Celtic Connections proudly presents John Smith and Georgia Ruth
Born in Essex, raised by the Devon seaside, and making his bones in the bars and clubs of Liverpool, John Smith has released six studio albums and played to audiences worldwide, barely pausing for breath during his eighteen years as a full-time troubadour.
Taking his cue from Richard Thompson, John Martyn and Ry Cooder, Smith has evolved a transatlantic blend of fingerstyle and slide guitar techniques. His honey-on-gravel voice, profoundly romantic songwriting, and innovative guitar work have won him a loyal fanbase.
Georgia Ruth is a musician from Aberystwyth in West Wales. Her debut album, Week of Pines, won the Welsh Music Prize in 2013 and was nominated for two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Georgia’s fourth album, Cool Head, was released in 2024. Taking its name from a phrase her dad would use to urge calm thinking, the album presents a candid collection of songs, spanning wide-open Americana to 60s-influenced folk ballads.
