John Blek

The Louisiana, Bristol, GB
Saturday, 21 February 2026
7:00pm
 £12 + BF
16+ (under 18s to be accompanied by a responsible adult)
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Crosstown Concerts Presents: John Blek @ The Louisiana Bristol

John Blek live at The Louisiana, Bristol. Saturday, 21st February 2026.

Blek is an artist with a story to tell. With his timeless emotive voice and layered  fingerstyle guitar you will be transported from scene to scene as his expansive songbook unfolds. 

John Blek is Cork City born and bred but is currently residing in north Co.Cork. His  parents, both of whom were primary school teachers, had to bribe him to stay in school  after his 16th birthday with the promise of a new guitar on the completion of his final  exams. Such was John’s belief in his ability and chosen path in life that he was willing to  forgo the more traditional education sought by his peers. This conviction carries through  to his art. His music is written from such a personal place that it creates the sense that  he grew up with these songs, that they are in his blood – and in a way he did, they are his  thoughts, his words, his sounds and his stories. Though not all autobiographical, like  many of the great painters, an element of the artist exists in every portrait. 

It all began for him in the passenger seat of his father Hiace van. Parked in the driveway  running the battery down listening to cassettes from Jim Croce, Willy Nelson and The  Beatles. These formative musical experiences unknowingly laid the foundation for John’s  self lead musical education. Later the discovery of Bert Jansch, Bob Dylan, Nick Jones  and Neil Young added more fuel to his fire. He began writing his own music at 15 for no  other reason than that he found it frustrating and false trying to learn and imitate other  musicians' work. That was the start of his pursuit of his own unique voice. 

Blek has a love of music in the real sense, he creates to create. At 38 he has a catalogue  of music that would represent a life’s work for many musicians. He is a career musician,  and has dedicated his working life to developing his art. He began his solo career in  2014, and over the last eleven years has created a reputation as a singer songwriter who  is sure to leave a legacy of timeless music that will speak to generations. He has  released 9 studio albums to date [Cheer Up (2024), Until The Rivers Run Dry (2023),On  Ether & Air (2021), Digressions #2 Grounded (2021), The Embers (2020), Thistle & Thorn  (2019), Catharsis Vol.1 (2017), Cut the Light (2016), and Cutting Room Floor (2014)] with  his 10th coming in January 2026. He speaks about his craft as passionately as he  performs and has a dedicated fan base, meaning he has a well-worn path returning to  play venues across Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and the UK as well playing to  sold out venues in Ireland.

In an age when it would be easy to become disillusioned with the music industry John  has remained steadfastly positive and unyieldingly independent and creative. Known for  being one of Ireland's hardest touring musicians the Cork based creative tours  relentlessly in Europe and the UK as well as his native Ireland. His live show is thoughtful  and entertaining, littered with stories and showcasing his arresting vocals and intricate  guitar playing. 

While Blek is a solo artist he regularly collaborates, and indeed will write new music with  collaborators in mind. As a result, it never feels like another artist is merely gate crashing  his music instead it works as a beautiful harmonious meeting of artists who understand  each other. Recent collaborations include Cathy Davey and Colm Mac Con Iomaire who play on “Until The Rivers Run Dry” album. Kris Drever & Kit Downes who both join John  on his album “On Ether & Air”, Joan Shelley who embodies Laura, one of the characters  in Blek’s duet “The Body” and fellow Corkonian Mick Flannery who duets with him on  Revived a single from the 2020 album “The Embers”.

 

Show starts at 7:00pm.

Line Up

  • John Blek