John Blek
John Blek at Grayshott Village Hall, Hindhead
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John Blek £19.80
Includes booking fee
About the show
We know and love the music that John Blek makes. He has already appeared for us at Grayshott twice before (April 2019 and May 2023) and were it not for Covid, he would also have played for us in 2020 and/or 2021. We are delighted to welcome him back.
Blek is an artist with a story to tell. With his timeless emotive voice and layered finger-style guitar playing, you will be transported from scene to scene as his expansive songbook unfolds.
John was born in County Cork, Ireland and still lives there.
Such was John’s belief in his ability and chosen path in life that he was willing to forgo the more traditional education sought by his peers. This conviction carries through to his art.
His music is written from a very personal place.
Since 2014, John has written and recorded twelve complete albums, from "Cutting Room Floor" (2014), through to his latest "Midnight Ache" (2026), which he wrote and recorded in his own, self-built studio. It literally has home at its centre.
The Midnight Ache is a staggeringly beautiful and perfectly formed piece of alternative
Folk with a lo-fi heart and touches of modest grandeur delivered by an artist with a voice
that could break a heart in two and songs that could heal the most weary of souls.
Listen to "747" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWxsZhhpQ3c&t=55s
and
"Lace" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6iu9kJ3CWA&list=RDo6iu9kJ3CWA&start_radio=1
July 2026, John supported Donovan in Cork. I would love to have seen them.
Featuring - John Blek
Original folk songwriter based in Cork, Ireland. Delving into the world of fingerstyle guitar, influenced by the music of Ireland, England and America.
Best known for his work with his band John Blek & the Rats, John has begun a new journey influenced by the folk music of Ireland, Britain and the US. With his solo work, he delves into the world of fingerstyle guitar and reveals the deeply personal and poignant lyrical aspects of his character.
Steve Jinski
Steve Jinski is a singer songwriter, performer, musician, music educator and cultural visionary. He has toured the UK, Ireland, Europe and Scandinavia as a solo artist and with his group of musicians known as The Festival Band. Steve’s music is born of the singer songwriter tradition drawing on influences that include acoustic, folk, Americana, indie and blues but still he retains his own unique voice.
Steve has made numerous festival appearances and opened shows for David Gray, Richard Thompson, Eddie Reader, The Proclaimers and Rick Wakeman, to name just a few. Radio and TV appearances include BBC 1 The One Show. His latest release is a double CD album ‘Muscle Memory’ a record that steps forward whilst looking back. Originally planned as a remix/reworking of his debut album ‘Eventually’, previously only available on vinyl, ‘Muscle Memory’ has grown into a collection of newer songs and timeless Steve Jinski classics, together with some gems which were inexplicably overlooked at the time of their inception.
As a music educator Steve has many years’ experience of working in the youth and cultural sectors, delivering, managing, leading, and championing musically inclusive practise.
For more information about Steve including new releases, projects and ‘live’ dates visit stevejinski.com
‘One of the best originators of acoustic song around today’-5 Stars / Rock ’N’ Reel magazine
‘This is lovely stuff. You can hear all the love that’s gone into it’–Bob Harris BBC Radio 2