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An evening with Liam Johnson + Watson & Lockett at Cafe#9
Presented by: Cafe#9| 0 | SHEFFIELD: Cafe#9 |
|---|---|
| P | Friday 1st December, 2023 |
| N | 7:00pm |
Event information
Growing up in the small mining town of Ollerton in the UK, Liam Johnson has been exploring the guitar to its full potential for more than 15 years. His instinctive enthusiasm to transcend the guitar's limitations and deliver powerful, self-expressive vocals has enchanted audiences across the country with his awe-inspiring performances. From fiery percussive grooves to delicate other-worldly ballads, Liam distills his multi-genre background into an eccentric blend of acoustic music that will keep audiences captivated from beginning to end.
Liam first encountered a guitar at the age of 9 when his primary school teacher brought it to class one day. He became immediately inspired by the instrument and it wasn't long before he started pestering his parents to pay for some guitar lessons. Subsequently, Liam started learning how to rock with his guitar tutor, who several years later introduced him to the rabbit-hole of shred guitar music.
Soon he started listening to the music of Joe Satriani, Andy Timmons and Michael Angelo Batio, then later the music of Michael Hedges, Preston Reed and Tommy Emmanuel. At this point, Liam became obsessed with the guitar as a solo instrument and kicked off a lifelong pursuit toward becoming a professional guitar player.
Graduating from the University Of Sheffield with a first-class Music degree, Liam became a recipient of the Dr Mo Sacoor MRCP Performance Scholarship upon arrival at the university which helped pay for his favourite guitar to date: the Taylor 414CE. During his studies, Liam released his first solo EP in 2017 called No Pressure, offering listeners a glimpse at some of his high-spirited guitar compositions and collaborative performances.
During the pandemic, Liam refined his recording and producing skills by working on a brand new album called "On The Horizon," his first full-length album release which was released on 29th April 2022. The album serves as a culmination of years of dedicated practice and musical exploration while primarily offering the listener the chance to indulge in a hopeful, optimistic vision for the future.
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Alt-folk duo Watson & Lockett - made up of Hazel and Georgie - had its genesis when the pair met at an after-show party at the University of Birmingham. Both unfulfilled by the classical focus of their music degrees they found kindred spirits in each other; both entranced by folk music and inspired by jazz, soul, pop, and singer-songwriters. They tentatively began messing around in practice rooms together, initially focusing on the close vocal harmonies that have come to be a prominent and distinctive part of their performance. They began to bring in all instruments at their disposal - violin, viola, piano, mandolin, and guitar - and had their first gig in 2019 when the landlord of the pub that they both worked at sent them home to get their instruments on a quiet Sunday shift and gathered a bunch of his mates to come and be entertained.
Lockdown hit, and to give themselves a sense of purpose, they decided to record an EP. With no recording experience, they cobbled together four songs - snapshots of lockdown moments - and with the masterful production skills of Benjamin Marrington-Reeve turned their ideas into Ruminations, released in 2021. The EP is characterised by the lush string parts and exquisite vocal harmonies that the pair have become known for.
Since then, Watson & Lockett have relocated to Manchester, where they have become regulars on the local music scene and developed their song-writing craft. Through finally being able to perform live, they have become surer of themselves as musicians and developed a chemistry described as uplifting and joyful. They have been working on two singles reflecting themes of lifelong partnerships and support set to release at some point during the Autumn.
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Please note this ticket price DOES include a byo/corkage fee should you want to bring alcohol to the venue.
All additional purchases of drinks and snacks from the cafe counter are always very much appreciated.
