The Songs of Martin Carthy at The Lantern
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A gig held at The Lantern on Saturday 4th April. The event starts at 20:00.


Eliza Carthy & Special Guests: The Songs of Martin Carthy

Featuring: Eliza Carthy + Tim Van Eyken, Nick Hart, Jon Wilks, Graham Coxon, Tim Eriksen, Finn Curran Carthy

In the wake of Martin Carthy's unexpected recent retirement, Eliza has drawn together a community of varied and talented musicians, all of whom have played a role in Martin's outstanding career. These artists will share the stage with Eliza, honouring and celebrating Martin's immense legacy and musical back catalogue.

This evening will present a rolling cast of admirers, colleagues and surprise guests, performing an entirely new set featuring some of Martin's best loved work from all eras of his career, spanning from his debut to final albums, via Waterson:Carthy and beyond. Martin's grandson will make his first ever stage appearances, playing one of his grandfather's guitars.

Nick Hart is an award-winning singer and multi-instrumentalist whose work with English folk song has earned him a reputation as one of the most acclaimed performers of his generation. His considered approach to accompaniment is informed by a deep respect for the nuances of traditional song and his captivating live performances are a testament to the importance he places on story-telling.

Tim Van-Eyken is a highly respected singer, melodeon player, and interpreter of English folk music. Rising to prominence as a member of Waterson:Carthy, Tim has established himself as a distinctive solo artist with a rich, expressive voice and a powerful instrumental style. His performances are marked by both passion and precision, breathing new life into traditional songs while showcasing his skill as a captivating storyteller.

Blur co-founer and guitarist Graham Coxon has long cited folk legend Martin Carthy as an inspiration. They performed last September together at "The Life & Songs of Martin Carthy" tribute concert at London's EartH, delivering an epic and highly acclaimed rendition of "Scarborough Fair" featuring Coxon's inventive guitar work.

Jon Wilks is a singer, songwriter and acclaimed fingerpicking guitarist whose work is rooted in English folk traditions, memory, and place. Described by The Quietus as being “at the centre of the current folk scene,” he began by exploring traditional songs from Birmingham and the wider Midlands, before shifting toward original, autobiographical songwriting. Jon has been instrumental in curating special events with Martin, exploring his career and legacy in recent years.

Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for transforming American tradition with his startling interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia. He combines hair-raising vocals with inventive accompaniment on banjo, fiddle, guitar and bajo sexto - a twelve string Mexican acoustic bass - creating a distinctive hardcore Americana sound. Tim has worked regularly with both Eliza and Martin over the past few decades.

Finn Curran Carthy is the grandson of Martin Carthy, son of Eliza, and the latest in the lineage to take to the stage, playing his grandfather’s guitar.

Martin Carthy is a legendary ballad singer and guitarist who has influenced generations of artists, including Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, while Eliza has been twice-nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and a multiple-award winner at the BBC Radio Two Folk awards.

In recognition of his illustrious career Martin was recently shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Price for his wonderful new solo record Transform Me Then Into A Fish. This album both marks his 84th birthday in May 2025, and offers a full circle moment in his music journey as he revisits material from his very first (eponymous) solo record released in 1965.

A sold out celebratory Life & Songs Of Martin Carthy concert in autumn 2025 saw folk music’s best loved figure being honoured by a stellar line-up of artists marking every era from his musical career, from Billy Bragg and Graham Coxson to Angeline Morrison. He also received video messages and accolades from Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Paul Weller, KT Tunstall, Jools Holland, Joe Boyd and more. Martin is one in a million, and it was glorious to see him feel the love and appreciation for him and his profound influence on so many musicians.

Eliza has also been in the studio, upon the occasion of her fiftieth birthday, recording entirely new material for her new project Frenemies, which will be released in 2026. This represents the next stage in Eliza's original songwriting and will feature many musicians from outside the folk scene with whom Eliza has been lucky enough to work.

’Eliza Carthy is one of the figureheads of the English folk revival … compelling’
Evening Standard

‘A gloriously natural singer’ – Q magazine

‘Seriously impressive’ – Telegraph

‘…brave and anything but predictable’ **** 4 Stars The Guardian

eartrumpet

Entry requirements: 14+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio

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