Legendary guitarist and songwriter Martin Simpson will release his new album Some Kind of Jubilee on Topic Records, his musical home for more than two decades.

The record marks a remarkable milestone—50 years since the release of Simpson’s debut album, Golden Vanity (1976)—and, in his own words, captures “my best work to date.”

For this landmark recording, Martin has gathered an extraordinary ensemble of collaborators he has met along his storied career. The album features performances from:

• Greg Leisz (Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell) – pedal steel guitar
• Zac Hobbs (Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Emmylou Harris) – guitar
• Liz Hanks (Richard Hawley, Liam Gallagher) – cello
• Louis Campbell (Sam Sweeney, Sam Lee) – guitar
• Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman, Cara Dillon) – double bass

Recorded at Jackson Browne’s Groovemaster studio in Santa Monica and completed in Yorkshire, the album weaves together newly written songs, reimagined traditional material, and fresh interpretations of classics from Simpson’s extensive catalogue.

Simpson’s journey began with Golden Vanity, recorded and produced by Bill Leader at Leader Sound and originally released on the Trailer label. Half a century later, Some Kind of Jubilee both honours that legacy and showcases the creative vitality of one of folk music’s most revered artists.

Biography

One of England’s most revered folk performers, widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, Martin's interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His remarkable solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving. Always prolific, and never one to rest long without a guitar in his hands and a song in his head, Martin Simpson continues to travel the length and breadth of the UK and beyond giving rapt audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his remarkable intimate solo performances.  Martin was nominated an astounding 32 times in the 18 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - more than any other performer - and has won numerous awards.

“One of the virtuoso instrumentalists of the English music scene... sounds better than ever" **** The Guardian