Al Stewart

Al Stewart is a folk-rock musician known for his detailed historical narratives and significant contributions to the British folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s. After becoming master of ceremonies at London’s iconic Les Cousins folk club in 1965, performing alongside legends such as Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, Roy Harper, and Paul Simon, Al Stewart quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the British folk revival. During this period, he also lent his guitar talents to Jackson C. Frank’s 1965 debut album.

Stewart’s career gained significant traction with the 1973 album ‘Past, Present and Future,’ which marked his first proper release in the United States and reached No. 133 on the Billboard album chart, propelled by airplay of the track ‘Nostradamus.’ A pivotal collaboration began with producer Alan Parsons, leading to the highly successful ‘Modern Times’ in 1975. This partnership culminated in his most commercially impactful albums: ‘Year of the Cat’ (1976) and ‘Time Passages’ (1978). ‘Year of the Cat’ achieved platinum status in the US, peaked at No.

5 on the US album charts, and its title track became an international hit, reaching No. 8 on the US singles chart and No. 31 in the UK. ‘Time Passages’ mirrored this success, securing platinum status in the US, climbing to No.

In recognition of his enduring contributions to folk-rock, Al Stewart was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017. His most recent live recording, ‘Al Stewart & the Empty Pockets Live,’ was released in 2024. Looking ahead, Stewart announced a Farewell Tour across the UK for 2025, marking the culmination of a distinguished career spanning six decades.