Biography

The Lake Poets is Marty Longstaff, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Sunderland, England. Inspired by artists such as Elvis Perkins, Villagers, Feist, Fionn Regan, John Martyn, Wilco, Damien Rice & Bright Eyes Marty’s output as The Lake Poets is as haunting as it is beautiful. Described as 'Quietly Devastating', 'Accomplished and Intelligent, and 'Spellbinding and Heart-breaking, Marty's music regularly silences audiences and turns heads. Lead single 'Your Face' from The Lake Poets’ debut album has received over 8 million Spotify plays as well steady daytime airplay on BBC Radio 2, Radio X, and BBC 6 Music, with follow up single ‘Edinburgh’ not far behind. Honeyed voice and beautiful intricate guitar riffs create a sound that soothes, understated like watercolours of an idyllic landscape. This sound, coupled with lyrics of love and heartbreak that rival Damien Rice's as a laureate of loss and despair, has situated Marty as a jewel in the crown of northern song writing. "Somewhere between Bright Eyes & John Martyn. Something Special" - Mojo **** "Stunning Debut from Sunderland Troubadour. Quietly Brilliant" - Uncut 8/10 "For decades the sound of the acoustic guitar has pulled at the heartstrings of so many. Now Longstaff is carrying on that tradition with his beautiful, thought provoking, honest acoustic music. When I first heard The Lake Poets I was blown away" - The Guardian "Stunningly heart-breaking music, beautiful & quietly devastating“ - BBC 6 Music