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

FORKTAIL is a musical project by artists Si Davis and Boo Cook exploring the themes of folklore/folk horror/ancient history and the allure of The Horned One. album now available on bandcamp...

Benjamin is a songwriter living in Manningtree, Essex.

Some of the rave reviews that the Top Deck All Stars have received recently.......

"Whooooooooooooooo hooooh hoooooh their sex is on fire"  Kings of Leon

" If you took out all the shit bits , it would be quite good"  Godfrey Chunk

"Man .. I wish I could sing through my nose like that"     Placido Domingo

"It's a lot like the work that I did with John Lennon, just no where near as good and far less important" Sir Paul McCartney. 

"I wouldn't want to hear it again" Kofi Annan

"This music is really catchy......but only in a herpeesey kind of way" Russell Brand, Shag-a-tron. 

"Not really my cup of tea I'm afraid , maybe if you got another guy to sing it and some different musicians to play it, possibly change some....no all , the lyrics then I might like it a bit more. I'm not sure though , probably not "          Susan Boyle 

"mmmrrth gruuuurh tuummtrr mrrtgh" Jamie Oliver, Fat Tongued Idiot

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