Singers, solo and acoustic artists in Leicester

JJ Manning

JJ is one of the veteran solo artists in Leicester and has been in love with the acoustic guitar since he was 14 years old and has played on the acoustic scene for 25 years off and on.

In his early years as a performer he has performed at Cambridge, Bromyard and Tanner's Hatch festivals as well as an appearance at the Cardiff University Festival alongside such musical noteworthies as The Chieftains, The Fureys and Davy Arthur. In 2005, after a break for regular performances, he returned to performing and played a comeback gig providing artist support for American Delta Blues player Kent Duchaine when he visited Leicester in February of that year.

Since then things have grown from strength to strength. Now performing full 2 hour gigs in public again JJ has performed in Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and all points beyond. He has also appeared at a number of festivals. He played the Glastonbudget festival in May 2009.

His material has had airplay in Ireland and in Australia and this worldwide response to his return and progress in acoustic music bears witness to his passion and heart. The diary is once again filling up, with requests for further gigs and festival appearances coming in for this year also, which includes Glastonbudget and the possibility also of festival bookings abroad ... bookings awaiting confirmation.

JJ performs and writes ragtime instrumentals for the guitar, as well as performing slide pieces with a strong element of Piedmont fingerstyle picking. The blend of Celtic instrumental pieces with finger picking Country Blues works really well. Inspired by the playing of Martin Simpson he now also incorporates the use of a slide in these traditional Celtic melodies.

Find out when JJ's next gigs are and listen to some of his tunes: JJ on Myspace