Jan Akkerman (ex. Focus) & Band

The Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman had his international breakthrough with the band Focus in the early 70s. As a solo artist, he has released 30 albums and still tours extensively with his own band.

Focus was one of the great progressive rock bands of the 1970s. With their mix of classical music, rock and jazz, they entered the charts on both sides of the Atlantic with songs like "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia".

The albums "Moving waves", "Focus III" and "Hamburger Concerto" are still considered classics within the genre.

Jan Akkerman's dazzling technique and unmistakable tone have made him one of the best and most influential guitarists in the world; a position that he not only holds by the fact that the British rock magazine Melody Maker named him the world's best guitarist, ahead of Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, but primarily due to his bold playing style and eternal urge to develop.

As a solo artist, he has released records within a wide musical spectrum and collaborated with musicians such as B.B. King, Alan Price, Peter Banks, Jack Bruce, Charlie Byrd, Phil Collins, Paco de Lucía and Ice-T.

At the age of 76, Jan Akkerman is still very active as a touring musician. To the concert at Cosmopolite, he brings his regular band consisting of Coen Molenaar (keyboards), Marijn van den Berg (drums) and David de Marez Oyens (bass). The repertoire will consist of a mix of Focus songs and music from his solo career.