Mike Turnbull
"Mike Turnbull is a singer-songwriter from the Lake District whose main instruments are tenor guitar, octave mandola, banjo, mandolin & fiddle. "Their sound coupled with the sources of his songs suggests Seth Lakeman and, in truth, that isn’t a bad comparison. He certainly has the same drive and energy."
(Dai Jeffries - Folking.com).
Briar & Bramble is Mikes duo with Kate Hewson - a more stripped back delivery of Mikes songs with his tenor guitar, mandola, mandolin and Kate's shruti box drones, mandolin & tenor guitar.
The Valiant Knights is Mikes folk-rock band where the songs take on a more upbeat flavour with Drums, bass, guitar/mandolin and Mike's tenor guitars.
GIGS/TOUR INFO
Get to know Mike
Sample review...
"...Those fortunate and appreciative few who visited the Arnside Sailing Club venue (Sept 2021), were treated to two sets of accomplished tenor guitar and banjo playing from Mike accompanied most ably by the Safe Kings, driven along by percussionist Dave Pennington on Cajon and the gentle bass fills of Suzanne Ambrose on double bass".
(Howard King - At The Barrier)
(Read review here)
2021 new album Two Kingdoms is available now - only on CD from this website (signed!) and my Bandcamp page.
FOLKING.COM REVIEW
FATEA REVIEW
AT THE BARRIER REVIEW
This new album continues the journey of songs inspired by stories & legends from the Lakes region and beyond. Recorded at Heavy Rain Sound Studio in Kendal and produced by Andris Kiss. All tracks were recorded by Mike, with Dave Pennington on Cajon. Notable bass players were drafted in to add the bass magic needed. These include Tim Rowe, Paul Fulker, Lukas Drinkwater and Mike himself on fretless bass.
2020, Courageous Tree, a 5 song ep featuring guest musicians.
Courageous Tree Promo.
New EP Courageous Tree is available!
2019 In So Small A Compass album (produced by Lukas Drinkwater)
FATEA: "...Turnbull (Guitar, Mandolin, Mandola) surrounds himself with excellent musicians such as Lukas Drinkwater ( Bass, Electric Guitar and Banjo), Evan Carson (Bodhran) and Ciaran Algar on violin. As a group, you couldn't ask for better and the music definitely shines". (March 2019)
In conclusion, "In So Small a Compass" is an album of finely crafted songs that get stronger with each subsequent play. If you appreciate the likes of Sam Kelly & the Lost Boys, Goats Don't Shave and Seth Lakeman then in Mike Turnbull you'll find a kindred soul. There's much in So Small a Compass. Ian Cripps (In So Small A Compass review March 2019)
In So Small A Compass promo.
2017 Circlet of Gold EP
Late 2017, saw the initial release of ‘Circlet of Gold’ an indie-folk album featuring 7 original songs, some of which are inspired by Mike's home region the Lake District.
Circlet of Gold EP promo.