Enjoy a full line up of brilliant acoustic musical talent!; Vocal harmonies and fantastic instrumental playing from skilled and award-winning musicians! This will be an outstanding and friendly evening of acoustic sounds and unique original talent from the area. Please ensure you book really early as seats are limited! Tickets are £10 for the evening direct online from the Centre website or call, in person to the Southsea cinema and art centre, Palmerston Road precinct.
Acoustic Night Triple Bill. The acts!:
Rob Johnston (guitars and vocals) and Tim Gower (percussion) have been headline guests at SCAC several times by popular demand! As a duo, they have performed at major festivals and Art centres including Victorious World Stage, Wickham Festival, Chichester Festival, Guildhall Portsmouth, Ashcroft Art Centre, Forest Art Centre. They have supported legendary chart topping band Lindisfarne; Rob is an award-winning musician who has performed widely at major acoustic festivals and performed LIVE on BBC radio 4 times.
A few reviews :
Lark Music Making Competition Winner, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra award 2025
‘Guitarist Rob Johnston was deeply moved by the power of a dawn chorus of woodland birds, heard while camping near Petworth, West Sussex. The experience inspired his work, ‘Mind the Birds’, which judges described as a “joyful controlled explosion of creativity and virtuosity … as rich as the dawn chorus itself!”
“Staggering playing…He is a mighty, mighty fine player.” Phil Jackson, South Live BBC Radio.
“Johnston’s guitar playing was superbly controlled and virtuosic, and the partnership with Gower’s percussion was riveting. Two impressive parts combining to form an integrated musical dialogue that was a delight to earwig.”‘Living for Live Music’. Justin Capps (Substack)
… Awesome guitar technique…. Johnston isn’t just a high-class guitarist but a fine singer-songwriter as well.” Folking.com
“Fantastic…an absolute pleasure” BBC Radio Solent.
“..this guy has his guitar so powerfully under his spell that we haven’t seen or heard anything like him on L&L in a long, long time.. ,‘Artist Of The Day’ Rob Johnston https://liveandloud.com/artists/rob-johnston
“..The intricacy, delicacy and tempo of numbers like the title track make for what is at once mellow, thoughtful and upbeat listening…” (Review of ‘Message to The Moon’) Folk and Honey.com
WWW.robjohnstonsite.co.uk for clips, info and more reviews etc.
Acton Bell are a 4-person blend of superb instrumental and vocal musicianship and real writing talent. They have been playing to great acclaim in the area and their songs and striking vocal harmonies make them a stand-out contemporary acoustic act!
Lauren Amber is an amazing young musician from Portsmouth. A talented singer/songwriter (and guitarist!). Lauren performs unique and subtle versions of classic acoustic songs combining her playing skill with an original and refined vocal style all her own. She writes her own original material and has just recorded her first single!