Summer of 2025 in London
Paul Marney spent the summer of 2025 back in London to explore his identity as an artist.
Attending SXSW in London, the festival’s inaugural year in Europe since its establishment in Austin in 1987, Paul’s artistic soul surely expanded vastly. He met leaders in the industry and fellow creatives who are fearlessly sharing their craft.
Why SXSW matters
First launched in Austin, Texas, in 1987, South by Southwest is a major annual conference and festival that focuses on the convergence of music, film, technology, and education.
SXSW is also where John Mayer was discovered through his EP Inside Wants Out. Other notable global music superstars whose careers were propelled by SXSW are recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, The White Stripes, Grammy winners Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish, and Amy Winehouse, whose Back to Black Album subsequently became a massive success.
What was supposed to only be a month-long trip became a whole summer of endless possibilities. Paul became a Sofar Sounds artist, and next thing he knew, the Rascals were on a flight to London to make sure he’s not performing alone.
Why Sofar Sounds matter
Sofar Sounds is a global community that connects artists and audiences through unique and intimate experiences. They bring people together to create a space where music and arts matter in 400 cities around the world.
Noteworthy artists who played at Sofar Sounds, some even before becoming massive, are Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Leon Bridges, and Hozier.
Paul Marney has played at several locations in London, including Holborn where one of the venue staff members said that it was the best Sofar Sounds performance he’s ever seen
the iconic Leadenhall Building where Paul made an equally iconic entrance that had its viral moment on social media,
in Bermondsey where he received standing ovations in multiple occasions,
and in Shoreditch where the host himself described Paul as a phenomenon with absolute mastery over his guitar, vocal, stage presence, and of his songwriting.
Through talent alone, Paul was invited to open for London blues royalty Dana Gillespie for the promotion night of her song Andy Warhol, originally penned by David Bowie himself. As Dana said, Paul is a guitar wizard, and perhaps we’ll hear a collaboration between the two someday.
Following this performance, Paul was invited back to The Temple of Art & Music as a headliner to celebrate their 5th birthday, and to our surprise, there were supporters who purposely went to see Paul perform live!
A blues man’s trip to London would not have been complete without dropping by Soho’s Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues and The Blues Kitchen in Camden, a town dear to Amy Winehouse, and host to performances of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Oasis.
Side Trip: Jimi Hendrix’s Mayfair Flat
Seeing Paul sit at the very spot where Jimi Hendrix did some 50 years ago was nothing but surreal. It was the actual flat where he wrote, lived, and slowed down for a moment in his whirlwind life!
Closing the Summer at Ciro’s
There were so many more events where Paul was invited to perform, but to close this summer story, Paul performed at the legendary Ciro’s in Knightsbridge. Since its establishment in 1978, Ciro’s has been hosting legends like Ray Charles, Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, Steven Tyler, and a long list goes on. Don’t be surprised if you hear someone who sounds like Stevie Wonder because there are instances when it is actually him who’s playing on stage!
Paul Marney got the rare chance to jam with Grammy winner Micki Free of Shalamar, thanks to Ciro Orsino himself for introducing the two!
However amazing all these experiences are, what remains dear to Paul’s heart is his Miyagi moment with Ciro.
Paul will be back in the UK in 2026.
If you want to support this journey, you may send him a cup of Ko-Fi or donate through PayPal.