Martin Simpson

Martin Simpson’s 20th album in a 40-year career and undoubtedly one of his finest complete works to date. Trails & Tribulations takes on the central theme of travel and begins with the folk staple Blues Run The Game. When we spoke to Martin earlier in the year he told us that he had avoided covering the song for many years as it has been in various players’ repertoire now since the great folk scare of the 1960s. However, when he set out to make this album, he reasoned that the time was ripe – and a cracking version it is, too. Other highlights include the mesmerising Bones And Feathers, A Ballad For Katherine Of Aragon and Martin’s reworking of the folk classic Reynardine. Whether revisiting traditional folk or presenting his own finely-crafted material, the standard here is very high – and the guitar work sublime.