Born in Essex, raised on the Devon coast, and starting his career in the bars and clubs of Liverpool, John has released six studio albums that have garnered over 100 million Spotify streams. He has played to audiences all over the world – in living rooms, festival tents, and sold-out concert halls – and has barely taken a break during his eighteen years as a full-time independent touring musician.
Deeply rooted in the tradition of British folk and American guitar music, and inspired by Richard Thompson, John Martyn, and Ry Cooder, Smith has developed a transatlantic style that blends fingerstyle and slide guitar techniques. His profoundly romantic and vibrant songwriting, combined with his innovative guitar work, has earned him a loyal following. His honeyed, smoky voice and mesmerizing fingerstyle playing are unmistakable. Sometimes he uses a slide, sometimes he plays the guitar on his lap, sometimes he detunes it mid-song, or he coaxes a variety of subtle sounds from it with different effects pedals. Smith's obsession with the instrument has made him a master. Whether through an album or a live show, he always takes the listener on a deeply emotional journey.
His career began opening for folk greats like John Martyn, Davy Graham, and John Renbourn, who called him “the future of folk music.” Since then, he has opened for Iron and Wine, Patty Griffin, and Ben Howard, among others, and collaborated with artists such as Jackson Browne, Martin Carthy, Roseanne Cash, Gomez, Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker, Jerry Douglas, Glen Hansard, and Rodney Crowell. In his occasional role as a sideman, he has played guitar for artists as diverse as David Gray, Lisa Hannigan, Lianne La Havas, Joe Henry, and Joan Baez.
He has released six solo albums. “Headlong” (2017) reached number 15 on the Indie Breakers chart and number 1 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart, and his catalog has amassed over 100 million Spotify streams. In addition, there are numerous live albums, instrumental EPs, and cover albums, which John often makes available directly to his loyal hardcore fans.
Now he is back with his new album “The Living Kind”, which will be released in March 2024 on his own label Commoner Records via Thirty Tigers.
On-line
Website: https://johnsmithjohnsmith.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejohnsmith
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejohnsmith/
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