Although a young man new to the scene, it would be wrong to think Dom Martin hasn’t paid his life and musical dues.
Brought up in the often tough, but community driven streets of Belfast Northern Ireland, Dom traded his craft for a time locally without a (self confessed) clue how to break into the (international) music business and possibly with too much humility to try. ‘Discovered’ by his present manager, Dom has made a fairly ‘meteoric’ rise in terms of today’s industry, with his first ever EP release attracting BBC 6 music and BBC Radio 2 support – including a converted session with Cerys Matthews and quite rightly, he now has a number of international tours and Festivals in the book for 2021/22 (Subject to Covid-19 restrictions of course). His jaw dropping, entirely natural sounding and unforced/unschooled skill on acoustic guitar, matched with an authentic ‘Belfast Blues’ voice, brings to mind comparisons with many from (Glasgow born) John Martyn to Rory Gallagher, with nods to many in-between not least perhaps the likes of Van Morrison and Foy Vance.
In 2019 (his debut year) Dom undertook two very successful UK tours, as well as playing many festivals including the International Guinness Blues on The Bay Festival, The International Rory Gallagher Festival at Ballyshannon (including the final night Big Top stage, The Letterkenny Rhythm and Blues Festival, a 5 show tour in Moscow, The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne Lancashire, The Harvest Time Festival in Monaghan, The Canterbury Festival in Kent and he also made his mainland European debut in Switzerland at the Blues Zeppelin Festival.
Dom has opened for Elles Bailey and Jo Harman and has also appeared for noted promoters AGMP Concerts as special guest support to the (US Grammy Winner) Mike Farris/Jo Harman at the big double bill London show on Wednesday 22nd January 2020 at the prestigious Under The Bridge venue, in Chelsea and the following evening as special guest support at the iconic 100 Club to Band of Friends. Dom then completed his first European Tour taking in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany before returning to Northern Ireland via shows in England just a week before the first Covid lockdown.
Dom was awarded Best Solo/Acoustic Act in the European Blues Awards 2019 and having been a three category nominee in the 2020 UK Blues Awards, picked up Best Acoustic Blues Artist 2020, so all in all, pretty impressive for his first full year and a very impressive and personal debut album indeed.
Dom has just been awarded Best Acoustic Blues Artist 2021 and nominated in 3 categories in the 2021 UK Blues Awards so this is now a young man well established in the UK and European Blues scenes. Dom has just been invited by the UK Blues Federation to represent the UK at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis USA in 2022!
Dom has also just released his first ever live album “Dom Martins Savages Live At The Harlington”
TICKETS
€20 available online from Whelan’s.
– 50c per ticket service charge applies on all bookings. Final ticket price may be higher from other outlets.
