Live at Backstage at The Green in Kinross: Katie Spencer & Alan Thomson

guitar style and songwriting. Now, as Katie steps into this new era with a third album, her focus turns to those

deeper inner spaces, inviting the listener to engage with her heartfelt and intricately-crafted songs.

As a pairing, Katie Spencer & Alan Thomson (fretless bass) curate a special one-of-a-kind evening celebrating

the music of John Martyn, alongside interpretations of Katie’s original compositions. Alan Thomson is a world-

renowned fretless bass player, he spent many decades touring and writing with John Martyn. Some of his

other credits include Martin Barre, John Jorgenson & Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle. The evening will feature

songs from their 2021 EP ‘Hurt In Your Heart’. The release was celebrated for its dreamlike qualities and

expansive reinterpretations of Martyn’s songs that that reached deep into the heart and soul of the music.

‘Katie captures the feel of Martyn’s most sublime work perfectly.’

– Northern Sky

‘It would take a brave artist to cover John Martyn’s atmospheric late-night classic, Small Hours. So, step forward, Katie Spencer.’

– Iain Anderson, BBC Radio Scotland

Katie’s original writing, and most notably her guitar playing stems from a time when the steel-stringed

instrument was truly finding its voice. Artists like Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill, Julie Byrne and perhaps most

evidently Michael Chapman, weave into her sound. Katie absorbs these influences into her songwriting and

with her distinctive deep vibrato and crystal-clear guitar style, she makes the music inimitably her own.

Katie released her third album What Love Is in October 2025, entering the Official Folk Album’s Chart at

#12. It is an intimate collection of ten songs produced by Matt Ingram (Laura Marling, The Staves). Recorded

in London’s Urchin Studios and featuring prominent players Giacomo Smith (clarinet), Max Clilverd (pedal

steel), Tom Mason (double bass) and Matt Ingram (drums, synth). What Love Is evokes the spirit of Joni

Mitchell’s finest later works, always honouring without emulating. Lyrically mature and at times pastoral; the

album is melodically sophisticated and unflinchingly honest. She moves effortlessly from wide-open jazz-

tinged soundscapes, influenced by Pharoah Sanders and John Abercrombie, through to the folk-baroque

fingerpicking style that her fans admire her for. Her singing is powerful yet warm, true and pristine in

delivery. The musicianship throughout the record feels liberated by Katie’s innovation and confidence, and the

result is a master-class of inspired and beautiful-sounding craftmanship.

‘Fresh as a sweet Sunday morning’ – MOJO ★★★★

‘… a fine singer-songwriter, and an excellent guitarist’ – Songlines ★★★★

‘… a world-class folk guitarist’ – fRoots

'Katie’s guitar playing has echoes of my dear friend the late great Bert Jansch. Like a musical weaver she

threads her poetic lyrics through the guitar’s strings and produces tapestries of song.' – Ralph McTell

Katie has toured extensively and is a powerful and confident presence on stage, delivering her finely-tuned

music with humour and insight. It is often said that Katie draws audiences into her mesmerising and musically

articulate world with gentle affection and care. Her impressive live touring schedule is testament to this, and

has seen her headline some of the most prestigious venues in the UK, including St Pancras Old Church and The

Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, and perform at many respected major folk festivals such as the world-

renowned Celtic Connections and Cambridge Folk Festival. Her live history also features many overseas

adventures including extensive tours in Europe and Australia (including Port Fairy Folk Festival). In 2025, Katie

continued to tour widely in the UK and Europe, and was also invited to represent Britain and perform at theprestigious Folk Alliance International in Montreal, Canada. She recently became the owner and endorsee of

a custom-built signature guitar, specially crafted for her by distinguished luthier Tom Sands.

Her debut album Weather Beaten (2019) was praised for its “unique song-craft, spell-binding musicianship

and crystal sonic clarity,” as she brought together fans of music from all backgrounds and walks of life. This

was followed by The Edge of the Land (2022), which reached #14 in the Official Folk Charts upon release.

This record also features Tom Mason on double bass, with additional percussion and piano provided by Arran

Ahmun and Spencer Cozens, musicians who developed their craft in the John Martyn band.

'One of the most satisfying and spellbinding singer-songwriter collections I’ve encountered in some time.' –

RnR Magazine

'A timeless English folk album...’ – Shindig!