2016 was a landmark year for Michael Chapman. As well as celebrating his 75th birthday it was also 50 years since he first went on the road professionally. We organised some special events to mark this important milestone in his life and career - including a short residency in London, a UK tour with BJ Cole on pedal steel and Sarah Smout on cello, and issues of some new recordings, including collections of guitar instrumentals ‘Fish’ and ‘Homages’. Never one to stand still for long, Chapman continues touring in 2017 with more new projects including his new album ‘50’ on vinyl and some exciting new collaborations are in the pipeline.
Michael Chapman (born Leeds Yorkshire - 1941) first became known on the London and Cornish folk circuits in 1966. Playing a blend of atmospheric and autobiographical material he established a reputation for intensity and innovation. Signed to EMI's Harvest label he recorded a quartet of classic albums. LPs like 'Rainmaker' and 'Wrecked Again' defined the melancholic observer role Michael was to make his own, mixing intricate guitar instrumentals with a full band sound.
His influential album 'Fully Qualified Survivor', featuring the guitar of Mick Ronson (David Bowie) and Rick Kemp's bass (Steeleye Span), was John Peel's favourite album of 1970. 'Survivor' featured the Chapman 'hit', 'Postcards of Scarborough', a characteristically tenderly sour song recounting the feelings of nostalgia and regret.
Chapman is known as one of the UK’s best finger picking style guitar players. As part of a continuing musical lineage that includes the likes of Ralph McTell, John Martyn, Davey Graham & Bert Jansch, Chapman is still touring and recording new material. Recent Album releases include Fish – 2015 and reissues of his classic Harvest catalogue. 'Rainmaker’, Fully Qualified Survivor', ‘Wrecked Again’, ‘Window’ & ‘Playing the Guitar The Easy Way’ on the USA label Light in The Attic completing a reissued series of all his early work. Live at Folk Cottage –(2013) is an archive of the first known recordings of Michael playing live at The Folk Cottage, at Mitchell, Cornwall in 1967.
Collaborations with Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and the American 'primitive school' of guitar players, including the late John Fahey , and also Jack Rose, opened up a whole new audience of US based admirers. Appearing on recordings with Hiss Golden Messenger and Steve Gunn has cemented Chapman’s position as pivotal figure in roots, folk and acoustic guitar playing over the last 50 years.
Calendar