“Matthew Crampton was raised by wolves in suburban Hertfordshire. Fortunately, those wolves loved Music Hall, so Matthew had a solid grounding in vaudeville entertainment.”
Well that’s what he says anyway ?
We know him as a storyteller, writer and folk singer, based in London.
In recent years Matthew’s turned quite silly ( more about that later) His new comedy podcast The Big Muddler is a variety show for the ears, with sketches, songs, fake ads and other oddities. Do check it out here https://thebigmuddler Prior to that he toured with the great Paul Hutchinson as The Folk Detectives – a hopeless pair of folklorists ever trying to record a pilot for a new podcast. His earlier show Have a Banana was a fun, thoughtful look at the power of singalong.
Before that, he was more serious, creating shows which use story and folk music to explore migration. Human Cargo charted the experiences of people aboard ships of enslavement, emigration boats and transportation vessels. With Paul Sartin he co-devised a new version of Peter Bellamy’s The Transports https://matthewcrampton.the-transports/ linking this true tale of poor folk transported to Australia in the 1780s with wider, more modern stories of exile and migration.
If you didn’t see it (I am sad for you it was amazing) here’s a taste from Shrewsbury:
Matthew has written several books, including Human Cargo, stories & songs of emigration, slavery & transportation, which inspired the show of the same name. His other books include The Trebor Story, a history of the sweet firm, and Tales from the Angler’s Retreat, a book of fishing stories from the Western Isles of Scotland. His publishing company Muddler Books also reprints classic books he loves such as Animal Farm and Seventy Years a Showman.
Among previous careers, he worked as a speechwriter in London and Hong Kong, the administrator of an association of film producers, a dramaturg at The Old Vic theatre, a masseur and a finance director. His awards include Hebridean Fish of the Year 2008. He remains a keen angler and forager.
And now to why has he recently turned so silly? Perhaps because his personal life has become increasingly crowded with hospital visits. Late diagnosed haemochromatosis* combined with aggressive osteoarthritis, has forced Matthew to cut down on gigging. Hence also the new podcast The Big Muddler (See below) recorded in his home studio.
We were terrified…. sorry thrilled, when this esteemed gentleman said yes to sharing his ‘Firsts’ with us …. we were grateful he gave up a day foraging for crustacea to even read the questions to be honest!
Buckle up …. here we go!
FIRST RECORD YOU EVER BOUGHT
Donna Summer – I Feel Love
FIRST PERSON WHO MADE YOU WANT TO BE AN ENTERTAINER
Frankie Vaughan at the Hackney Empire
FIRST GIG YOU EVER SAW
Doctor Feelgood at the Hammersmith Odeon
FIRST PERSON YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH
Nena (and her 99 Luftballoons)
FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT IN THE MORNING
Ruling the world
FIRST PERSON YOU’D INVITE TO A PARTY
A Matthew Crampton lookalike, who could go in my place.
FIRST THING YOU’LL BUY WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR FIRST MILLION
Simms G4 zipped chest waders
(Other waders are available but we would like to thank John Frazier for his comprehensive colloquy about the merits of the Simms G4 Zipped Chest Waders in this video!)
FIRST THING YOU’LL ABOLISH WHEN YOU RULE THE WORLD
Jet skis on quiet beaches
FIRST ALBUM YOU’D SAVE IF YOUR HOUSE WENT UP IN FLAMES
Darkness on the Edge of Town – Springsteen
FIRST PERSON YOU’D SEND ON A ONE-WAY TICKET TO THE HEART OF THE SUN
Boris Johnson (aka Perfidious Albion)
FIRST THING YOU EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC
Who Will Buy from Oliver.
FIRST SONG YOU’D HAVE PLAYED AT YOUR FUNERAL
I’m Going Home – Tim Curry in Rocky Horror
FIRST INSTRUMENT YOU EVER OWNED
Recorder. Mmm..
FIRST PERSON YOU’D RAISE FROM THE DEAD
David Bowie
FIRST PLACE YOU’D VISIT IN A TIME MACHINE
1910 London for the music halls
FIRST TRACK ON YOUR APPLE MUSIC OR SPOTIFY MOST PLAYED LIST
The Night – Frankie Valli
FIRST TRACK ON YOUR IMAGINARY ALBUM OF YOUR OWN GREATEST HITS
The Man on the Flying Trapeze
FIRST PERSON YOU’D ASK TO JOIN YOUR ALL-STAR BAND
Dolly Parton
FIRST THING YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF
I’d like my ankles back, so I could dance again.**
FIRST ARTIST YOU’D BOOK TO APPEAR AT YOUR OWN UNLIMITED BUDGET FESTIVAL
Bruce Springsteen
ANY OTHER FIRSTS YOU WANT TO OFFLOAD TO UNBURDEN YOUR CONSCIENCE ?
Sorry, I’m all out of firsts.
We would like to thank Matthew for taking the time to complete these firsts for us, especially for being so open and honest about his diagnosis. He told us….. “We need to spread the word about it. If I’d been diagnosed 10, 20, 30 years beforehand, I may still be able to use my ankles… it just needs a blood test, that tests ferritin levels too.”
*Haemochromatosis is an inherited condition where iron levels in the body slowly build up over many years .This build-up of iron, known as iron overload, can cause unpleasant symptoms. If it is not treated, this can damage parts of the body such as the liver, joints, pancreas and heart.
** sadly a symptom of *
Remarkably he has kept his sense of humour and thirst for performing with his latest venture The Big Muddler. It is a “variety show in your ears, a podcast with songs, sketches, stories and other oddities. Mostly it features me making sounds in my studio, but there are some visits to Muddler Live – a magical place where people love to laugh and sing. And there’s the odd guest too.”
Here’s the first one ……
Enjoy!
For further information about all of this talented man’s exploits please visit matthewcrampton.com
He is going to brave the stage at Sidmouth Festival, recording live material for The Big Muddler on Tuesday 5th August in the Manor Pavilion. Tickets now on sale!
Featured Image Credit Alan Kerr
