john smith

With John Smith’s now much higher profile, these revisited and, at times, transformative reimagined songs should, deservedly, find a far wider acclaim and audience than the originals. At the same time, ‘Gatherings’ serves to remind us that he is one of the true elite on the UK contemporary folk scene.

Pioneering British folk artist John Smith will celebrate his 20th anniversary in music with his new album, Gatherings, releasing October 17th. The record revisits and reimagines cherished songs from his early career with guests including Lisa Hannigan and The Staves. The first single and video, a beautiful new version of “Salty and Sweet” featuring Hannigan, is out now, offering a first taste of the celebratory project.

We catch up with John Smith to chat about his new album The Living Kind – the much-anticipated follow-up to 2021’s lauded The Fray–”…these song are more about seeing difficult things in your rear-view mirror and looking at the road ahead.”

John Smith’s ‘The Living Kind’ is an understatedly emotional and introspectively melancholic celebration of hope and light in the face of despair and darkness…It’s a masterpiece.

Taken from his latest album ‘The Fray’, watch John Smith’s official new video for ‘Deserving’, a song in which the light finds its way through the darkness in the end. John is on tour now.

Coming on the back of a personally traumatic year, ‘The Fray’ has a grip of iron. John Smith says these are the most honest songs he’s ever written…hard to disagree. Featuring an assemblage of stellar musicians it’s a shoo-in for the best of the year lists.

John Smith shares powerful new single ‘Friends’, a precursor to a larger body of work from him this year, said to be his most captivating, vulnerable music of his career to date.

Strings that Nimble Leap is a collection of the highest quality, with beautiful instruments being played by some of the very best musicians in the game. 52 artists including Martin Simpson, Martin Carthy, Andy Irvine Nic Jones, Charlotte Carrivick, Lisa Hannigan and more.

John Smith has shared a captivating music video for Hummingbird, the title track of his latest album. Filmed by Simon Whitehead the video features John as well as dancer Adelie Lavail whose movements perfectly capture the magic of the song.

Part Two of our Best Folk Albums of 2018 includes Ben Glover, Faeland, Shooglenifty, Brona McVittie, Emma Tricca, Glenn Jones, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Rachael McShane, John Smith, Kacy & Clayton and lots more.

To celebrate her third year of touring her Christmas Show “Upon a Winter’s Night”, Cara Dillon has recorded her own sublime version of Joni Mitchell’s Christmas folk song ‘River’, featuring the exquisite John Smith on guitar.

Currently mid-way through a 29 date UK & Ireland tour, John Smith has just announced further UK dates for January & February 2019. For the remaining 2018 tour dates John’s shows will be opened by Canadian singer-songwriter Rose Cousins.

Hummingbird sees John Smith finally releasing his ‘folk’ album, and it’s his sparest and strongest set yet. Glenn Kimpton talks to John about the song choices and putting your own stamp on a traditional song: “I wanted to sing these songs the way that I hear them.”

Join John Smith, our current Artist of the Month, in a coffee shop as he talks about the inspiration behind his new folk album Hummingbird which is released today on Commoner Records.

Hummingbird is Smith’s most impressive album yet. A work of mature and subtle beauty, celebrating songs that are still being sang and ones that will carry on being sang; this album should be heard by everyone.

John Smith announces new folk album Hummingbird, produced by Sam Lakeman and featuring Cara Dillon, John McCusker and Ben Nicholls. The album will be released on October 5th and accompanied by an extensive EU Tour. Listen to John performing Willy Moore, a song he first heard performed by Wizz Jones.

John Smith has shared the video for his new single, ‘Save My Life’, taken from his latest album Headlong. In line with sharing the video, he has been confirmed for a support slot on tour with Gomez throughout April and May.

Rob Bridge catches up with John Smith at Kenilworth Arts Festival. He talks about his new album ‘Headlong’ and his involvement in Martin Simpson’s new album ‘Trails and Tribulations’. He also manages to capture John performing ‘Save My Life’ live.