Martin Simpson in Canada

Subject: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: GUEST,black walnut
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 08:14 AM

I'm very excited that Martin Simpson is coming to Canada this summer for his - please correct me if I'm wrong - very first visit. I'll be at the Toronto concert! Top of the ladder guitarist - blues, celtic, gospel, alternate tunings... I fell in love with him somewhere in the middle of the first 2 seconds of his album "Cool and Unusual".

Sat August 4th
Canmore Folk Festival
*
Fri August 10th
Edmonton Folk Music Festival
*
Mon August 13th
Hugh's Room, Toronto

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 09:11 AM

A very nice, approachable guy (he's a local boy here in Lincolnshire) and a fine singer too! Get yer boppin' kit on and get out and see him, he will NOT disappoint.

If you've not heard them, ask him to do the 'One More Day/Boots of Spanish Leather' medley, 'Fair Annie', and his superb version of Joni's 'A Case Of You'. Mind-blowing.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: black walnut
Date: 08 Jun 07 - 07:09 PM

He's from Lincoln?! Top or bottom (of the steep hill)?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 01:27 AM

No, BW, he's from Scunthorpe, which is a large-ish town in Lincolnshire, approximately 25 miles north of Lincoln.
It used to be one of the UK's main steel-towns, dominated by three huge steelworks, two have now gone and the third (and largest) has been decimated. That Maggie sure knew how to emasculate the working class.

Lincoln is the county town of Lincolnshire, which itself is the UK's second-largest county. Lincolnshire is a source of exceptionally fine traditional songs, and some exceptionally fine performers of them. Also some exceptionally fine writers, players and singers, such as John Connolly, Brian Dawson, Liam Robinson, Bob Cleveland and the late Maurice Ogg.

Even so, there are a few bigots around the 'Cat who delight in showing their ignorance by denigrating our fine county and its people. What care we?

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 01:30 AM

"Lincolnshire is a source of exceptionally fine traditional songs, and some exceptionally fine performers of them. Also some exceptionally fine writers, players and singers, such as John Connolly, Brian Dawson, Liam Robinson, Bob Cleveland and the late Maurice Ogg."

And OF COURSE, Martin Simpson!! Duh!

I believe also that the guy who had a hit in the UK with Joni's 'Woodstock' (sorry, I forget his name) is also a Scunthonian.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: black walnut
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 12:31 PM

Reminder - Martin Simpson is coming to Toronto August 13. Hugh's Room. Supper place (a few of us have reservations already) , or just come just for the concert. If you're in the area, don't let this one slip by.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Noah Zacharin
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 01:34 PM

I interviewed Randy--who is responsible for bringing him here (on my humbly offered and absolutely satisfyingly accepted and successfully-acted-on request to do so) on radio last night, to help get the word out. He mentioned that Martin S has been here before, but that it has been a while. In any case, he is one of the best. I am very excited that he is coming, and echo black walnut's suggestion: all within striking distance of 2261 Dundas St W in Toronto on Aug 13--come on out!
nz

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 02:03 PM

Lincolnshire is a 90-mile stretch of railway line on the way to Yorkshire which is where Martin Simpson, with consummate taste, now lives. He couldn't help being born on the wrong side of the border in Scunthorpe. It's where his mum was at the time.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Ernest
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 03:48 PM

... better than Homer Simpson in Alaska... ;0)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 04:10 PM

I saw him recently in the UK, and he made some great atmospheric music with an e-bow. I might even buy one myself!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: black walnut
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 04:42 PM

What's an e-bow?

And thanks Noah - and Randy. Bravo.

M.S. will be playing in Guelph also.

And I know that the Mudcat can't handle every concert announcement in the known universe, but this one seemed so derned special.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 02:53 PM

"I believe also that the guy who had a hit in the UK with Joni's 'Woodstock' (sorry, I forget his name) is also a Scunthonian."

try Ian Matthews

Also Amazing Blondel came from Scunthorpe

Gerry

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: black walnut
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 09:17 AM

Apart from not playing any banjo, Martin Simpson was fantastic Monday night. The Hugh's Room crowd loved him. And he hugged me after the concert. I can die happy now.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: black walnut
Date: 15 Aug 07 - 01:26 PM

OH - AND NOW I KNOW WHAT AN E-BOW IS!!!

It's....beautiful!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 08:50 AM

bw - ebows are nothing new! The late, and much-lamented, Mick Ronson (staggeringly-good guitar-player in David Bowie's old band 'Spiders From Mars', although he was really from 'Ull) was using one back in the late 60's, early 70's.

I'll just put me anorak on...............   :-)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 08:55 AM

And somebody just mentioned to me the guy from 'King Crimson' around the same time (old age has struck again - can't remember his name).
BWM
S:0)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 08:56 AM

Yes I can - Bob Fripp.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: black walnut
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 10:19 AM

I never said they were new. I just didn't know what they were. Now I do. And I liked hearing Martin Simpson play with one.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: brassy sharman
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 10:29 AM

Also from Lincolnshire and worth a listen are Amazing Blondel.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 12:52 PM

Oh why oh why do people who tour Canada think it starts in Ontario and ends in BC....? Us poor maritimers are always left out.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 01:03 PM

Well, when Martin gets back to this side of the pond, can he please let Mike Dixon know what chords he played on Anne Lister's "Moth" (as per Moth thread....)

Kitty

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 01:25 PM

Sorry bw, no offence meant - just that I've seen and heard a lot of references to e-bows recently, couched in terms suggesting that they're a new invention. Just thought I'd put it out that they've been around for thirty years or so.

And yes, used sparingly a la MS, they make a great sound.

It's tough being a pedant! :-) :-)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: black walnut
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 01:28 PM

Sad Guest - we were lucky to get him to come as far east as Toronto to a little* dinner folk club on a Monday night. No, not lucky, blessed. A few people put their own money behind the show so it could go ahead.

~b.w.

*little in comparision to the big folk clubs where he was performing out west.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: GUEST,Tim Chesterton
Date: 18 Aug 07 - 04:46 PM

With reference to the original post, no, this was not Martin's first visit to Canada, this was the third time I had seen him at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and I'm sure he came when he lived in the US as well.

He was of course brilliant. He's the one who first got me excited about traditional folk music. Here's a photo from my blog.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: GUEST,Mooh in limbo
Date: 19 Aug 07 - 07:53 AM

b.w...Next time you're around, try my Ebow, it's lots of fun!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson in Canada
From: black walnut
Date: 20 Aug 07 - 02:59 PM

Great photo, Tim! And what a wonderful inspiration!

Thanks, Mooh. I didn't know you had one of those gizmos - but somehow I'm not the least bit surprised....

~b.w.