Tom Martin – Acoustic Roots/Celtic Soul

Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Tom Martin came of age at a time of strife and violence, when “The Troubles” were raging. He plied his trade as a boxer, but found he was more a poet than a warrior. As a young man he set out, armed with a guitar and a handful of songs, to explore the world and make his mark as a musician and lyricist.

Working at a variety of jobs – busking, construction, truck driving and even grave digging in the Midlands of England, Tom crafted his songs and honed his musical skills, weaving the people, places and life situations he experienced into musical poetry – essentially and perhaps instinctively following in the ancient tradition of the seanchaithe – itinerant bards of Ireland whose stock in trade was verse, song and musicianship.

His travels have taken him far afield, from the wilds of Kenya to the streets of London, throughout Europe and the British Isles, to the Mississippi Delta and the bayous of Louisiana, through the mountains of Virginia and into the heart of New York City.

His motto: “Keep on keeping on.”

“Tom Martin…Widely regarded as one of the finest guitarists to come out of Ireland, but primarily a brilliant songwriter of longstanding cult status…Easy to listen to, hard to define with a melodic touch of Paul Simon and lyrical insight of a John Prine, but with a sound and a songwriting skill that is undeniably his own”  Belfast Telegraph

________________________________

“Tom is a consummate musician and composer who hails originally from Ireland. Decades of performing have honed his skills on guitars (both acoustic and electric) as well as mandolin and harmonica. Known both for his exquisite finger-picking and slide guitar skills, Tom also has a vast repository of musical knowledge stretching from his Celtic roots and traditional music right through the back catalogs of some of the giants of 20th Century Folk and Rock and beyond. Equal to that is his prodigious output of original songs, each one allying songwriting finesse with passion and eye-opening truth.” (www.worldmusic.co.uk)

_________________________________

 “The highly experienced and accomplished Tom Martin is one of the region’s finest exponents of the kind of high quality songwriting that, for want of a more suitable title, is often called folk…Martin’s range is much greater than that label might suggest, encompassing anything from country, blues, Celtic, soul or even Latin, according to the needs of each particular song.  Comparisons with the likes of Paul Simon and Ry Cooder will give an impression of strong, enjoyable melodies set against lyrics of sensitivity and power:  a combination that’s both enjoyable and moving.”  (Birmingham Metro)

Tickets: £10.00 (Advance), £12.00 (On The Door)