Jan Akkerman

Jan Akkerman gained international fame with Focus from 1969 – 1976 while recording a number of breakout albums including ‘Focus Plays Focus / In and Out Of Focus’ (1970) and ‘Focus II/Moving Waves’ (1971) which reached #2 in the UK album chart, #4 in the Netherlands and #8 in the US, whilst also going gold. 

The latter album spawned the mega-hit ‘Hocus Pocus’ which had international chart success and more recently has been heard on numerous TV shows such as Top Gear, Skins and Shameless. It has also been used in the in the films Hot Fuzz, Robocop (2014) and Baby Driver. 

In 1973, Akkerman was named ‘World’s Best Guitarist’ by Melody Makes in a Top 10 that included Eric Clapton, Steve Howe, Jimmy Page, John McLaughlin and Mick Ronson. Including live albums, Jan has released 30 solo albums and has collaborated with musicians ranging from Alan Price, Jack Bruce and Ice T. 

He has given clinics and seminars on jazz, pop, latin, rock, fusion and Indian rhythms in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Norway, France, Denmark, Greece, and the School of Music from the University of Miami. 

Expect to hear music from Jan’s long career including his favourite Focus tunes and more recent compositions.