Best acoustic guitarist in the world heading to Sunderland

Sunderland-based college The Northern Academy of Music Education (NAME) is bringing two of Britain's most highly-regarded acoustic singer songwriters to the city.

Both gigs will take place as seated shows in an intimate setting in The Peacock on Keel Square.

The first show on Friday, March 6 is Jon Gomm, who is best known for his viral hit Passionflower, which shot him from relative obscurity to international renown, playing all over the world.

In 2020, Jon was voted "Best Acoustic Guitarist In The World" in the largest online poll of its type, conducted byMusicRadar / Guitar World.

And in 2023, Jon's song Passionflower was placed 6th in Total Guitar's "50 Greatest Acoustic Guitar Songs Of All Time", just behind The Beatles' Blackbird and Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton.

Next up, on Sunday, April 26, pioneering singer, songwriter and guitarist John Smith will be playing a rare Sunderland show.

John Smith has been at the forefront of British folk and roots music for twenty years and has amassed more than 125 million Spotify streams.

He cut his teeth opening for the late, great John Martyn, and has since worked with a host of artists including Sarah Jarosz, the Milk Carton Kids, Patty Griffin, Joan Baez, David Gray, Tom Jones and Jackson Browne.

NAME's Dan Donnelly said: “We really want to bring high quality players, the type that would normally play The Glass House or The Cluny to Sunderland and get them used to coming here.

“If there is appetite for this kind of performance in Sunderland we would look to put on a guitar festival in the near future."

*Tickets for Jon Gomm at The Peacock on March 6 available here.

*Tickets for John Smith at The Peacock on April 26 available here.