May 5th) marks the 70th birthday of the world-acclaimed singer, guitarist, banjo player and songwriter, Martin Simpson.  Martin released his first record for Topic (‘A Cut Above’ with June Tabor) all the way back in 1980 and has since become a central figure in the label’s story.  His most recent albums, ‘Home Recordings,’ ‘Rooted,’ ‘Trails & Tribulations’ and ‘Vagrant Stanzas’ are indelible proof of a singular talent, ever-enthused, prolific songwriter and collaborator, much admired by fans and peers alike.   Happy Birthday Martin!  News of a very special album featuring Mr Simpson coming soon!    More info (including his Patreon page) about Martin over on his official website.

Topic Records on Spotify

Martin Simpson Pring Tour 2023

Martin Simpson Spring Tour, 2023

Martin will be back on the road playing solo shows this spring!

Check out the Topic Redords web site…

https://www.topicrecords.co.uk/

Catch Topic Records Artists on Tour - Martin Simpson - Eliza and Martin Carthy.

Catch Topic Records Artists on Tour

You can catch the following Topic artists on tour over the next few months...

Martin Simpson

23 OCT - MILNGAVIE, GUITAR WORKSHOP (DAYTIME) Baljaffray Church, Grampian Way, Bearsden
24 OCT - MILNGAVIE, Baljaffray Church, Grampian Way Bearsden
25 OCT  - TRAVERSE THEATRE, Cambridge Street, EDINBURGH, Mid Lothian, EH1 2ED
27 OCT - EASTGATE THEATRE, Eastgate Peebles, EH45 8AD
07 NOV - GREEN DUCK BREWERY, Gainsborough Trading Estate
11 NOV - CHAPEL ARTS, St James Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, BATH, BA1 1QR
12 NOV - HUNTINGDON HALL, Crown Gate Worcester, WR1 3LD
14 NOV - TOPSHAM FOLK CLUB, Matthews Hall, Fore Street, TOPSHAM, Devon, EX3 0HF
26 NOV - THE GOOSE IS OUT - The Ivy House, London, SE15 3BE
27 NOV - THE HUNTER CLUB, 6 Saint Andrew's Street South, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2PH

Eliza & Martin Carthy

23 OCT - The Marine Theatre, LYME REGIS
24 OCT - Henry Tudor House, SHREWSBURY
27 OCT - Ushaw College, DURHAM
28 OCT - The Globe Inn, GLOSSOP
30 OCT - Hertford St Andrew Church, HERTFORD
31 OCT - Hailsham Pavilion, HAILSHAM
03 OCT - Wiltshire Music Centre, BRADFORD ON AVON
04 OCT - Ramsgate Music Hall, RAMSGATE
05 OCT - Kings Place, LONDON
06 OCT - Otley Courthouse, OTLEY
07 OCT - National Forest Folk Club, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH
09 OCT - Colchester Arts Centre, COLCHESTER
21 DEC - Union Chapel, LONDON (with Jon Boden)

Topic Records – Traditional and contemporary folk from the British Isles

Martin Simpson Is Playing at Brighton Pier Fest on 4 September 2021

Martin Simpson Is Playing at Brighton Pier Fest on 4 September 2021

Martin Simpson, Naomi Bedford, Paul Simmonds and The Ramshackle Band are all playing Brighton's iconic pier for a night of wonderful folk music on Sat 4th September 2021.

BrightonPier :: Pier Fest Live Music

Topic Records Announce the 20th Anniversary of Martin Simpson’s - The Bramble Briar

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Martin Simpson’s ‘The Bramble Briar.’  A native of Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire, Martin Simpson had left to live out his American dream 12 years earlier, living in such diverse places as New Orleans, upstate New York and Santa Cruz, California.

Already recognised as one of the great acoustic guitarists of his generation when he left, he immersed himself in American music and honed his skills playing throughout the USA. This album heralded his return to the motherland with a bang. Universally lauded, it won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for The Best Album of The Year in 2002. Martin was also awarded the prize for Best Musician that year and again in 2004.

Available for just £7.99 from Propermusic.com 

Martin Simpson - The Bramble Briar(smarturl.it)

Watch Martin Simpson Discussing the 20^th Anniversary of the Bramble Briar

                 Topic Records – Traditional andcontemporary folk from the British Isles

Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution, 1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford

Kent, England DA1 1JD. United Kingdom.

Martin Simpson Celebrates Launch of New Topic Album With On Line Concert

 Martin Simpson celebrates the release of his new album, Home Recordings, this Friday with an online album launch. See below for details and links to buy tickets.

See this special online concert in conjunction with the

Milngavie FolkClub

. It’s happening this Friday 13 November 2020 and tickets are now on sale on this link: https://jmsconcerts.co.uk/269-martin-simpson-online-album...

