Cian Downing, Yamaha Music London ambassador and an exciting new voice in modern mod, is making an open invitation to his musical hero — the legendary Paul Weller — to join him on stage for his first-ever London headline gig.
Fresh from the release of his debut album The Grassroots to the Sky, Downing has been hailed as a natural heir to Weller, Billy Bragg, and other influential British songwriters. On Saturday 1 November, Camden’s historic Fiddler’s Elbow will host his headline London show — and Cian wants Weller there to help make it one for the history books.
"Paul Weller’s music shaped the way I write, play and think about songs," said Cian. "This gig is about celebrating the roots of that music while building something new — and I can’t think of anything more powerful than sharing the stage with the man himself."
The Grassroots to the Sky ranges from ska to jangly indie, soul, and beyond. Lyrically, the record discusses exploitation in the music industry and celebrates a DIY spirit that Downing has embodied throughout his career.
His London show is completely self-promoted, meaning every penny goes to the venue, staff, and the artists on the bill. The Fiddler’s Elbow has been part of Cian’s journey since his second-ever solo gig in 2021. The evening will also feature rising R&B outfit The Hornets and see Cian and his band perform entirely on Yamaha Music London instruments.
Yamaha Music London announced the new cohort of music ambassadors earlier this year. The four London-based musicians chosen to represent Yamaha’s music store were CODYY, Kevin Davy White, Cian Downing, and Matt Kent & Liv Lester.
10 finalists were selected to perform original music in a showcase final in front of music industry professionals at Yamaha Music London, Wardour Street, London.
The judging panel was made up of a team of music industry professionals from Headliner, Yamaha Music London, and TikTok’s music distribution and artist promo service, SoundOn. The judges were impressed by the finalist’s potential and ability to inspire others through their passion and dedication to their craft, continuing to push the boundaries of modern music.
Other ambassadors from Yamaha Music London have also announced upcoming shows. Irish singer-songwriter CODYY plays his first headline gig on September 11 at The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington, and Kevin Davy White has announced two headline gigs in November.