Martin Kerr’s troubadour dreams just keep on coming true. The red-headed British/Canadian singer-songwriter made legions of new fans around the world this year, opening for Dermot Kennedy, Walk Off The Earth, The Strumbellas and Billy Raffoul, and headlining at summer festivals. 

After 15 years going it alone as a street-performer, and visiting 35 countries, he signed with his ‘dream label’, Nettwerk Records (Passenger, Paper Kites) and released 2 acclaimed EPs, Don’t Listen to Me and What you Don’t Know.

Producers Ryan Stewart (Owl City) and Ben Cramer (Old Sea Brigade) lend Kerr’s sound new depth, with dreamy soundscapes accentuating the power of Kerr’s voice and writing - somewhere between James Taylor and Radiohead, tackling themes intimate and universal, romantic and apocalyptic, and laced with his dry British humour. 

This December Martin suddenly gained millions of views on Instagram and Tiktok, when his controversial take on two classic Christmas songs went viral. God Rest Ye Merry Billionaires, a stinging rebuke of extreme inequality, drew attention to the crisis of homelessness, and was shared by Hollywood stars on social media. The other, Away In Bomb Shelters, was adopted as a peace anthem by groups around the world. 

“It was incredible to see people singing my songs at protests and vigils on the other side of the planet, raising their voices together, calling for peace and justice. That’s what music is all about for me.” said Martin in a recent interview.

With festival and theatre bookings rolling in, and his online following snowballing by the day, 2024 promises to be a breakout year for Martin Kerr, with another new album on the way, and new adventures on the horizon.

Matrinkerrmusic.com, 2024

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