Stephenson started off as a busker and he still has that instinct and joy for live performance. Despite having played venues such as Glastonbury (where he has headlined) he loves just taking to the street and playing whatever takes his fancy, such as Chet Atkins or Merle Travis. He doesn’t put a case out for money, he plays for the sheer pleasure and to connect with people.

The NME said of Martin’s song craft that he “builds bridges between love and hate, cradle and grave, folk and pop, past and present.”

Legendary Scottish comedian and musician, Billy Connolly recently dedicated a section of a forthcoming BBC Scotland tv documentary to Martin Stephenson. Requesting a live performance of his hauntingly beautiful ‘Rain’ from the Bolivia album, and despite frail health, Connolly chose to stay and pass the time with kindred spirit and fellow creative soul. Stephenson humbly responded with the gift of Billy’s Banjo, a freshly penned and composed song to his brother in spirit.

“Such stuff as dreams are made on”…

He has toured with John Martyn , Roy Buchanan, Aztec Camera, Microdisney, The Go-Betweens, Hothouse Flowers, Bob Geldof, Del Amitri, Janis Ian, Indigo girls and Melissa Etheridge, but remains endearingly modest and unaffected.

He really is a spiritual traveller with a style all his own. For him the highest level of achievement is kindness, the greatest currency good will.

Martin Stephenson is a gifted, entertaining and much-loved performer.

Joe Martin, a Lancashire based singer songwriter is deservedly gaining major attention on both sides of the Atlantic. As a child Joe was brought up listening to artists from Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt to the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Songs that tell a story played a big part in what Joe would be listening to in his formative years. This can be heard in the music he’s making now.

As a teenager Joe fronted a country band whilst living in Leeds and studying at university. The band played original songs and toured the UK opening for artists like the Shires and appearing at festivals such as Country to Country. But now as a solo artist Joe has found himself performing more shows around the UK and further afield in Europe and Stateside.

The past few years have been an experience-rich journey helping Joe refine his song writing and storytelling craft. Playing the pre-eminent Bluebird Cafe in Nashville Tennessee was a profound moment for Joe, the feeling of coming full circle, after being inspired by the show Nashville on which the Bluebird was regularly featured. Meeting and taking advice from his song writing idol John Paul White of the Civil Wars a week before his Bluebird debut was also an inspirational moment.

“The night I was at the Bluebird a young Englishman with a rich, resonant voice named Joe Martin seemed primed for bigger things.” - Jeremy Egner New York Times.

Other Nashville experiences include guesting on Carl Jackson’s show at the Station Inn, Carl produced and performed with Glen Campbell for years, so for Joe to sing Glen’s well-known Wichita Lineman with Carl and his band was a special moment.

Another of Joe’s musical idols includes producer Dave Cobb, and the artists he records, Brent Cobb, Jason Isbell, Colter Wall and Chris Stapleton to name a few. So, it was a humbling moment when he was asked to cowrite at RCA studios with one of Cobb’s writers Aaron Raitiere and given a personal tour of RCA’s “Studio A”, where musical legends from the Beach Boys to Dolly Parton to George Strait have made history.

In 2017 Joe released his debut EP ‘Small World’ to much acclaim and has recently recorded a suite of singles with the Champs of the much respected UK Americana band ‘Danny and the Champions of the World’. Joe will be releasing his next single ‘Love Strong’ on October 1st 2018 and the following two singles in the first half of 2019.

“A cut above the plethora of acoustic singer-songwriters. Joe Martin shows an abundance of promise” –Americana UK

"Joe Martin is an artist who knows who he wants to be and has a voice of his own, a rare original glimmer in a sea of Nashville wannabes” - Six Shooter Country