Ariel Posen

Ariel Posen is a pop, rock and indie act in which songwriting and guitar playing sit side by side. This Leeds concert takes place at The Old Woollen, which hosts concerts and shows in the city.

Ariel Posen has spent about a decade balancing work as a guitarist for other artists, including collaborations with John Mayer and Tom Jones, with solo records built on melody and autobiographical storytelling. The solo debut, How Long, appeared in 2019. Posen has performed at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival and has a signature Fender Stratocaster model.

The latest album, Bannatyne, contains twelve songs and takes its title from an avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the hometown that the record returns to. Its large riffs and upbeat tempos echo the 1990s rock that formed the soundtrack to childhood, while syncopated grooves and unexpected textures run through it. The theme is reexamining the past in order to appreciate the present.

The live shows carry a raw energy, with extended guitar passages, and Rolling Stone has described Posen as a modern guitar hero. The Old Woollen hosts concerts and shows in Leeds, and this evening places the act's guitar-led pop, rock and indie in that venue.