Mike Turnbull

Folk songs from the edge of the map

I write and perform songs about people, places and the stories that connect them.

My music grew out of the landscapes of the Lake District — the hills, valleys, coastlines, old roads and small communities that have shaped the way I see the world. There is a strong sense of place in what I do, but the songs are really about people: journeys taken, things lost and found, characters encountered along the way, and the small moments that somehow become part of our own stories.

My music sits somewhere between contemporary folk, traditional influences and acoustic roots music. I perform primarily with voice and acoustic instruments including tenor guitar, mandolin and banjo, keeping the arrangements relatively simple and allowing the songs and their stories to take centre stage.

I began developing my own folk artist project around eight years ago while living in Cumbria. I recorded extensively, released a number of albums and songs, and spent time performing and building connections within the folk and acoustic music community. Life then changed direction, and although I never stopped writing, playing or recording, the live side of the project gradually fell away.

Now, having relocated to North Yorkshire, I’m returning to that part of myself.

This isn't about recreating what I was doing before. It's about taking the songs, experience and stories I've gathered over the years and seeing where they can lead next.

Alongside my solo work, I have Edge O’ the Map, an acoustic folk project with my wife Cate, exploring sea songs, journeys, northern landscapes and the spaces where land meets water.

We are also developing a live storytelling format which brings songs and spoken stories together — an informal evening of music, anecdotes, history, landscape and audience participation with Cate & myself. For me, the story behind a song is often just as interesting as the song itself.

I’m interested in creating performances that feel personal rather than polished for the sake of being polished. A room, a few instruments, a good song and an audience willing to listen can be enough.

My aim now is simple: to become part of the musical and creative community around North Yorkshire, to meet people, play songs, tell stories and make new connections — and to see where this next chapter takes me.

Mike Turnbull Folk / Roots / Singer-Songwriter North Yorkshire