Pic by Rob Blackham
Dom Martin was brought up in the often tough, but community driven streets of Belfast Northern Ireland and has certainly paid his life and musical dues.
He has made a fairly 'meteoric' rise in terms of today's industry with his jaw dropping, entirely natural sounding and unforced/unschooled skill on acoustic guitar, matched with an authentic 'Belfast Blues' voice, bringing to mind comparisons with many from (Glasgow born) John Martyn to Rory Gallagher, with nods to many in-between, not least perhaps the likes of Van Morrison and Foy Vance.
Dom has won multiple awards for his acoustic work with a 2019 European award, UK awards in 2020/2021/2022 and as a result is now an inductee in the UK Blues Hall of Fame.
Dom is equally adept on electric with his power trio, having won the UK Blues Awards Best Instrumentalist Award 2022 & 2023. The trio is always an extremely popular addition to any blues/rock festival.
In late 2018 Dom was invited by Cerys Matthews to play a live session on the BBC Radio 2 Blues Show and she described his work as “absolutely wonderful stuff”.
At the end of 2019 Dom released his debut album, “Spain to Italy” which attracted a lot of attention and promised a successful career ahead for the Irishman.
A second and highly reviewed studio album "A Savage Life" was released in April 2022 which cemented Dom's place in the UK and European Blues/Rock scene.
In August 2023 Dom and his band gained many new fans whilst aboard Joe Bonamassa's KTBA Mediterranean Cruise III and he was certainly the talk of the ship!
In September 2023 he released his latest album "Buried In The Hail" on Forty Below Records scoring many top marks with reviewers and gaining Classic Rock Magazine's "Blues Album of The Month" above many top industry names.
At the UK Blues Awards 2024 "Buried In The Hail" was voted by the IBBA DJ's/Presenters as "Blues Album of The Year"
“Dom Martin is the next rising star in the global roots scene. Jump aboard now before he passes you by.” – Rock and Blues Muse
"Dom Martin is amazing! At times, he seems to be channeling the spirit of some long gone originator of this music, while putting his own modern stamp on it. A unique, genuine, vital artist " Walter Trout
"ThE BELFAST GUITARIST IS A SPRAWLING TALENT"
- CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE
"Absolutely wonderful Stuff"
Cerys Matthews
BBC Radio 2 Blues Show
& BBC Radio 6 Music
"A rare talent
of SUCH sheer genius"
Blues in Britain