As the saying goes, when life throws you lemons, you make lemonade. But when you’re a musician dealing with serious health issues and time spent in hospital, what do you do? If you’re Laurence Jones, you write a body of new songs, record your first-ever solo acoustic album, release it on your own label, load three acoustic guitars into the car, and set off on a carefully paced, deeply personal tour.
That journey brought Jones, along with his fiancée and musical partner Amy Eftekhari, to Ripley Blues at the beautiful Ripley Town Hall one of 29 intimate dates spread sensibly over nine months. From the outset, this felt less like a gig and more like an invitation into the artists’ world.
Opening the evening was Amy Eftekhari, presenting a stunning set of original material alongside thoughtful covers of 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Going On and Bob Dylan’s Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. Amy explained she has been a working singer for many years, collaborating with major artists including Joss Stone and Beverley Knight, yet this moment marked something deeply personal.
Her four-track EP This Moment is the first music she has released in 15 years. As someone recently told her, “Don’t die with music in you” and judging by tonight, there is much more to come. Songs such as My Dreams and Your Eyes resonated deeply, the latter a moving reflection on surviving today and trusting that tomorrow can bring hope. Delivered with warmth, vulnerability, and a beautifully expressive voice, Amy’s set was a perfect introduction to the evening.
She closed to heartfelt applause, a fitting end to a truly special performance in an intimate, attentive room. Whether supporting Laurence or performing solo, Amy Eftekhari is an artist well worth seeking out.
Laurence Jones followed with material from his most personal release to date, On My Own his first solo acoustic album. Written largely during a severe Crohn’s disease flare-up, the album documents what he describes as the most difficult year of his life. It is raw, reflective, and deeply honest.
Doctor’s orders forced Jones to rethink the high-energy performances for which he is known, trading movement for a seated performance. What emerged instead was a new creative direction: stripped-back, organic, and powerfully intimate. Living with an invisible illness has reshaped not only his music but his outlook, and as an ambassador for Crohn’s & Colitis UK, he hopes his songs resonate with anyone facing similar struggles.
Determined to take control of his work, Jones released the album on his own label, Ron Records, named in loving memory of his grandfather. On My Own weaves traditional blues influences with autobiographical storytelling, and in a setting like Ripley Town Hall, the songs truly came alive.
The setlist was carefully paced and emotionally rich. A particularly touching moment came when Amy Eftekhari joined Laurence onstage for a duet of This Moment, the title track from her EP. Their connection both musical and personal was unmistakable and brought the evening to a perfect close.
Whether tearing it up on electric guitar or, as tonight, delivering an acoustic masterclass of beautifully crafted blues songs, Laurence Jones remains a remarkable talent. This performance was honest, brave, and deeply moving a reminder that sometimes restraint and vulnerability speak louder than volume.
Whatever version of Laurence Jones you catch, whether it’s high energy electric or stripped back acoustic, one thing is certain: it’s always something special indeed.
Set List: One Life, Get Back Up, Ain’t Coming Back No More (inspired by Rory Gallagher and Status Quo), On My Own, Come On In My Kitchen (Robert Johnson cover), Voodoo Child (Hendrix cover), Thunder in the Sky, I’m Giving Up, Life I Made, Change My Ways, Do You Feel the Same, Before You Accuse Me, Beautiful
Photos by David Pickles
With special thanks to Claire at Central Press PR for the media access.