Medina Bookshop welcomes back legendary troubadour Jason McNiff to the Isle of Wight on Sunday 3rd November.
Jason’s last performance on the Island was around 15 years ago to a packed house upstairs at the Bargeman’s Rest in Newport. This time, he’ll be in the more intimate surroundings of Medina Bookshop in Cowes, where the low ceilings and walls full of books make for a wonderfully cosy live experience.
Compared by many to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, his song-writing shares their romantic yet slightly weary poetry of the street, and his voice is as uncompromisingly lived-in, weather-worn and individual. But to this, he also brings a guitar playing prowess borne from regular exposure to finger-picking legend Bert Jansch at Soho’s 12 Bar Club, as well as countless support slots for the guitar maestro.
Born in Bradford, following studying in Nottingham for his first degree, where he developed an interest in the folk and blues guitar playing of the likes of Wizz Jones and Davey Graham; from 1995, Jason lived for some 20-odd years in London, a constant presence around Denmark Street, stick-thin, denim-clad, tousled but handsome, serving an apprenticeship of sorts performing nightly around the sticky-floored venues around town.
Since moving to Hastings in 2019, where he has established regular Friday Sundowner Sessions at The Jenny Lind pub, he has continued to play live extensively, including shows with ‘poetry in music’ paying homage to another of his significant influences, Leonard Cohen.
Jason is described as Americana/Folk, but he does something with the Americana side a lot of other artists would do well to follow; he doesn’t pretend he’s American. He’s taken the style but moved it back across the pond.
Paul Armfield, manager of Medina Bookshop who booked Jason for both shows says:
“Jason is the real deal, it’s impossible to imagine him doing anything other than writing and performing, a real troubadour, he lives and breathes his songs and his performances are a thing to behold.’
Jason McNiff will be performing at Medina Bookshop in Cowes at 19:00 on Sunday 3rd November.
Space is limited and so advance purchase is essential, tickets are £15 and available from the shop, by calling 01983 300044, or from the shop’s website Jason McNiff £15 (BYOB) – Medina Book Shop
The venue is unlicensed so audiences are asked to bring their own refreshments