Gig review: LAURENCE JONES- Pizza Express, Holborn, London, 23 January 2026

January 25th, 2026 by andynathan

The past year has been a life changing one for top blues guitarist Laurence Jones who has really struggled with the inflammatory bowel condition Crohn’s Disease. It left him unable to stand the rigours of touring, and needing to focus on his health, but he has turned what could have been a devastating blow into a new musical opportunity.

He has just released his first ever solo acoustic album, ‘On My Own’ and a rather less rigorous, and seated, touring schedule began with this show to launch both the album and his own record label. The basement of Pizza Express lent itself to the intimacy and light night atmosphere needed to carry off acoustic music.

As a warm up we had the bonus of a short set from Laurence’s partner Amy Eftekhari. She mixed originals from her new EP on which the two have worked together, such as ‘Your Eyes’ with covers of What’s Up and U2’s ‘With Or Without You’. She mixed a pleasant voice with an engaging personality and also gave us a little insight into managing his health struggles together.

Laurence Jones took the stage alone, armed only with an impressive arsenal of acoustic guitars. Prior to his illness, he had pivoted musical style somewhat to front a raw blues rock trio, and some of that rockiness was still present in openers ‘One Life’ and ‘Get Back Up’, particularly with the rasp in his vocals.

I was reminded a little of the gusto with which Rory Gallagher approached some of his traditional acoustic blues, so it was fitting that he was one of the names Laurence namechecked alongside Status Quo as inspiration for a gutsy 12 bar stomp in ‘Ain’t Coming Back No More’. The album’s title track was a lot sparser, while the king of the Delta Blues Robert Johnson was, we heard, a regular on his YouTube playlist, so he covered ‘Come On In My Kitchen’.

In contrast he kept on ‘Voodoo Child’ from his band set with a couple of interpolations in ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and ‘Can’t Find My Way Home’, and giving his slide a good workout. The new songs often reflected his personal journey and struggles in ‘I’m Giving Up’, ‘Life I Made’- with a snatch of ‘Smoke on the Water’, ‘Change My Ways’ which was a bit of a toe-tapper and ‘Do You Feel the Same’? He was very personable in explaining those changed priorities, notably when he said his strict auto-immune diet was being put to the test playing in front of a crowd scoffing pizza!

Though it was a night to launch the new album, he did not forget existing fans with versions in the new style of probably his two signature songs in ‘Thunder in the Sky’ (apparently never played acoustically in its 14 year history) and ‘What’s It Gonna Be’, the latter with a snatch of ‘Just Got Paid’ thrown in. The atmosphere was becoming somewhat looser, especially when he mashed up two very similar standards in ‘Before You Accuse Me’ and ‘Sweet Home Chicago’, the latter humorously retitled ‘Sweet Home Holborn’.

‘Beautiful’ was a straight love song rather than a bluesy lament, and as if to prove the point he invited Amy back on stage for a final song, the title track of her own EP ‘This Moment’. Their voices entwined with some wonderfully melodic harmonies, and though the least bluesy moment of the night, it was probably my favourite one.

He also patiently gave his time afterwards with a meet and greet. After such a difficult time it was great to see Laurence Jones on stage again and launching an alternative musical path, one which on this evidence he is adapting to very easily and which promises much. May he have the success and health that he deserves.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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Josh Taerk - Sunday Session - 11 January 2026

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Power Plays w/c 12 January 2026

THE DEADMANS Nice Kid (indie)
THE 69 EYES I Survive (BLKIIBLK)
MAGIC WANDS Sacred Mirrors (Metropolis Records)
KATHARINE PRIDDY Hurricane (indie)
AVALON STONE Mirage (indie)
CODE:WORDS Limerence (The Artery Foundation)
ROBBEN FORD Make My Own Weather (Mascot)

Featured Albums w/c 12 January 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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