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Stream ‘The Life and Songs of Martin Carthy’ concert movie — Available Now
The Life and Songs of Martin Carthy is a concert film celebrating six decades of one of British folk's most beloved figures — now available to stream worldwide for one month only. Featuring Billy Bragg, Graham Coxon, Eliza Carthy, Maddy Prior, John Kirkpatrick, Nick Hart, Angeline Morrison and more, this is a night of extraordinary music you won't want to miss.
Martin Carthy's Geordie: Performed on His Fylde Falstaff Guitar
I’ve been performing ‘Geordie’ on the Songs of Martin Carthy tour — this version filmed, mixed and edited at Riverhouse Barn in Walton-on-Thames. A medieval ballad in a tithe barn feels about right. The guitar is Martin Carthy’s Fylde Falstaff — one of the earliest made by Roger Bucknall, and the instrument heard across Right of Passage. The first time I played it, Martin listened, smiled, and said quietly, “She likes you.” I’ve reached for it ever since.
Blues Run the Game: The Haunted Legacy of Jackson C. Frank
Written in 1965, ‘Blues Run the Game’ became one of the defining songs of the folk revival. This article traces Jackson C. Frank’s journey from Buffalo to Soho, his years at Les Cousins, and the New Bond Street recording session that produced the song. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, archival material, and contemporary reviews, it examines how the song emerged, how it spread rapidly through the British folk scene, and how it came to outlive its author.
Songs of Martin Carthy — tour update and full performer listings
I’m out playing quite a bit this year — a mixture of solo shows, plus a one-off full-band date in Sheffield with The Grizzly Folk. Alongside that, I’ve also become involved in the Songs of Martin Carthy tour, which I’m genuinely delighted to be part of. The tour brings together family, friends and long-time collaborators to sing Martin’s songs, and I’ll be appearing on a number of dates. Below is the full performer listing by date and town.
BONES
Bones is a new, download-only release gathering together unreleased songs, outtakes, demos and live recordings from the last few years — things that slipped between albums or didn’t quite belong anywhere else. Seventeen tracks, left more or less as they were.
Les Cousins Book: Updates
The Life and Songs of Martin Carthy - Behind the Scenes
Why Are Artists Leaving Spotify? A Guide for Listeners
From Daniel Ek’s AI weapons investment to low payouts and fake AI albums, more musicians are leaving Spotify. Here’s what it means for listeners.
Needless Alley
Life After Spotify: What Musicians Lose — and What They Gain
Who Hung the Monkey? An Old Song from Hartlepool
Playing Nick Drake’s Martin 000-28 at FolkEast 2025: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
At FolkEast 2025, I was given the extraordinary opportunity to play Nick Drake’s Martin 000-28 — the guitar heard on his final recordings, including Black Eyed Dog. With little preparation and 200 people watching, I stepped on stage to see if I could find something of his sound in the wood and wire. It was a rare and quietly overwhelming moment.
