Described as “Possibly the finest guitarist you’ll ever see” –
(Chris Long BBC) with “All the slide guitars skills of Robert
Johnson” – (Electric Ghost), John Fairhurst has deservedly
gained a reputation as one of the hardest working, most
musically diverse and utterly stand out blues guitarists and
song-writers on the scene.
After 10 years playing as a solo artist all over the world
(including Asia, America, Canada, Australia and Europe)
and releasing 2 critically acclaimed albums – ‘Joys of Spring’
(2008) (“Truly Exquisite” – The Guardian) and ‘Band’ (2010)
- John has expanded the line up to include the diverse
drumming talents of James Breen. Together they effortlessly
blend incendiary guitar lines, deep blues bottleneck grooves
and trance-inducing, foot-stomping rhythms to captivate
audiences wherever they perform. Be it in front of a festival
crowd of over 2,000 or the intimate setting of a folk club.
John Fairhurst exploded on to the UK festival circuit in 2011,
playing over 50 shows including Glastonbury, Secret Garden
Party, Sunrise Celebration, Shambala and over 200 packed
out gigs across the UK and Ireland.
On Chai Wallahs stage at Greenman festival, they “…filled
a tent in a sunshine drenched field quicker than any festival
act has done for a long time. The bluesman’s insatiable
guitar work finely turned a crowd of a curious onlookers into
a sea of dancing, sweaty bodies.” – (Gareth Main, Bearded
Magazine)
John Fairhurst truly epitomises the modern day wandering
bluesman. Lyrics of hunger, listlessness, roaming and
reckless abandon are just a prelude to John’s story,
something that can only be fully understood in the presence
of the man.
John’s enigmatic tales relayed through intense and original
blues are all told using his trademark howling vocals; think
Captain Beefheart meets Tom Waits and Son House. When
John Fairhurst walks onto a stage you know you are not only
about to engage in a unique musical experience, but the tale
of a tireless journey leaving a lasting impression wherever he
stops (which is nowhere for very long!)
With a bottle-neck style referencing the likes of Son House
and Bukka White, comparisons to the fingerpicking of John
Fahey, a leaning towards the 60’s rock and folk of Hendrix,
Dylan, Neil Young and Led Zepplin, plus the ever present
influence of K. Sridhar (Indian Sarod master and mentor to
John since childhood), John’s music is a real melting-pot of
diverse musical traditions.
“Newcomers to John Fairhurst certainly won’t be forgetting
his name in a hurry.” (Manchester Music)
This year has already seen John & James record and mix
an EP of new material at London’s renowned Dean Street
Studio, to be launched on 22nd March at The Roundhouse
Theatre in Camden. With tours and festival shows across the
UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, 2012 is going to be a big
year for John Fairhurst. Get on Board. This train is rolling!
