John Smith brings bitter sweet folk to our city

Devon-based guitar star John Smith brings his tuneful folk music to Preston’s New Continental tonight.
John SmithJohn Smith
John Smith

Dubbed the “guitarist’s guitarist!, his skills have earned him a loyal following as far afield as Japan, Mexico, the USA and Canada – and of course, England and Ireland.

Smith has opened shows for John Martyn, James Yorkston, Martin Carthy, Jools Holland and Gil Scott-Heron and has played the Glastonbury, Green Man and Cambridge Folk festivals.

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Last year, he spent December supporting Pulp star Richard Hawley on tour before selling out his own show at London’s Purcell Rooms in March.

But now he is on the road again in his own right, supporting his most recent LP, Great Lakes, which marks a triumphant return after two years of writer’s block which so crippled him that he considered abandoning song writing altogether.

But it lifted when, in late 2011, he began working with two songwriters, Dennis Ellsworth, who appears with him here, and the legendary American producer Joe Henry, best known for his work with Lisa Hannigan, Loudon Wainwright and Solomon Burke. By Spring, they had over 15 new songs.

John Smith appears with support from Dennis Ellsworth and Preston’s Jamie Brewer. Doors open at 7.45pm and tickets are £8 on 01772 499 425.