'shivering, hollering, edgy, dark, delightful, disturbing, involving, beautifully phrased, acoustic music' - the living tradition 

a maker of delicate yet stubborn songs, an instinctive traveller, a human scrapbook. years spent as a hitchhiker and a period of homelessness have enriched her knowledge of people and places, all whilst keeping her moving. after spending a while building tree houses and bagging-out earth from tunnels at road protest camps kirsty sold all her possessions and hitched to cornwall where she lived in a beach hut and learnt to fingerpick. 

her affinity with a life of perpetual movement and a hand-to-mouth existence has made its mark on her songs in a manner reminiscent of jack kerouac and the 'beat' generation, and has made her music difficult to classify. she has been variously described as producing 'folk noir' and 'hobopop', and she and mat were described in maverick magazine as 'simon and garfunkel : the tim burton version.' 

her studio albums have attracted collaborations with some of the most important names in the scene, such as producers john wood (honeysuckle, 2002), boo hewerdine (frost, 2004), and neill maccoll (two birds, 2006). her albums are recorded live in the studio, her shows are simple and direct, and much of her work has been made using the instruments she has built herself. the new studio album, recorded in the usa with mike west of truckstop honeymoon represents an exciting new exploration of what is fast becoming a trademark 'vaudebilly' style, and is set for release in 2008.

kirsty is also on the road with her new band, premiering at celtic connections 2008. raw and edgy, the hobopop collective adds to the distinctive and accomplished duo of kirsty mcgee and mat martin the skills of two of the country's most exciting emerging jazz musicians. the quirky and inspired double bass of nick blacka (aim, mrs columbo) and imaginative drumming of rob turner (neil yates' new origins, mrs columbo) add dimensions of jazz and rockabilly to mcgee's already exceptional rootsy songwriting and martin's sensitive banjo and guitar playing ; shading and colouring the songs with grainy 'hobopop' style.

'perfect understatement - not an extraneous word or note' - karine polwart 

'absolutely superb, memorable... i love her songs, i love her way' - bob harris