User:Cosmic starman/sandbox

Johnny Sharp is an English Blues guitarist and producer. (https://johnnysharp.co.uk) He took up the guitar at the age of six and has developed a reputation as one of the UK’s under the radar guitarists, both in the studio and performing live at various past festivals & venues across the UK. After forming a few successful college bands he moved to London in 1999 to attend The London Music School, and found himself in demand as a session musician playing a lot both live and in the studio and has played/recorded with with many past and present artists to date including Eric Roche, Merlin Rhys Jones, Pete Bennett & The Blues Explosion, Martin Keating, Thomas Leeb, Robin Bibi Band, Pete Harris, Shar-Baby Newport, Elles Bailey, Keane, Johnny Hewitt, Eddie Martin, Earl Banks, Leroy Hodges, Dennis Fanaga, The Vic Marshall combo to name a few, and was taught amongst others by Irish acoustic guitar legend, Eric Roche (4:12:67 - 6:9:05) and Ian Dury & The Blockheads guitarist Merlin Rhys Jones. Working outside of the blues genre widened Johnny’s musical palette and he joined ex-Starlings & Sisters of mercy front man, Chris Sheehan (26 June 1965 – 18 December 2014) touring his acclaimed album, Planet Painkiller, appearing live twice on XFM & GLR radio and performing their debut live performance at London's Water rats venue, with stars such as Chrissie Hynde & Martin Chambers from The Pretenders, and also rock n roll poet John Cooper Clarke attending the audience in support of the band and Chris's new release.

After having graduated from music school and many recording credits to his name, Johnny moved to Bath to attend university to undertake a degree in music. While he was studying he joined Bath based indie band Countermine on tour and spent the Summer of 2004 performing in front of over 100,000 rock music fans at shows including The Isle of Wight Festival with David Bowie and The Who, and supported Blondie and Simple Minds on tour at summer music festivals. Around this time he worked with British producer Paul Corkett (The Cure, Biffy Clyro, The Coral), as a session musician and has played on many recordings for various solo acts and bands, and has also previously worked alongside Abbey Road engineer, Frank Arkwright (The Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Coldplay, Oasis, Snow Patrol, Blur, Primal Scream, Mogwai). After graduating from University, Johnny moved back to his roots in Devon and formed five-piece blues rock outfit The Spoonful, in which they soon became the westcountry’s finest blues rock act playing out four to five nights a week and appearing at various UK festivals and events. Over the four years together they played over 400 gigs at various venues & music festivals. As well as the Spoonful, Johnny founded acoustic folk trio 'Parson Jacks’. Having already penned an album worth of new material for the trio, they began to perform at various clubs & festivals within the UK. After only a few festival performances we were headhunted & invited by popular demand to perform live on air at the BBC Plymouth studios, and also appear on the bill at entertainer John Govier's Late Night Radio Show, which was broadcast live on the BBC from screen two of The Reel Cinema in Plymouth. To celebrate the occasion, listeners from across the South West and Channel Islands travelled to be there and join in the 600 strong audience, with stars including Alvin Stardust & Anthony Costa (formerly of boy band, Blue). After this live BBC performance, Parson Jacks gained immense popularity and performed at various summer music festivals releasing our debut album simply entitled 'Parson Jacks' in the autumn of 2007. Since the release of the album the songs have featured in television dramas and radio commercials. In more recent times, Johnny has co-hosted the open mic sessions at Swanage Blues Festival which brings together an amazing collection of Blues Musicians, Fans and Friends for a weekend of Jams, Open Mics and Headline Performances that will have you coming back time after time. He has also appeared onstage at BB Kings blues club in Memphis USA, when he made a guest appearance onstage in 2015 with legendary Beale Street bluesmen Earl Banks & Leroy Hodges, as part of a week long celebratory concert in tribute to BB King who had recently passed away. He has also taught at various schools and colleges and now gives private one to one guitar tuition from his home currently residing in Devon UK. His new solo album entitled 'House of Blues' is being released in spring 2023 on Bluesville Records.