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From the Promoter

“What I’m trying to do is create something classic, in terms of the look and the sound and how it was made. Because if you really hit it on the head, hopefully it will be timeless.” - John Newman

“John Newman’s modern take on soul will be inescapable over the coming months” Evening Standard

“His sound echoes the lyrical outpouring and bleeding hearts of Otis Redding and Amy Winehouse…the neo-soul man is set to charm the world” Q

Sometimes the most extraordinary talent comes, seemingly, from nowhere. John Newman is only just 23 years old, but his voice and his songs cut through with a depth and a richness that’s way beyond a couple of decades and some change. A true force of nature, John writes, produces plays, performs and remixes his own music, as well as writing his own video scripts and designing his own clothes. This is a seriously larger than life character.

In 2012, a year before his first solo material had even seen the light of day, John Newman scored a number 1 single, appeared on both Later with Jools, and the Christmas Top Of The Pops, and had written and sung on two of the biggest dance hits to storm the UK charts in years: Rudimental’s massive number one “Feel The Love” and the powerfully anthemic follow up “Not Giving In”. Those who enjoy life’s savage juxtapositions will appreciate he was in hospital recovering from surgery to remove a (non-cancerous) brain tumour when he heard the song on national radio for the first time. “I woke up and heard my song on the radio,” he smiles. “That was quite surreal. The nurse was quite fit too, so it was good to turn around and say, ‘That’s my tune!’” Shortly after leaving hospital “Feel The Love” went to number 1 in the charts.

John Newman’s Debut Album Tribute has sold over 300,000 copies worldwide and is certified Gold in the UK. Tribute went straight into the UK chart at No.1 beating Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam and Cher.

Born in Settle, North Yorkshire, to a mother obsessed with Motown and Northern Soul, John never really even knew you could be a singer, that you could express yourself through writing and performing your own songs. No one from where he grew up ever spoke about such a thing; indeed, to bring the subject up among your school friends would only provoke scorn. But as a teenager, having watched his elder brother leave home and form a band, John began to realise there was a whole world beyond everything he knew.

When John talks about his love of Otis Redding, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye and Adele, or piano classics like Liquid’s “Sweet Harmony” or Black Box’s “Ride On Time”, that small town boy who fell in love with music without ever knowing it could provide him with an escape, appears right there in front of you.

“I don’t like silence,” he says, gathering up his things as he heads back to the studio. “When it’s silent I think too much. I realise now that I like the sound of sitting on hills, listening to the wind and the birds. We should all listen to that more because when you really listen, you don’t feel alone anymore…”

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THE JOHN NEWMAN SHOW ON APRIL 17 HAS MOVED TO THE COMMODORE BALLROOM. PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED TICKETS WILL BE HONOURED AT THE DOOR OF THE NEW VENUE.

Promoter