Simon Murphy

Simon didn’t write his first song until he was 31. Growing up listening to his dad’s John Prine records, he supplemented his income playing covers gigs in local bars. It was the death of his best friend from cancer that prompted Simon to do what his heroes (Prine, Paul Westerberg, Warren Zevon) did so well; write about his life and experiences. In 2014 the debut EP “Death of a singer songwriter” got heavy play on the BBC. In 2015 the debut album “Let it be” was long listed for the NI music prize. Festival slots were played alongside Ash, Billy Bragg, and Bap Kennedy. Simon has collaborated with local artists Kaz Hawkins, Anthony Toner and Gareth Dunlop. Winner of Dawson’s songwriter competition, Simon was invited to play at The Bluebird cafe with the Belfast Nashville festival. Supported by the arts council NI, Simon continues to write in America with Grammy award winners and Hall of fame writers Gary Burr, Georgia Middleman, Don Henry and Buddy Mondlock where songs are pitched for tv, film and other artists. As a psyche nurse Simon has used music as a recovery tool for women who have experienced severe trauma, and has used his music to describe a range of mental illnesses including anorexia, depression and personality disorder.