Professional English bluesman now living in Perugia,Italy.I have been playing blues with bands and on a solo basis for many years.Before going to university I took time off to travel and act as roadie,guitar tech. and assorted other jobs (some best nameless)with blues packages touring Europe.This bought me into close contact with artists such as John Lee Hooker,Champion Jack Dupree (with whom I later toured for a while),Sonny Boy Williamson II and many others.Later I worked in English blues bands Mojo Hand,The Skip Allan Band(Pretty Things drummer),Downbound Train and Baton Rouge.Now touring solo in Med area.
Shared the stage with Martin Simpson,Roy Bookbinder,Dave van Ronk(RIP),John Hammond,Popa Chubby,Louisiana Red,Lurrie Bell,Sugar Ray Norcia,
Mike Turk,Sammy Mitchell(RIP),Dave Kelly and many others.
Yes all the time.Clubs mainly and Ive played many of the major blues festivals in Europe.Touring in the south European area.
Robert Johnson,Muddy Waters,Son House,Bukka White...all of the great bluesmen.
Gibson acoustic guitars,1936 National Duolian,1996
National Resophonic Delphi,Amistar Style 2 Tricone,1976 Ibanez Concord 12-string,F 5 mandolin.For electric,Fender Stratocaster,Telecaster and 1963 Danelectro Silvertone.
Reviews:"a voice full of colour,light,shade,and expression.A guitarist of great soul and energy,Martin is a blues storyteller." Musica Jazz
(Italys top jazz journal)
..."a natural talent in acoustic blues" Atri Blues Festival.
..." the magic blues of Andy Martin" La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno
..." Umbrias top solo bluesman and certainly one of the very best in Europe" Corriere della Serra
..." a great personality with the ability to completely captivate an audience" Blues in the Park
.. quiet,gentlemanly stage presence,not unlike John Hammond,but a magnetic,spellbinding performer
with years of experience and a vast repertoire.Beautiful expressive voice and a wonderful slide player.BluesLines,UK.
.. Andy Martin brought the evening to a smouldering crescendo,alone on stage,modest and unassuming with a sardonic Cockney sense of humour.I never thought I could dance to one man playing a National guitar but Andys final Bukka White medley had me rockin my socks off University BluesNews,UK