Acoustic Tuesday Andy Smythe Feat. Dan Raza

Andy Smythe is a songwriter based in the UK in London who has quietly been stealing the hearts and minds of everyone who has heard his finely crafted songs. He’s produced eight albums of original songs over the past 20 years and has drawn plaudits from the likes of The Waterboys Mike Scott. He has also performed over 1000 shows in that time across the length and breadth of the UK to rapt audiences on guitar and stage piano. He has been a stalwart of the singer/songwriter scene performing at folk/acoustic clubs and festivals. A truly independent grassroots artist! Andy is influenced by classic songwriters such as Nick Drake, Roy Harper Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Lennon/McCartney but has his own unique melodic and lyrical style. He writes songs to prompt the listener to reflect on their humanity and make connections to their everyday lives. His new single ‘The Drought is Coming’ is looking to build upon the critical success of the orchestral anthem ‘Tears Can Heal’ released in September 2024 and the album ‘Poetry in Exile’ released in March 2024. He has another album planned for release later in 2025. Andy is also a consummate multi-instrumentalist playing acoustic/electric guitars, bass, piano, organ and blues harp and has a typically English voice that will remind you of Nick Drake with a trace of the Buckley’s vibrato. His inspiration stems from sharing his passion about the ‘river of life’ with his audience. He plays live with an energetic roots/rock band featuring violin, electric mandolin, bass and drums ‘The Andy Smythe Band’.

PLUCKED while a student to tour with Joan Armatrading, and championed by Neil Young on his ‘Living With War’ website, Dan Raza has spent the first chapter of his career weaving folk troubadour magic around the clubs and halls of the UK and beyond while quietly building a reputation as one of the UK’s best-kept musical secrets. With two critically-acclaimed albums under his belt, the singer-songwriter has won support along the way from some of the biggest names in folk music, such as Rodney Crowell (“great voice and fine arranging sensibilities”), Tom Paxton (“killer songs”) & John McCutcheon (“one of my favourite discoveries of recent years”), and has long been tipped for wider recognition.