Claire Phoenix & Friends + special guest Byron Johnston

Event information

The theme is Flamenco meets Jazz with special guest Byron Johnston.

Performing since 2001, Byron Johnston is a young guitarist currently receiving glowing reviews for his performances which encompass and evoke elements of contemporary, world and flamenco music.

Byron has spent the last five years forging his own guitar technique and method of playing. He performs original material alongside fresh interpretations of traditional flamenco, classical and pop favourites. - The style of his compositions looks towards such contemporary icons as Dominic Miller, Juan Martin, Michael Hedges, Antonio Forcione and Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Byron began playing guitar at the age of eight and with inspiration began writing original material (lyrics and music) from a relatively early age of 15. He first began learning to play in the styles of blues and rock however the one resounding call came from the acoustic and flamenco sound of the guitar which he first saw played on the streets of Andalucia aged 6. Byron later went on to become a student at the Academy of Contemporary Music where he was taught by the late Celtic and classical guitarist Eric Roche, during this time he also met and studied with Sardinian Guitarist Giorgio Serci who introduced him to the techniques of the Gypsy guitarists of Spain, these new avenues where absorbed and used to forge his own unique spin on the playing of guitar leading to an ever evolving fusion of Latin and Mediterranean influenced styles amongst world music, played with the very latest contemporary techniques.

Having launched himself as a soloist in the summer of 2005, Byron has found himself playing in venues across the south of England with residencies in London and Surrey, culminating in a solo performance at the Royal Albert Hall in the summer of 2006 alongside the release of his debut album 'Oceano' which features both CD and an accompanying live DVD to give a visual experience into Byron's unique playing style.