OXFORD — Welsh singer/songwriter Martyn Joseph will return to 6 On The Square in Oxford with his extensive catalog of songs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11.
According to a media release, Joseph’s career spans 30 years, 30-plus albums, more than a half a million record sales and thousands of live performances. Often compared to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews, he has created his own style and reputation as a live performer and built a reputation for giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives. A unique talent driven by passion, social awareness and love for his trade, he’s developed a unique percussive style of guitar-playing and a powerful voice that have earned him the nickname “The Welsh Springsteen.”
In addition to his five Top 50 U.K. hits, the importance of his work has reportedly been recognized by programs such as BBC Radio 2’s primetime series on singer/songwriters. Social justice has an essential presence throughout his music, which has earned various humanitarian awards and plaudits.
Known for being concerned with making music that is relevant and vital to his audience, he engages with challenging narratives tackling the complexity of the human condition, underpinned with a promise of hope. In his own words, “What I do is to try to write songs that might step up and make some sense of a moment in time. A good song makes you feel like you’re not alone in the world.”
As further stated in the release, there is a versatility to Joseph’s music that is not easy to categorize. Many have tried, resulting in labels such as folk, rock, soul, folk-funk and Americana. His music and social commentary empower and speak for many. His songs are pictures, stories and feelings put to music and delivered by a master craftsman.
In 2013, Joseph released an album of Bruce Springsteen songs, and 2014 saw him take the spirit of his music onto a more practical footing with the launch of Let Yourself Trust, a nonprofit organization that educates through advocacy, campaigning for human rights, and raising issues that have been forgotten or ignored by way of fundraising initiatives.
He has toured with Art Garfunkel, Jools Holland, Ani DiFranco, Suzanne Vega, Mike and The Mechanics, Joan Armatrading, Celine Dion and Shirley Bassey. He is hailed as a raconteur weaving tales on topical concerns as well as stories on the fragility of love, reaching out to listeners through his passion and humor.
Joseph was honored with a Spirit of Folk Award by Folk Alliance International in Kansas in 2018, and he’s been invited to speak on several occasions at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. In January, he released his latest studio album, “This Is What I Want To Say.”
Tickets are $20 in advance and will be $25 at the door. They may be purchased online at 6onthesquare.org or by calling 607-843-6876 for a reservation.
The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The show also will be streamed live online for $10 with more information available at 6onthesquare.org.