Eddie Martin

Bristol based magician who's a regular at Gloucester - he finished last year's Festival off on a high playing solo in the courtyard at The New Inn.

When it comes to blues, maybe the rural pre-war blues of Robert Johnson is to your taste, or perhaps contemporary artists like Taj Mahal, or maybe the Texas grooves of Freddie King and Albert Collins, or the horn driven big bands of BB King and T-Bone Walker?

Rarely does a blues musician who is master of such a wide range of styles as this come along. And to be as adept on guitar as he is on harmonica makes Eddie Martin all the more unusual. But Martin is indeed equally at home playing solo in acoustic or electric one-man-band style or fronting his three-piece and big bands.

More than this though, and perhaps why the foremost British Blues magazine "Blues in Britain" wrote "Eddie Martin is one of the most remarkable bluesmen of his generation", Martin has that rare knack of writing blues songs that speak of now while paying dues to yesterday. Despite his schooling in traditional instrumental skills, Martin is above all a compelling author of new blues, with almost a hundred published original songs in his repertoire.

To come from London rather than Louisiana explains partly why, with such prodigious talents, Martin is only just getting known round the world.

Since turning progressional in 1996 - following a residency at London's Ain't Nothin' But, and the release of his debut album 'Solo in Soho' - the versatile Martin has gained recognition and acclaim in Europe and the USA. Consecutive nominations in the UK British Blues awards for best guitarist, album and band followed in the ensuing years. A punishing touring and recording schedule followed, all the more worthy of credit for being self-imposed. He has produced a cd virtually every year since 1996 and never received a bad review.

Eddie Martin grew up in London in the 1960's and started playing acoustic guitar at the age of 16. His early influences were Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie and this quickly led Martin back to their own roots in early country blues.

Martin became a keen student of the music - and in particular that of artists such as Dr Ross and Joe Hill Louis - and his commitment has led to him becoming the outstanding one-man blues band in the UK today.

Seeing his energetic performances it is impossible not to be transported back 50 years or more as his national steel guitar, rack mounted harmonica and suitcase, acting as bass drum, pound out infectious rhythms to compliment Martin's soulful vocals.

That's only one side of Eddie Martin though. Shortly after buying his first electric guitar Martin discovered Freddie King and this introduction to Texas blues was the eventual inspiration for one of the finest three piece band's around when he teamed up with the Texas Blues Kings. Bassist Guthrie Kennard and drummer Jimmie 'Blue Shoes' Pendleton joined him for his tour of the USA in 1999 and they recorded "Pillowcase Blues" in 2001 to critical acclaim.

Top new musicians now feature in his band, as recorded on the already-acclaimed "Ice Cream" release of February 2004.

Recognition of Martin's talent as a composer and arranger are leading to increasing work with television, film and drama producers, reinforcing his decision in 1999 to make music the 'day job'.

Eddie Martin's albums and performances have received critical acclaim in all of the major blues magazines and from major artists such as John Hammond, Paul Jones and Dick Heckstall-Smith.

If you've never seen Eddie Martin you should do so now and find out what audiences throughout the world already know - that this represents simply the best in British Blues.

Or, as one of the founder members of John Mayalls Blues Breakers and Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated has put it "Eddie Martin is the hottest blues musician to come out of Britain since the 1960s" (Dick Heckstall-Smith)