I'm just a guy who likes to find decent music.

Sinner-songster, guttural gospeller & pop-poet-priest, the Rev’d Matt Simpkins’s music is an unholy brew of bruising freak blues, string-snapping finger-twanged folk, and sanctified psychedelia. Shades of Captain Beefheart, Pavement, and the Kinks meld with Evensong choirs and pipe organs, pre-war Gospel Blues, string orchestras, brass bands, and Bert Jansch style finger-picking. 

Before he became the fourth generation of his family to be ordained as an Anglican priest, Matt came to musical notoriety through his raucous exploits in Fuzzface, Gospel-fiddle duo Sons of Joy, as a solo artist performing as Rev Simpkins & the Phantom Notes, and by collaborating with the remaining members of the Small Faces to reconstruct their LP Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake.

“Deep, dark…makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up” Maverick Magazine

“Raw, authentic and always riveting” Acoustic Magazine

‘High octane stuff…unique musical style and literate words performed with energy and passion. He must be a gas live.’ fROOTS

“skewed blues and rot-gut jugband swagger…a heady mix” Rock ‘n’ Reel

“I wonder what goes on inside his head” Blues Matters

“…he might just scoop a Mercury Prize…”, East Anglian Daily Times

“He’s damn good live!” Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 Music

“One of the UK’s most inventive songwriters.” Stephen Foster, BBC Radio Suffolk 

London based Ady Johnson is a seasoned musician, who’s infectious songs and engaging live performances, continue to win him plaudits from critics and audiences alike. Ady draws upon blues, folk, soul, Americana, pop and rock, to fuse a unique, classic but contemporary acoustic style.

Ady’s debut album 'Tell the Worry Dolls' received critical praise from R2, BluesMatters and Press Association. Tracks were chosen for two iTunes Essentials compilations. 'His Thank You for the Good Things EP' also received glowing reviews from Americana UK and other online reviewers. The EP made London’s Resonance FM’s Top 5 EP’s of 2015.

Since his first notable solo gig in 2010 at BBC 6 Music’s ‘6 Fest’, Ady has supported a wealth of artists; including Lisa Knapp, Ben Howard, Willy Mason, Matt Cardle and Adam Ant. Tours include his 2014 New York Tour and two UK tour supports for Ivor Novello Award winning Scott Matthews.

This year saw the release of Ady’s second album 'London Songs', which again received high praise from RnR, Americana UK and Record Collector. Tom Robinson, who has championed Ady’s music since his debut, invited Ady for an interview on his show BBC Radio 6 Music show in March.

Ady embarks on his third UK tour support with Scott Matthews this October.

“…might well be the first contender for album of the year…deserves to be massive.” 9/10 Press Association

“…an ebullient, life affirming collection with a touch of kitchen-sink romanticism worthy of Ray Davies and a bluesy sound filtered through the uniquely English lens of skiffle.” 8/10 Americana UK

“What a delight this album is!” ***** RnR

Hear me on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD4XdfvJDno

A concert Compline
youtu.be/HBJBdDaZZJw
Bruise UK / The Kimberleys - get to a gig
Blackheart Orchestra - got to see the show
Be ready, be there, make it happen!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4bre6HR4UygUXd6iUFl9OOtMIgeZ6S09

Followers of Rev Simpkins