About
Martyn Joseph | Award-Winning Welsh Singer-Songwriter
Friday 13th Nov
St Augustine's Church
Palace Street
Derry
Doors 7pm
Show Starts 7.30pm
For over 40 years, Martyn Joseph has built a reputation as one of the most powerful and compelling live performers in contemporary folk and acoustic music. Armed with just a guitar and a remarkable voice, he delivers performances filled with energy, passion, humour, and emotional depth, captivating audiences in venues of every size around the world.
Often compared to artists such as Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Bruce Cockburn, Martyn has carved out a sound and stage presence entirely his own. His distinctive percussive guitar style, paired with expressive and thought-provoking songwriting, has earned him the nickname "The Welsh Springsteen".
After signing with Sony Music in the early 1990s, where he released two albums and achieved Top 40 success, Martyn went on to become a pioneer of independent music, launching his own label in 1999 and embracing direct-to-fan platforms long before it became common practice.
In November 2025, he released his 28th studio album, Troubled Horses, a haunting and intimate collection of stripped-back acoustic songs exploring vulnerability, humanity, and connection.
Martyn's songwriting continues to receive widespread recognition. In 2024, BBC Radio 2 invited him for a second time to contribute to their award-winning 21st Century Folk project, where he wrote and performed "Chapel Porth Beach" to mark the 200th anniversary of the RNLI. This followed the success of "Albert's Place" in 2023, which led to appearances on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 2, and BBC Radio 4.
His acclaimed 2021 album 1960 was named Folk Album of the Month by Mojo, received four stars from Uncut, and spent much of 2022 in the UK Official Folk Charts. He has also received multiple Wales Folk Award nominations, winning the award for Here Come the Young in 2019.
Beyond music, Martyn is deeply committed to social causes. In 2015, he was commissioned by Parliament to write "Nye (Song for the NHS)" as part of the Sweet Liberties project, commemorating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. He performed the song in the Speaker's Chamber at the Houses of Parliament.
Alongside his wife Justine, Martyn also founded the Let Yourself Trust, a charitable initiative supporting grassroots organisations around the world. Over the past decade, the trust has distributed more than £1 million to community projects and charitable causes.
With over half a million record sales, 28 studio albums, and thousands of live performances behind him, Martyn Joseph remains an artist driven by passion, humanity, and a belief in the power of song to connect people. His concerts are widely regarded as unforgettable experiences, leaving audiences moved long after the final note fades.
