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The Journey

The Musical journey started for me listening to such great bands as the Beatles,Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones to mention but a few. It was the introduction to the folk clubs and available live music in the days of the folk revival in the Mid 60s and early 70s that really took my interest to become a player. I began to be a regular at the Compasses folk club at Little Mt Zion in Tunbridge Wells and the Black Horse at Telham in Sussex. It was in these Clubs I got to hear some of the music that was to influence my own playing.

Bob Sharp
 

In the early days I began to listen to such groups as Fairport Convention,Steeleye Span,Pentangle and Lindsfarne all of which gave me an exciting interpretaion of traditional English music and who I travelled far and wide to see in live concerts.My local folk clubs started to book artists that included Martyn Carthy ,The Dransfields,John Renbourne,Martyn Simson and Bert Janch the latter was to be one of my greatest guitar influnces along with Ralph McTell.

In 1974 the travel bug took over and that led me to a new life in Australia and early settlement in the Northern Territory a wonderful beginning and a great introduction to the Folk Music World of the Southern Hemisphere and opportunities to be part of that heritage. My early Musical influences and a chance meeting with Ken Ferguson from a similar background gave birth to the Alice Springs based duo Facial Expressions that played an important part of Australian Folk Music throughout the 80,s leading to national and International tours and many recordings many included the valuable Colin James who later became part of the group. 

With the break up of Facial Expressionsin the late 80,s to follow different musical paths I recorded a Solo Album  " Times Iv'e Tasted" to establish my self as a solo singer songwriter that led me on to a Commisioned Bicentienal Project with Barney Foran, a Territory Rock Opera called "Come Hell or High water" This took two years to Complete and Toured the Northern Territory with one of the songs ending up on Ian Mc'Namaras "Australia all Over"
Many of my songs have been recorded by other artists nationally and Internationaly and I continue to play at Festivals around Australia and and where possiable any surviving folk clubs around the country. I played at the opening of the Australasian News at  the Raffels Hotel Singapore and many UK Folk Clubs. I look forward to more of the journey continuing to play the music I love to those who would like to listen And play my part in keeping music and the heritage live!
 l
Martin
Lowden
Bouzouki
Banjo
Mandolin
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