(Fri 7th / 7.30pm / £14/ £10)

Best known as guitarist with Dutch neo-classical art-rock yodelmeisters Focus, Jan Akkerman is famed for an intricacy, flawlessness and frequently a wildness that has turned heads for decades. Unpredictable but always
absorbing, his experimental rock style, blazing improvisations and signature licks earned him the title World's Best Guitarist in readers' polls in the 70s, displacing Hendrix from the position and leading him to become a reference point for guitarists around the world.

Following a 22-year absence from UK gigging - and most people's radars - he has built a fresh momentum over the last few years, pepping up his jazz pieces, creating skilful reworks of what he calls his "old war crimes" and adding an often eye-popping edge to his classical/ acoustic material. Today's Akkerman is a grounded, mature presence, bringing together the threads of a long career that spans jazz, blues, heavy rock and classical/medieval, delivering with the virtuosity and apparent effortlessness of a lifelong master of his craft.

The Cube is delighted to welcome him for a rare up close solo acoustic set. Be sure to check out his recent Bintang Theatre clip on YouTube:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eIJYQoni3kE

Support is from 19-year-old Welsh guitar prodigy Gareth Pearson. An
endorsement from Akkerman speaks for itself.