The Tab Meets: Lewis Lawrence, Viral Sensation

Strolling into Costa from a shift at hip music venue The Phoenix, Lewis Lawrence met up with The Tab to talk of his strumming success – interpret that as you will.Originally an avid cellist, Lewis told The Tab that seeing the ‘Guitar Slap’ in August Rush inspired him to take up the guitar as a second instrument, playing it sideways to start with and now acoustically as well.

Now a confident, self-taught guitarist who busked around Europe whilst Interrailing last summer, Lewis is hoping to set up a band.

His aspirations have been encouraged greatly by his recent viral success via Facebook and YouTube of his recording of “Slightly Unconventional Guitar Playing”.

Although Lawrence’s video was originally posted in October, a new tidal wave of viral popularity struck midway through last term, after a work colleague of Lewis’ at Cellar Door ‘liked’ the video, setting a trend for anyone with an appreciation for musical talent to do the same! Clearly the moral of this story is to make friends with cool people in cool places!

Despite his remarkable musical talent, Lewis has never played a live set, his one show booked at Mama Stones last autumn being cancelled due to him falling victim to the dreaded mumps plague. However, he told The Tab that he has various material recorded…so let’s just watch this space.

Check out the video…this boy’s got magic fingers…

Talking of recordings, Lewis spoke of his ambition to further establish student-founded record company Blanket Records. So far the company has helped two artists to further their careers, plus promoting three gigs too.

Blanket Records aims to support aspiring artists to achieve impressive record deals with some big names! Lawrence hopes this will encourage a livelier music scene for our more creative students, and also those who simply enjoy good music; the company hopes to bring bigger bands to Exeter and influence the University’s promotions of gigs at venues such as The Phoenix.

As a result, Blanket Records has brought the sweet acoustic sounds of Lucy Rose to the Lemon Grove on the 20th May.

On behalf of all Lawrence’s new-found female fans, The Tab took the liberty of asking him what venues admirers might find him at during an average week in Exeter.

Loyally, Lewis stated a Tuesday at Cellar Door was his favourite, with Friday Timepiece as runner up!