Playlist: Bert Jansch at 80
Acknowledged as one of the most influential songwriters and guitarists of all time, Bert Jansch would’ve turned 80 in 2023
Glasgow-born, he became a leading light of the British folk revival after moving to London in the mid 1960s.
The same decade saw Jansch make his first appearances here at our Royal Festival Hall, both on his own and as part of the folk jazz supergroup Pentangle, with whom he was a founding member. It was the start of a connection with our venue that would last throughout his five decade-long career, until he delivered what would turn out to be his last ever performance here in an August 2011 Pentangle concert.
In November 2023 the Royal Festival Hall once again moved to Jansch’s sound as a stellar line-up of the guitarist’s friends, fans and collaborators come together to celebrate his birthday. Bernard Butler and Sam Lee; Brigid Mae Power and Steve Gunn; Pentangle’s Jacqui McShee, Mike Piggott and Kevin Dempsey; James Yorkston and Ranjana Ghatak; Kathryn Williams; Martin Simpson; Robert Plant’s Saving Grace; and Sarathy Korwar performed on an electric and emotional night here at the Southbank Centre.
Ahead of the gig, to get us all in the mood for a night of pure Jansch, Eat Your Own Ears put together this playlist of popular Bert Jansch tracks drawn from his remarkable career. So put everything on hold, sit back, and settle into some perfect late night listening.
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