Stephen Fretwell

Further acclaim for Busy Guy:

“A touching and intimate series of songs… Using mostly acoustic guitar and some keyboard, Fretwell delivers a series of poignant vignettes. Several are rooted in London geography,
including two of the highlights – the exceptional ‘Embankment’ and the gorgeously meandering, flamenco-infused ‘Almond’.” Uncut – 8/10

“A mesmerising record… Busy Guy stands at roughly equidistant tangents to Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen – imagine the fragile sensitivity of the former applied to the sombre sparseness
and poetic precision of the latter – and the calibre of the songwriting here justifies such benchmarks.” Metro – 4 stars ****

“The understated approach allows him to tackle life’s big issues with sublime melody and thoughtful expression… One of the year’s most rewarding comebacks.” The Sun – 4.5/5

“A dazzling display of technical and emotional virtuosity, ‘Busy Guy’ is an incredible experience, a work of true intimacy from a songwriter whose return is long overdue. Magical.” Clash – 9/10

“Embankment and Oval conjure images of lonely streets and detachment, isolation and love… Underpinning it all is Fretwell’s smoky voice and Dan Carey’s subtle production – glorious.”
HiFi Choice – 4 stars ****

“Fretwell draws the listener into these enigmatic tales, with their dreamlike, cinematic flow.” HiFi News – 8/10

“Makes for a fascinating listen as you try to get inside these often-complex song stories.” Rock’n’Reel – 4 stars ****

“Fretwell’s voice sounds more evocative, rich and expressive than it ever has done before.” Louder Than War

Date: Friday 17 June 2022

Start Time: 20:30

Doors: 19:30

Length: TBC

Tickets: £22.50 + booking fee

Venue: Grand Junction is a venue for the community, arts and culture based at St Mary Magdalene Church. We also have a café serving delicious food overlooking the canal.

Closest Stations: Royal Oak (Circle and Hammersmith & City line) 0.64km

Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo line) 0.64km

Paddington Station (National Rail services and Circle, District, Bakerloo, Hammersmith & City line) 1.4km

Covid-19 Policy 

As of 24 February the government is removing all remaining Covid-19 restrictions.

At Grand Junction we will continue to do a number of things to keep our staff and audiences as safe as possible.

While you are no longer legally required to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19, it is still advised that you stay at home to avoid contact with other people. Please bear this in mind before travelling to an event at Grand Junction if you have tested positive for COVID-19.

We welcome audience members and staff wearing face coverings if they wish to do so.

Hand sanitiser stations are positioned around the building.

Careful consideration of entry and exit points to avoid crowding. We will check your ticket at the entrance to the venue to avoid queuing and crowds forming indoors.

Regular cleaning and regular ventilation of the space, to ensure a flow of clean air.

Click here to view Grand Junction’s full Covid-safety information. Please feel free to contact us at info@grandjunction.org.uk if you have any further questions.