Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter, storyteller and patter merchant, Vin Garbutt was the funniest and the most serious man on the folk scene for almost half a century.
 
Vin was adored by his fans – and, for a period, shunned by elements of the folk music industry. In this compelling autobiography, he reveals the man behind the hilarious stage patter and the songs that often moved his audience to tears.
 
The book takes us on an unforgettable journey from the streets of post-war South Bank in Middlesbrough to the steps of Sydney Opera House, and just about everywhere in between.
 
A globe-trotting trailblazer who sold out venues across the world, Vin was also a man of courage and conviction. In All the Very Best! he explains why he refused to be silenced despite a backlash against views that were out of line with the mainstream – and the price he paid.
 
Written in the years before his death in 2017, this is Vin’s touching, funny and life-affirming story in his own words.
 
‘One of the authentic voices of the English folk revival. He was simply brilliant’.
Christy Moore
 
‘Pound for pound, one man and a guitar, I would rate Vin Garbutt right up there with the late, great Steve Goodman. And Goodman couldn’t play the penny whistle’.
Loudon Wainwright III
 
‘Vin wrote powerful, moving and compassionate songs, sang with passion, honesty, and conviction. He was also one of the funniest people you could meet’.
Eric Bogle
 
‘The Irish have a phrase, “We’ll never see his like again.” It could have been coined for Vin’.
Mike Harding
 
‘A troubadour of exceptional quality’.
Jasper Carrott