Will Barnes & Erin Hughes

Musician / Artist

A consummate guitarist, Will’s technical brilliance is matched with an innate and versatile musicality. At home with reggae collectives, gypsy jazz virtuosos or heavy metal riff merchants, Will’s playing always shines with its formidable prowess yet deft touch, and his infectious ability to whip up a fervour. He can effortlessly and delicately put his hand to the most technical solo guitar pieces, or rip it up with super-funky soul inspired groove. His versatility and virtuosity combine to produce solos with unpredictable excitement, as he draws from his rich palate of influences.

To date Will has performed with the likes of Gary Potter, Frank Vignola, Dan Cassidy, Alan Barnes and John Etheridge. Having toured extensively with Classical/Jazz crossover group “Gypsy Fire” will has performed sell-out shows at some of the UK’s top theatres, clubs and festivals including Ronnie Scotts, 606 Club, Royal Albert Hall, Brecon Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival and the International Gypsy Guitar Festival. Will also regularly performs throughout Europe, both with his own ensembles and as a sought-after session guitarist.

Will’s playing is always in high demand, and in this quartet he explores his love of guitarists such as Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, but expect moments of fire among the chilled out groove!

Three albums that have influenced Will’s playing include:
Night Train, Oscar Peterson Trio (1963)
Jim Hall & Pat Metheny, Jim Hall and Pat Metheny (1999)
Midnight Blue, Kenny Burrell (1963)

For this latest release The Will Barnes Quartet, in collaboration with skilled landscape artist Erin Hughes, are proud to present their debut album, ‘Source of the Severn’. Will Barnes (guitar) is joined by James Batten (drums), Jack Gonsalez (piano) and Clovis Phillips (bass) - a tight collective of highly experienced jazz instrumentalists. This album of original music is a modern take on the classic bebop-era with influences of Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, Pat Metheny and Oscar Peterson, further taking inspiration from the exquisite landscape of Mid-Wales and the Marches. Erin has created 9 original pieces in response to the music utilising her meticulously hand-marbled papers as her artistic palette to skilfully craft collages that emulate the traditional artistry of Pietre Dure.

They will be touring extensively through late 2023 and 2024 with Erin Hughes providing a special live visual show alongside the quartet’s performance, igniting the imagination of the audience, and making this a performance to not be missed.