"A concoction of an extraordinary magnetism... The affection between the two players is obvious, two generations joined by their shared love and knowledge of the maverick musician John Martyn." – At The Barrier
There are concerts that entertain. There are concerts that inspire. And then there are afternoons like this—rare, deeply personal musical encounters that remind us why songs have the power to transcend generations.
For lovers of folk, jazz, blues, singer-songwriters and beautifully crafted acoustic music, this promises to be one of the most special afternoons of the year.
John Martyn was never easy to categorise. Across a career spanning more than four decades he tore down the barriers between folk, jazz, blues, rock and improvisation, creating an entirely new musical language that would inspire generations of artists including Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, David Gilmour, Nick Drake, Robert Smith, Ben Howard and countless others. Albums such as Bless The Weather, Solid Air, One World and the heartbreaking masterpiece Grace and Danger remain among the most influential recordings ever produced by a British songwriter. His music possessed an emotional honesty, fearless experimentation and unmistakable humanity that continues to resonate more than fifty years after it first emerged.
Very few musicians still performing today experienced that remarkable journey from the inside.
Alan Thomson did.
For over two decades Alan Thomson stood shoulder to shoulder with John Martyn, becoming far more than simply his bass player. His sublime fretless bass became one of the defining voices within Martyn's music, weaving effortlessly around John's unique guitar style and unmistakable vocals. Night after night, album after album, Alan helped shape the sound that audiences around the world came to know and love. His understanding of Martyn's music is not something learned from records—it was lived, breathed and created alongside the man himself.
Alan is recognised worldwide as one of Britain's finest fretless bass players. Throughout an extraordinary international career spanning over forty years he has shared stages and studios with an astonishing array of legendary artists including Robert Palmer, Rick Wakeman, Andy Summers (The Police), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Bo Diddley, Denny Laine (The Moody Blues & Wings), Long John Baldry, Julia Fordham, Jacqui McShee's Pentangle, John Jorgenson, Hank Marvin, Amos Garrett, Brent Mason and many more. His lyrical, expressive playing has made him one of the most respected musicians in British roots music, admired equally by audiences and fellow performers alike.
Sharing the stage with Alan is one of Britain's most exciting contemporary singer-songwriters and acoustic guitarists.
Raised beneath the vast skies and open landscapes of East Yorkshire, Katie Spencer has quietly become one of the defining voices of modern British folk. Her extraordinary fingerstyle guitar playing, rich expressive voice and sophisticated songwriting have earned widespread critical acclaim, while comparisons with Joni Mitchell, Bert Jansch, Michael Chapman, Judee Sill and Laura Marling hint at the remarkable musical company she now keeps. Yet Katie remains entirely her own artist, blending folk, jazz, Americana and subtle classical influences into songs of rare beauty and emotional depth.
Her articulate guitar style seems to breathe naturally, allowing melodies to flow with effortless grace while every lyric feels carefully observed and deeply personal.
"Her articulate picking, with suggestions of folk and jazz, frames intelligently written songs." – Guitarist Magazine
Perhaps it was inevitable that Katie would find herself drawn towards the music of John Martyn.
Like Martyn himself, she refuses to recognise musical boundaries. Jazz harmonies, folk traditions, blues phrasing and fearless improvisation flow naturally through her music, making her one of the very few contemporary artists capable of capturing not merely the sound of Martyn's work, but its emotional spirit.
Their partnership feels completely natural.
Together, Katie Spencer and Alan Thomson have created something genuinely unique—a meeting of two generations connected by a profound love and understanding of one extraordinary songwriter.
Their critically acclaimed 2021 EP Hurt In Your Heart reimagined several of John Martyn's most treasured songs, not by copying the originals, but by gently opening new emotional landscapes within them. Dreamlike, spacious and beautifully understated, the recordings captured the essence of Martyn's music while allowing Katie's distinctive voice to shine through.
"Katie captures the feel of Martyn's most sublime work perfectly." – Northern Sky
"It would take a brave artist to cover John Martyn's atmospheric late-night classic, Small Hours. So, step forward, Katie Spencer." – Iain Anderson, BBC Radio Scotland
Alongside these timeless Martyn classics comes Katie's own remarkable catalogue of original material.
Her third album, What Love Is, released in October 2025, entered the Official Folk Albums Chart at No.12, further establishing her as one of Britain's finest contemporary songwriters. Produced by Matt Ingram (Laura Marling, The Staves), the album effortlessly moves between intimate folk, expansive jazz textures and pastoral soundscapes, featuring outstanding musicians including Giacomo Smith, Max Clilverd, Tom Mason and Matt Ingram.
Critics were unanimous in their praise.
???? MOJO — "Fresh as a sweet Sunday morning."
???? Songlines — "...a fine singer-songwriter, and an excellent guitarist."
fRoots — "...a world-class folk guitarist."
Perhaps the greatest endorsement came from one of Britain's most treasured songwriters.
"Katie's guitar playing has echoes of my dear friend the late great Bert Jansch. Like a musical weaver she threads her poetic lyrics through the guitar's strings and produces tapestries of song." – Ralph McTell
Katie's growing reputation has seen her headline London's historic St Pancras Old Church, the legendary Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, perform at Cambridge Folk Festival, Celtic Connections, Australia's renowned Port Fairy Folk Festival, tour extensively throughout Europe and Australia, and represent Britain at the prestigious Folk Alliance International in Montreal. She has also recently become the owner and endorsee of a bespoke signature guitar crafted by celebrated luthier Tom Sands.
Her earlier albums, Weather Beaten and The Edge of the Land, introduced audiences to a songwriter of remarkable maturity, with the latter reaching No.14 in the Official Folk Albums Chart. Significantly, The Edge of the Land also features Arran Ahmun and Spencer Cozens—musicians whose own careers were deeply intertwined with John Martyn—making this musical connection feel even more complete.
"One of the most satisfying and spellbinding singer-songwriter collections I've encountered in some time." – RnR Magazine
"A timeless English folk album..." – Shindig!
"This is beautifully written and played music, with the quiet consistency and confidence of some of Laura Marling's best work. Wonderful stuff; let this one live with you for a while to discover its powers." – KLOF Magazine
In an age when so much music is fleeting, evenings like this become genuinely precious.
It is the continuation of one of British folk music's most remarkable stories, told by a musician who helped write part of that story himself, alongside one of the most gifted songwriters of her generation.
Within the intimate surroundings of Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre—widely regarded as one of Europe's most eclectic grassroots listening rooms—every note, every lyric and every delicate interaction between these two remarkable musicians can be experienced exactly as it was intended: close enough to hear the strings resonate, to feel the silence between the songs and to witness the extraordinary chemistry that only genuine musical friendship can create.
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