Martin Stephenson

Martin Stephenson has been one of the the UK’s best-loved songwriters for over 30 years, performing as a talented solo artist or with his band The Daintees.

Always popular on the circuit, Stephenson’s “must see” live performances are an exuberant tour-de-force combining heart-in-your-mouth intimacy with playful humour and warm self-deprecation.

The Daintees’ critically acclaimed 1986 debut Boat To Bolivia showcased Stephenson’s songwriting, poetic romanticism and spiritual depth – so marking him out as a soulful cream of the left field crop during the self-obsessed 1980s. Never pandering to a particular scene, Stephenson’s lightness of touch on a varied mix of musical styles was immediately apparent.

He re-recorded his major classic albums in recent years to celebrate their 30th anniversaries – and has produced and recorded many more solo and band albums since – most recent being ‘Howdy Honcho’ in 2021. He has also tirelessly devoted his time to encouraging and producing other songwriters, young and more ‘mature’.

His work has frequently been featured by an enthusiastic Tom Robinson on Radio 6 and Tom invited Martin to be Special guest at a concert near Glasgow before lockdown. Martin has been in session with both Tom in London and Roddy Hart in Glasgow, at the BBC Radio Quayside sessions.