JON GOMM Joins Billy Bragg, Bill Bailey & Mark Thomas In Camden For Citizen’s Kazoo Orchestra Demonstration – 24th October
Just a line to let you know that Jon Gomm will be joining Billy Bragg, Bill Bailey and Mark Thomas on 24th October in Camden as part of the Citizen’s Kazoo Orchestra (CKO) to protest against Camden Borough Council’s draconian plans to licence busking and to threaten street musicians with the seizure of their equipment, £1000 fines and the sale of musical instruments to pay the fines.
Everybody is welcome to join regardless of background, or even musical ability. All they ask is for enthusiasm and the desire to kazoo.
The time and place is 11am October 24th, London near King’s Cross (specific location to be confirmed). There will be a 30 minute rehearsal where participants will practice Kazoo harmonies and learn a couple of songs together. An impromptu and informal outdoor concert will then begin at 12:30.
Campaign links for further info:
Jon’s new album ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps’ is released on 25th November (review copies of the album are available on request) and he’s just finished a mammoth 30 date UK tour which saw 28 sold out dates. Gomm will also be revealing 2014 tour dates in Brazil, Columbia and more very soon.
The guitar virtuoso shot to fame after his Passionflower video (below) went viral on Youtube and to date has nearly 5 million views.
Jon Gomm Announces ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps’ Album Release 25th November
“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)
Independent musician and virtuoso guitarist Jon Gomm is happy to announce that his next album Secrets Nobody Keeps will be released on 25th November 2013.
Produced by Whiskas, whose expertise at painting sonic landscapes in the studio and his background (as founder of the legendary DIY label Dance To The Radio and the band Forward Russia), made him the perfect fit musically and business-ethic-wise for the project, Secrets Nobody Keeps was 100% crowd funded in the short space of 4 weeks in a whirlwind PledgeMusic campaign that drew on the power of Jon’s millions of fans and viewers worldwide.
“The success of the PledgeMusic campaign has been so gratifying” enthuses the ever humble Gomm “People tell me I’m too open on social networks, but I lived through all these overwhelming life-changes online, taking support from my friends and fans.”
“The last 18 months have been a genuine headf**k. I’d gotten used to my life playing little DIY venues then ‘Passionflower’ went crazy and suddenly I’m on TV, or flying off all over the world, or playing at Union Chapel in London and it’s actually sold out.”
The album title itself, ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps’ is a nod to Jon’s gratitude for the power of social networks. Ever since the day a simple one word Tweet from Stephen Fry linking to Jon’s Passionflower video (nearly 5 million views and counting) started the snowball rolling on his career, he’s been an advocate of, in his own words, “having that private little moment of discovery on Youtube, then sharing the music everywhere.” Gomm’s list of high profile fans also includes the legendary Eric Clapton, Chaka Khan, Jon Anderson, David Crosby, Tommy Lee and Devin Townsend.
The record is a thrilling and evocative collection of music without boundaries, an attribute which Jon is keen to emphasise came from the lack of record label involvement, with fan funding giving him complete creative control. Across 10 tracks the album captures the thrilling live energy that comes from his unique combination of haunting, angelic vocals and exquisitely complex and rhythmic finger-style guitar playing. The music is entirely created with Jon’s acoustic guitar affectionately known as Wilma, with no other bass, percussion, loops or overdubs used to produce the unique sound of this album.
Stand-out tracks include an instrumental tune called ‘Wukan Motorcycle Kid’ written especially for, and debuted in, Beijing on Jon’s recent China tour:
“Every night in China I would explain to the audience about the Wukan Uprising of 2011 (when a little town rebelled against the state) and about this brave kid I saw on TV who was riding his scooter around the streets at night, hunting for secret police so he could warn the locals” explains Gomm “It was never reported on Chinese media, so it was kind of awe inspiring to use music to convey such powerful information. Luckily I still got out of the country OK!”
Towards the end of 2012, Gomm found himself on the road constantly, hopping from continent to continent, living in an electrified state of new discoveries and coping with the trappings of fame. A constant theme on the album portrays him struggling with bouts of insomnia and feeling like he was losing his grip on reality. Having battled anxiety and depression himself, one song in particular on the album, ‘There’s No Need To Be Afraid’, is dedicated to anyone else who’s been there too.
“I just hit a wall – I was physically and emotionally exhausted. The last 6 weeks of touring were so hard. Hopefully the good that came out of that is the music I was able to find there. Hopefully there’s a communicative force in amongst the catharsis.”
The enormous reach of Jon’s music online and his deep personal connection with his fans stands as a testament to the healing, unifying power of music – something which he is keen to share with as many people as possible, and long may it continue.
Purchase on iTunes UK:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=686487281&s=143444
Or direct from Jon: http://jongomm.com/music
TRACKLIST:
1. Telepathy
2. Ain’t Nobody
3. There’s No Need To Be Afraid
4. Wukan Motorcycle Kid
5. Deep Cut
6. Orville (The Secret Of Learning To Fly Is Forgetting To Hit The Ground)
7. Passionflower
8. Message In A Bottle
9. Dance Of The Last Rhino
10. Everything