John Smith is the guitar man from Devon who has quietly become one of the most exciting voices on the new British folk scene. Touring relentlessly as headliner and support act, he has opened shows for John Martyn, Iron and Wine, Seth Lakeman, Davy Graham, John Renbourn, David Gray, Cara Dillon, James Yorkston, Martin Carthy, Jools Holland, Tinariwen, Martin Simpson, Gil Scott-Heron and Chris Thile. John is a regular on the UK festival circuit, having played shows at Glastonbury, Green Man, Cambridge and many others. In this way, he has found a loyal following in the UK and Ireland, Europe, Japan, Mexico, the USA and Canada. Slow but sure.

John plays the steel-string acoustic guitar. Sometimes with a slide, sometimes on his lap, sometimes de-tuning the thing mid-song. He was named Young Acoustic Guitarist Of The Year in 2003 and hasn’t stopped to look back, unless it’s to pick up a banjo. His playing combined with his honey-on-gravel vocals have brought crowds to pin-drop silence and rapturous applause.

John has three records out; The Fox and the Monk (2006), Map Or Direction (2009) and a new collection of covers, Eavesdropping (2011). These are self-released and available through this website or at concerts.

“I believe in John Smith; his motivations are pure, his vision is straight, his music is honest and true. Were I to discover another man’s music flowing through my body and out my hands, and that music to be his, I would consider myself both lucky and blessed”
Kelly Joe Phelps

“Brilliant”
MOJO

“Utterly engrossing, earthy and compelling”
R2

“Map Or Direction finds his own unselfconsciously mythic songwriting bolstered by rippling guitar parts and a wounded-bear bray. Great things are ahead”
The Sunday Times

“Spellbinding”
Time Out

“A guitar genius…He sounds as though he arrived 60 years ago but looks startlingly young, perched on a chair, quietly confident, charming and instantly engaging.”
The Sun

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Discography

Eavesdropping – December 2011
Buy

Map Or Direction – September 2009
Buy

If I Prove False (with Cara Dillon) – May 2008 – Single, Charcoal Records
Download

The Bird And The Worm/No One Knows – September 2007 – Single
Static Caravan Records
Download

Live At The Roundhouse – February 2007 – CD/DVD Out of print

The Fox And The Monk – May 2006 (re-issued with new artwork May 2010)
Buy

The Fox And The Monk EP -  2005 -handmade, ltd run of 300 Out of print