Simon Kempston

Simon Kempston is 'one of Scotland's very best songwriters' (The Sunday Herald), a composer and leading fingerstyle guitarist based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

There are very few artists who manage to create a sound on an acoustic guitar which is distinctive, instantly recognisable. Simon's complex finger-picking style, which draws from the disparate genres of classical, celtic and blues (amongst others) confirms he is certainly one such artist, his subtle style providing the perfect accompaniment for his rich, powerful and compelling tenor vocals.

His outstanding songs showcase thought-provoking, inspiring poetic lyrics which often sidestep the usual themes of love and attraction, in favour of offering crucial, important political and social commentary. Fascinations with architecture, travel and English literature have all informed his impressive lyrical style, words which can stand alone as poetry in their own right apart from the music.