Wednesday 17 April 2013

Guitar Virtuoso Viral Sensation JON GOMM live at The Factory, Barnstaple

Leeds based singer songwriter, guitar virtuoso and Youtube viral sensation Jon Gomm is today pleased to announce a mammoth twenty nine date solo headline UK tour for September and October 2013. Following a meteoric rise to fame last year after receiving support from a certain Mr Stephen Fry on Twitter, Jon Gomm's story is the modern embodiment of a musical, metaphorical, rags-to-riches tale that has captivated the imagination of millions of listeners. After touring the world on the back of the success of his Passionflower Video which now stands at just over 4,249,000 views and counting, Jon is pleased to be able to return to the UK to give something back to the fans that gave his very unique take on acoustic music a voice right from the start, as well as showcase brand new material from his forthcoming album Secrets Nobody Keeps (release date TBC) that will be fan funded via a PledgeMusic campaign. His eclectic musical style is drawn, magpie-like, from influences including Michael Hedges, The Beatles, Radiohead, Steve Vai, John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix and a whole host more, all lovingly appreciated and expertly crafted into Gomm's signature sound. An ambassador for the appreciation and enjoyment of all forms of music, as well as embodying the true spirit of the 21st century independent musician, things haven't always been this good for Jon. "It's surreal; it's really hard to cope with" Jon explains of his newfound notoriety "I've spent my life gigging, and the last 10 years doing my take on the solo singer-songwriter acoustic thing. I never cared about being in the shadows, and I fully expect to return to them one day." For a man who's finally clawed his way to success after a long and rocky road of sleeping on sofas and playing in car parks in Barnsley, Gomm is still ever the rationalist and is at pains to stay connected to his roots and his fanbase at every possible opportunity, even if now his celebrity endorsements and TV appearances occasionally get in the way of doing what he still loves more than anything, which is sharing his music with the people who made this all possible; his fans. "It's been a crazy and amazing 12 months for me" says Jon of the upcoming tour, humble as ever "and that's thanks to my fans here in the UK that started the snowball rolling by sharing my music far and wide, and also for supporting me at tiny gigs all over the country for the past decade. But since I got all popular all of a sudden, it seems I've been playing everywhere else on the planet, and I haven't actually had time for a solo UK tour. So it's about time all my fellow Brits got to see me play the youtube classics, and I've got some new stuff I really want them to hear as well, if that's OK."
 
Jon Gomm plays the following dates on the Secrets Nobody Keeps UK Tour:
30-Aug-13 Newport - 200 Club
31-Aug-13 Swansea - The Garage
01-Sep-13 Sittingbourne - Avenue Theatre
03-Sep-13 London - Surya
04-Sep-13 London - Surya
05-Sep-13 Bristol - Thekla
06-Sep-13 Devon - The Factory 
07-Sep-13 Cardiff - The Moon Club
09-Sep-13 Guilford - The Boileroom
10-Sep-13 Worcester - Marrs Barr
11-Sep-13 Birmingham - Hare & Hounds
12-Sep-13 Liverpool - Leaf Cafe
13-Sep-13 Leeds - Brudenell
14-Sep-13 Manchester - Sound Control
16-Sep-13 Nottingham - Bodega
17-Sep-13 York - Fibbers
19-Sep-13 Belfast - The Black Box
22-Sep-13 Lincolnshire - Alchemy Festival
23-Sep-13 Hull - The Backroom, Cottingham
24-Sep-13 Wavendon - The Stables
25-Sep-13 Bury St Edmonds - Apex
27-Sep-13 Eurocentral - Berits & Brown
28-Sep-13 Troon - The New Troon Folk Club
29-Sep-13 Edinburgh - The Voodoo Rooms
02-Oct-13 Preston - The Continental
03-Oct-13 Newcastle - Cluny 2
04-Oct-13 Macclesfield - Cabin 5150
05-Oct-13 Huddersfield - Bar 1:20
06-Oct-13 Penrith - Penrith Playhouse
Tickets via http://www.ticketwerk.co.uk and http://www.jongomm.com 
Jon Gomm's new album 'Secrets Nobody Keeps' is released on Performing Chimp Records later this year (date TBC).
Tickets on sale currently at http://www.undergroundtickets.net and North Devon Theatres  http://www.facebook.com/jongommofficial | http://www.jongomm.com | http://www.twitter.com/jongomm

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JON GOMM
 "One of the world's most successful, gifted and inspirational guitar players" - Acoustic Magazine
 "Wonderful to watch. Genius." - Stephen Fry
"Hands down the most amazing guitarist I have ever seen!" - Tommy Lee (Motley Crue)

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Calling all adrenaline junkies. Sign up now for the inaugural Ultimate Adventure Triathlon

Fancy yourself as a ‘Wipeout’ survivor, think you can handle a bike race through the woods and a cross country run? The Ultimate Adventure Centre in Abbotsham, Bideford is offering adrenaline junkies the chance to compete in the first ever Ultimate Adventure Triathlon on Sunday 19 May 2013. The Ultimate Adventure Triathlon is a new and exciting adventure experience, bringing together three ultimate activities. The event starts with a lap of The Ultimate Assault – you’ll need a sense of fun as well as plenty of energy and agility to make it through this challenging course inspired by TV’s Total Wipeout! From there will be a transition into an off-road Mountain Bike ride of either 8 or 10km. The final leg of the three is a cross country run of either 5 or 7km. There will also be a junior event which includes The Ultimate Assault, 3k mountain bike and 2km run. This event is ideal for anyone with or without any triathlon experience aged 12 +. There will be an initial limit of 100 places. There will be Junior, Novice and Sprint classifications. The Novice and Sprint classifications will be split into Senior Men and Senior Women. There will also be a team competition for each classification. The inaugural Ultimate Adventure Triathlon is probably the most energetic of events in the B10 programme, celebrating ten years of North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s all about getting out there and enjoying this special area we live in. Russ Johns, owner of the Ultimate Adventure Centre is a dedicated supporter of the Biosphere’s aims, saying “We strive to safeguard the local countryside, and value and endorse the ethos and principles of the North Devon Biosphere.” Stunning North Devon countryside provides the back-drop for the race which will be held in fields adjacent to the Ultimate Adventure Centre and The Big Sheep, just off the A39 on the outskirts of Bideford. The Big Sheep owner Rick Turner says ‘We are pleased to be associated with the first Ultimate Adventure Triathlon, an exciting and challenging new race for Bideford and North Devon’. For more details and to book a place visit the website: http://theultimatehigh.com/Triathlon.html Or call 01237 880028 Email: info@theultimatehigh.com

 

Exciting Weekend of Workshops at the Happy Cafe in Westward Ho!

As part of the B10 programme celebrating 10 years of North Devon's Biosphere Reserve Seize the Moment in Westward Ho! are running a weekend of events in their permaculture garden. 

Saturday & Sunday 
20 & 21 April 2013 
Saturday 20th April 2013 2pm
Make a Bug House
Make a Willow Garden Butterfly

Sunday 21 April 2013 2-5 
PERMACULTURE taster workshop
Interested in gardening with nature, living lightly on the earth and improving your quality of life? Try an afternoon taster of Permaculture with the option of a full weekend design course to follow
£5 or barter

Jane Elliott from Seize says "Seize the Moment are proud to support the work of the North Devon Biosphere reserve. The Permaculture training is part of our work to manage the gardens at the Happy Cafe to enable members of the community to produce food and flowers for use in the cafe."
For more details contact Jane Elliott at Seize the Moment 07773 679559 jane@seize-the-moment.net www.seize-the-moment.net