Martin Ledner

INDIE FOLK WRITER & PERFORMER OF SONGS, BALLADS AND SHANTIES IN THE ENGLISH TRADITIONAL STYLE.

PERFORMING EVERY YEAR SINCE 1974 IN BRITAIN, EUROPE AND U.S.A.

EARLY SOLO APPEARANCES WERE AT PUBS, YOUTH CLUBS, SOCIAL CLUBS, THE NOTORIOUS WALTON HOP, WORKING MEN’S CLUBS AND OF COURSE THE FOLK CLUBS OF ENGLAND. PERFORMANCES WERE MET WITH POLITE INTEREST AS THEY WERE MUCH MORE BOISTEROUS THAN THE USUAL ACTS ON THE FOLK CIRCUIT. TO BE HONEST THEY STILL ARE BOISTEROUS. GIGS AT INDIE & FOLK CLUBS AND FESTIVALS CONTINUE INCLUDING 2ND FEBRUARY 2020 JUST BEFORE LOCKDOWN!

FIRST SOLO ALBUM 'MY MISTRESS'S SONGBOOK' FOLLOWED BY 'COMMONWEALTH', PROSPECT & HOPE', 'CURIOUS LIGHTS (THE SAN FRANCISCO SESSION)', 'A JOURNEYMAN'S TALES', 'DESPERATE FOLK (CURATED SONGS 1976-2018)' & 'LIVES, LABOURS, LOVES'.
THE SONGS, THOUGH ROOTED IN THE PAST, REFLECT CONTEMPORARY THEMES WHICH ARE OF COURSE TIMELESS: SEX, LOVE, DEATH, MURDER, INTRIGUE AND INEQUALITIES.

WHILE CONTINUING TO PLAY AS A SOLO PERFORMER SOME GIGS ARE ENHANCED WITH COLLECTIVES OF MUSICIANS, FROM 'SHOUTING IN THE WOODS', 'THE DISPARATE FOLK' TO THE CURRENT GROUP 'THE HAUNTED FOLK.'

IN 1986, ALONG WITH GUITARIST STEVE BASS, 'THE ROARING HUNDREDS' WERE FORMED. THE BAND HAD SUCCESS ON THE FOLK CLUB AND FESTIVAL CIRCUITS. THEY RELEASED AN ALBUM 'HEARSAY', TWO EP’S '1759', & 'VALIANT' . IN 2019 A LIVE DVD WAS ISSUED OF THEIR 'CORNWALL '87 FOLK FESTIVAL' PERFORMANCES.