John Smith

Event information

John Smith is a guitar man from Devon, quietly becoming recognized as one of the most exciting voices on the British Folk scene. He has spent several years solidly on the road, touring with John Martyn and accompanying Davy Graham on his final tour. He has also supported John Renbourn, David Gray, Martin Carthy, Jools Holland, Tunng and Tinariwen and has shared the stage with Cara Dillon, James Yorkston, Martin Simpson and Ben Ottewell.

(Please note that this show will be one set)

"Brilliant" **** - MOJO

"Spellbinding" - Time Out

"A guitar genius...He sounds as though he arrived 60 years ago but looks startlingly young, perched on a chair, quietly confident, charming and instantly engaging." - The Sun

"One man, a guitar and an incredible voice...mesmerising" - bbc.co.uk

"He sings melodic, epic narratives that are at once haunting and lively...John Smith breaks the old folk paradigm" - Miami Herald

"He possesses a common name but a rare talent" - The Independent

"The playing style he adopts may cause your jaw to hit the floor - he has all the flair for the gathering storm that made Jeff Buckley so attractive...one hesitates to mention Nick Drake but well, one already has done." - Word Magazine

"His performance was an object lesson in how taste and imagination always outweigh mere musical virtuosity...unexpected and daring" - The Sunday Times

"John Smith continually swoons audiences with his own strain of nu-folk. It is only a matter of time before he is enormous." - NME

Support comes from Fiona Bevan whose voice has been compared to Billy Holiday, Erykah Badu, Beth Orton and Doris Day. A great singer/songwriter and a Vortex regular.