Latest News From Topic Records – November 2020

 Latest News From Topic Records – November 2020

Martin Simpson releases his new album "Home Recordings" on 13 November and the latest single from the album is out today, find out more below. Martin Simpson Home Recording Out 13 November Martin Simpson’s next album was going to be a live one. But the lockdown put paid to all that. Even so, this cloud does have a silver lining.  And what a silver lining it is. Unable to play to audiences (Martin can average over 100 gigs a year) or go into a recording studio, the only solution was to record a new album at home.  Were it not for the gaggle of geese flying overhead (you can hear them on ‘Lonesome Valley Geese’) and the birds happily tweeting on the closing track, you perhaps wouldn’t know this wasn’t a studio album. Recorded by his regular producer, now neighbour, Andy Bell, the aptly-named, ‘Home Recordings’ finds Martin singing and playing, literally amongst his beloved guitar and banjo collection and out on his Peak District-facing porch. Find the first two singles "October Song" and "The Times They Are A-Changin'" Pre Order Here Home Recordings reviews so far... “Martin is solo throughout except for some sparingly used backing vocals and the sound of Home Recordings somehow takes me back to when I first heard him playing as support to Steeleye Span in the early 70s. I think this record will be close to hand for quite some time.” - Folking.com  “This is an album to listen to over and over and which could only really be improved upon had there been some interference from the cat.” - Northern Sky (★★★★★ 5 stars)  ““Home Recordings” is an unassuming title - but untold riches lie behind the front door.” - Rocking Magpie Topic Records on Spotify If you're a Spotify listener, please consider following Topic Records,  Topic Records Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution 1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford Kent, Eng DA1 1JD United Kingdom

News From Topic Records November 2019

News From Topic Records November 2019 Anne Briggs Ltd Edition Gold Vinyl (back in stock on December 6th 2019) This eponymous 1971 debut album by Anne Briggs, largely unavailable for 48 years, is widely regarded as a pillar of any folk collection. Re-issued here as part of the Topic Treasures series - the label’s classic and notable albums expanded in deluxe format with rare images, new liner notes (by esteemed journalist, Ken Hunt) - ‘Anne Briggs’ heralds a huge resurgence of interest in this most reclusive of folk doyennes. This debut album contains some of Briggs’ most notable songs, including ‘Blackwater Slide,’ which she famously taught to Bert Jansch, (who recorded it on his ‘Jack Orion’ album) and ‘Go Your Way,’ co-written with Jansch. As with the 1971 original, the sleeve here contains song notes by the highly-regarded English folk singer and collector of folk songs, A.L. Lloyd. Limited edition 180gm gold vinyl back in stock on December 6th 2019. Pre-order Vision & Revision The First 80 Years of Topic Records We were thrilled to see Vision & Revision: The First 80 Years of Topic Records at number 3 in the Folk rundown of MOJO's Essential Guide to 2019. The deluxe double album features the cream of British folk artists interpreting a song of their choice from our vast back catalogue and includes never-before-released tracks by Martin Simpson, Richard Thompson, Lankum, Peggy Seeger, John Smith, Sam Lee, Martin Carthy, Olivia Chaney, Lisa O’Neill, Oysterband, Nancy Kerr, Chris Wood, Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, Lisa Knapp, Kitty Macfarlane, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Emily Portman & Rob Harbron, Rachael McShane & The Cartographers, Eliza Carthy & Olivia Chaney and The Oldham Tinkers. Buy, Download or Stream Topic Records Folk In Focus It's your last chance to visit the Folk In Focus exhibition of iconic photographs which runs until the 5th January at Cecil Sharp House. Focusing on the seminal artists who’ve helped shape contemporary folk music as we know it, the exhibition includes era-defining shots of Anne Briggs, Shirley & Dolly Collins, The Watersons, Nic Jones, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Eliza and Martin Carthy, Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl and many more. Featuring photographs by Brian Shuel, John Harrison, Elly Lucas, Judith Burrows, Dave Peabody, Eammon O’Doherty and George Van Win, the exhibition runs until 5th January 2020 at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 7AY. Free entry. On Tour Martin Simpson continues his Rooted tour throughout November and into December. Rachael McShane & the Cartographers have announced new dates in March and April next year and Eliza Carthy heads out with the Restitute Band in April. Martin Simpson 20 November - Penrith, Upfront Arts Venue 21 November - Gateshead, Sage Gateshead 22 November - Morecambe, The Platform 23 November - Cheshire, The Lion Salt Works Museum 24 November - Stockton On Tees, The Waiting Room 27 November - Andover, The Lights 29 November - Corsham, The Pound Arts Centre 30 November - London, Cecil Sharp House 01 December - Wingfield, Wingfield Barns 05 December - New Milton, Forest Arts Centre 06 December - Fareham, Ashcroft Arts Centre 07 December - Brighton, St Lukes Church 08 December - Maidstone, The Bower House 19 December - Sheffield, Firth Hall Sheffield Rachael McShane & The Cartographers 20 March 2020 - Runcorn, The Brindley 21 March 2020 - Otley, Otley Courthouse 25 March 2020 - Morecambe, The Platform 26 March 2020 - Bury, The Met 27 March 2020 - London, Kings Place 28 March 2020 - South Petherton, The David Hall 29 March 2020 - Bath, Chapel Arts 24 April 2020 - Gateshead, Sage Gateshead 25 April 2020 - Barton Upon Humber, Ropery Hall 26 April 2020 - Suffolk, Folk At The Froize Eliza Carthy & TRachael McShane & The Cartographers 01 April 2020 - Halifax, Square Chapel Centre 02 April 2020 - Manchester, The Stoller Hall 03 April 2020 - Pontardawe, Pontardawe Arts Centre 05 April 2020 - Basingstoke, The Haymarket 08 April 2020 - Bristol, St George’s 09 April 2020 - Oxford, The North Wall 10 April 2020 - York, The Crescent 11 April 2020 - Settle, Settle Victoria Hall 06 June 2020 - Portsoy, Portsoy Town Hall Copyright © 2019 Topic Records, All rights reserved. Topic Records Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution 1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford Kent, Eng DA1 1JD United Kingdom