Description
A premier collective of UK talent returns to celebrate the pioneering legacy of John Martyn with a new record and high-profile live performances. The John Martyn Project is proud to announce the release of their second studio album, arriving 20 February, 2026. The launch coincides with a sold-out performance at EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) in London, marking the next chapter in a definitive three-part recording odyssey honoring the legendary folk-rock innovator. What began as a one-off tribute at Camden's Jazz Cafe in 2019 has transformed into a vital, touring collective. Following a year of sold-out shows and international acclaim in 2025, the project returns this year with a deeper exploration of Martyn's vast catalog.
To reflect growing industry discomfort with major streaming platforms' policies - particularly Spotify's - the band is moving to a direct-to-fan model. Consequently, all digital sales will now be hosted exclusively on Bandcamp, and Volume One will be removed from all streaming services. Physical copies of both albums remain available through all major music retailers.
Recorded at the Bert Jansch Studio in Frome, this second volume shifts focus from simple acoustic arrangements toward the psychedelic and electronic rawness that defined Martyn's revolutionary middle period. "Looking back on that first night at the Jazz Cafe, we felt something electric," says lead vocalist Blythe Pepino. "We weren't just celebrating music; we were celebrating a shared love that binds us. We knew we had to continue this journey."
The collective features four of the UK's most distinctive voices:
- Blythe Pepino (Vaults, Mesadorm)
- Kit Hawes (Seth Lakeman, Cara Dillon)
- Pete Josef (Roni Size, Kelis)
- Sam Brookes (Sunday Times 'Breaking Act')
The vocalists are backed by the formidable rhythm section of John Blakeley and Jon Short (Yola, Sheelanagig). Together, they reinvent Martyn's expansive sound for a new generation while preserving the raw emotional intimacy of the original works.