Since completing the Guitar Degree in 2011, Danny Leigh has been putting his efforts into evolving his live music night, The Acoustic Folk Highway.
We caught up with Danny ahead of the Acoustic Folk Highway Christmas Special, on the 20th December at The Harrison in Kings Cross…
How did your course prepare you for life in the music business world?
ACM was extremely helpful towards developing my skills as a musician and performer and gaining an understanding of music theory, composition, arrangement and songwriting. The academy also gave me a clear overview on how the music industry operates and ways to form a successful business within this competitive industry.
What have you been up to since leaving ACM?
I have been running The Acoustic Folk Highway since August 2014 and we’re currently booked up until August 2016! I have taken this music night on tour to Cornwall, to the Banjo Budda Stage at Mandrea Music Festival in northern Italy, Lake Garda and recently taken on a second venue ‘The KPH’ with launch night on 25th February 2016. The events incorporate artwork, design and decor by Matthew Goodsmith and Yi Xin Yan, who make the event posters. My role is: host, booker, promoter, sound tech and performer.
The Acoustic Folk Highway essentially showcases emerging singer/songwriters from different parts of the world, bringing their cultural and ethic influences to the Folk genre. All roads lead to the same stage.
Do you have any advice for those looking to get in to industry?
My advice would be to continue doing what you love, never give up and take risks! It’s a cliche but there are countless examples of these methods working. Ultimately if you love what you are doing and you continue doing it (learning from your mistakes along the way), it will succeed!
Keep up to date with everything Danny is up to via his Bandcamp page. For all Acoustic Folk Highway related news make sure you follow the page on Facebook and Twitter.
