John Grant, Bright Light Bright Light (JAM Presents) - Wed 10/21 @ Martyrs'

8pm - $20 - 21+ It’s been the most spectacular of journeys, from a place in time when John Grant feared he’d never make music again or escape a life of addiction, to winning awards, accolades and Top 20 chart positions, and collaborating with Sinead O’Connor, Goldfrapp, Elton John and Hercules & Love Affair. The fact he subsequently won a Best International Male Solo Artist nomination at the 2014 BRITS alongside Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and Drake, seemed like some fantasy dreamt up in a moment of outrageous hubris. Just months later, the BBC’s request for a session with symphony orchestra provided (subsequently released by Bella Union as John Grant And The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra: Live in Concert), followed by Grant taking the Royal Northern Sinfonia on a UK tour, confirmed that it was simply the latest spectacular chapter in his personal and artistic renaissance.Now comes Grant’s third album, the invitingly titled Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, a veritable tour de force that further refines and entwines his two principal strands of musical DNA, the sumptuous tempered ballad and the taut, fizzing electronic pop song. Bright Light Bright Light is the moniker of Welsh born, London/New York based Rod Thomas who released his debut album 'Make Me Believe In Hope' in 2012 year to rave reviews. Starting out as a busker on the London Underground, where he cut his teeth and was first noticed by Q Magazine, Rod has gone on quite a journey.Honing his skills over the years, and evolving from busker to “the boy Robyn in all but name” according to NME, Rod is performer, songwriter, producer and DJ. His debut record was put together with Boom Bip (Neon Neon), Andy Chatterley (Kylie, Nerina Pallot), The Invisible Men (Jessie J, Rita Ora, Iggy Azalea). Hailed by Sunday Times Culture as "a songwriter of extraordinary dexterity", by Elton John as the hottest new thing in music, and ending up at no.4 in the Guardian Reader's Albums of 2012 poll, it's clear that ‘Make Me Believe In Hope’s sparkling electro-pop won the heart of journalists and fans alike since its release. Not to mention the hearts of artists. Rod went on tour opening for Ellie Goulding, Erasure and Scissor Sisters on their sold-out UK tour. Pet Shop Boys themselves praised his cover of ‘West End Girls’ recorded with Scissor Sister Ana Matronic for US charity Hetrick-Martin. Other Sister Del Marquis brought him into his solo project Slow Knights as key songwriter and vocalist in the live shows. And, unbelievably to Rod, Elton John loved his work so much he joined Rod on duet ‘I Wish We Were Leaving’ which features on second album ‘Life Is Easy’, and signed him up as the support act for his world tour in 2014 taking in 43 shows across UK, Europe, Russia, USA West Coast & Canada. As a remixer, his Kelis, Ellie Goulding Erasure, VV Brown mixes and his series of bootlegs have hit blogs and clubs. He made DJ mixes for Ministry Of Sound, Butt Magazine, fashion brands and magazines, DJd at Glastonbury, Bestival, Festival no.6, numerous Pride events, and runs successful London 90s clubnight 'Another Night' in Dalston's Vogue Fabrics. In the US, he played a string of sold-out Bright Light Bright Light shows, appeared in New York Magazine's Approval Matrix, was Time Out NY's critics’ pick on multiple occasions, was highlighted by Billboard Magazine as a "bubbling under" artist to watch and was picked ‘Song Of The Week by USA Today for his duet with Elton John which also scored him his first Triple A radio add and #4 most added at RPM College Radio. From ‘Life Is Easy’, Radio 1 have already supported ‘In Your Care’, ‘An Open Heart’ and ‘I Wish We Were Leaving’ on the Introducing show. ‘I Wish We Were Leaving’ also saw his break into Radio 2 with Graham Norton playing the track two weeks in a row. Radio 2 have also spun 'There Are No Miracles', 'An Open Heart' and 'Everything I Ever Wanted', his World AIDS Day charity single, included on Graham Norton's 'Best Of 2014' show. While life may not always be easy, Rod’s transition from busker to beatmaker - with a loving and ever-growing fanbase - demonstrates that, with hard work and the right attitude, you can achieve great things.