Oliver Day - Guitarist, Session Musician, Teacher.

About

Oliver is a professional musician (guitarist) from Lancashire, now based in London, UK. He graduated with a first-class degree in popular music at Leeds College of Music in 2014. He started playing at a young age, covering a wide range of playing styles as he progressed. As a teenager, he achieved Grade 8 Distinction in both Electric and Classical Guitar.

Listening to and learning to play the music of Yes guitarist Steve Howe enabled Oliver to develop a fluid and natural technique - skills he has applied to his own playing style and repertoire.

Oliver plays with various bands and artists at venues throughout the UK. Bands include Winter Springs, a six-piece vocal harmony based, folk/pop singer-songwriter collective and Fragile, UK's leading Yes Tribute Band (fronted by Claire Hamill).

Late 2016, John Holden contacted Oliver to play guitar on his album (Capture Light) remotely from Oliver's home studio. This was and became an album featuring an array of respected musicians in progressive rock. Notably, members and ex-members of progressive rock band Yes (Billy Sherwood, Oliver Wakeman) and the ex-singer of the band The Enid (Joe Payne). This gave Oliver the opportunity to record with musicians he regarded highly, using a variety of instruments on John compositions. Capture Light went on to be voted second best album of 2018 by Prog Mill Listeners on Progzilla Radio.

2018 led Oliver working with ‘That Joe Payne’, becoming a member his live band putting on shows in major cities. This same year also saw Oliver play at the Official Yes 50th Fan Convention at the London Palladium and work with Multi-Platinum Songwriter/Producer Mark Hadfeild for 2018 UK TV ‘X-Factor’ Performer, Louise Setara.

During the years he has been playing, studying and working, Oliver has gained valuable experience as a live performer, session musician and guitar tutor.

Please feel free to browse the site and enjoy the media. And don't hesitate to contact me.
Prog Magazine July 2018 (issue 89):
"When Oliver Day wandered onto the stage, picked up his guitar and began playing softly, the entire audience fell silent. We couldn't quite believe what we were hearing. If you don't know Oliver, I suggest you catch up with him while you can still afford a ticket!"

Pulse-Alternative Magazine! 2018:
"Oliver Day is a guitar virtuoso very much in the mould of Django Reinhardt. Oliver's a very expressive player with a style bordering on the neo-classical. His performance is something of a homage to Steve Howe, a love evidenced by his playing in a Yes tribute act Fragile. He's the type of guitarist who makes it look to easy as he performs Yes' 'To Be Over' and Howe's 'Sketches in the Sun' providing faithful interpretations of hard to play classics. 'Clap' from 'The Yes Album' is handled with great dexterity and is set is rewarded with rapturous applause."

John Holden 2018:
"Oliver is a super-talented guitarist; he can play anything, electric, acoustic and in any style – a producer’s dream! He was invaluable in making this album. What a future he has ahead of him!"

Music Workers Diary 2015:
"And I was taken away by his skill and the good flow of feeling in the music. It was magical. I felt mesmerised as his fingers rolled through a network universe of interconnected scales, keys, riffs, licks and melodies. Like a magician with smoke and mirrors waving the wand of a guitar. And the sounds he was making reconstructed themselves as moods as they passed from ear to brain. The ideas passing from writer to live performer to listener."

2019 News

Upcoming:

SeYes tribute band will be performing at Cambridge Rock Festival on Friday 26th July, for which Oliver will be on guitar.

New original music from Winter Springs will be released shortly.

An original progressive rock album from Fragile, Yes Tribute Band will be released in the near future.

John Holden's second album in the works. Track Preview.

previous:

Oliver is playing a Mini-Tour with Joe Payne's Live Band as a part of a double headline tour with Doris Brendel. London (March 16th), Bristol (March 31st) and Wolverhampton (April 14th). Tickets. More Info.

Oliver has relocated to East London.

'Capture Light' voted No 2 in The Progmill Listeners Album Of The Year 2018 Show on Progzilla Radio.

One Night In Nashville: Oliver will be accompanying singer/songwriter Louise Setara (2018 X-Factor contestant) at this Nashville style event in Manchester on Sunday 2nd December. Tickets.

Roger Dean Art Exhibition - Trading Boundaries: Oliver is back at this fantastic venue during Roger Dean's art exhibition, performing (depping) with Yes tribute band 'seYes' on Saturday 3rd November. The band will perform epic Yes tracks 'Close To The Edge' and 'Gates Of Delirium' in their entirety, not previously performed before by Oliver live. Roger Dean's classic album art will be on display (with Rodger in attendance). Tickets.

That Joe Payne - Simon Drake's House of Magic (London): Oliver is taking the stage with Joe Payne's live band, this time two nights at Simon Drake's House of Magic in central London. November 9th and 10th will showcase a longer set than previously. Tickets. More Info. Live Rehearsal Video.

Maximilian - Heaven's Getting Heavy with Rain: Six-Track, Americana/Folk EP released featuring Oliver playing Lap Steel Guitar (slide guitar) on four tracks. More Info.

That Joe Payne Acoustic Showcase: Sunday Matinee 27th May 2018 Oliver will be joining Joe Payne as a special guest for an acoustic performance of material from The Enid, John Holden and Joe's own music at the Northampton Picturedrome. Oliver and Joe will be joined by John Holden to perform a song from the recently released album Capture Light. Oliver will also be giving a solo guitar performance. Other guests include Nikitas Kissonas (Methexis) and Pete & Dunk. 2pm - 6pm. Tickets. More Info.
[Photos from the Acoustic Showcase]

Joe Payne: Oliver will be performing with Joe Payne (ex-The Enid / two-time voted best male vocalist in Prog Magazine) along with his band at the launch of his new debut single “I Need a Change” at the Northampton Picturedrome, 2nd March. The live performance will include songs of The Enid & Methexis. ThatJoePayne.com. Tickets.
Oliver will be playing McCrerie Guitars for this event.
[Photos from The Picturedrome]

London Palladium: Oliver will be performing with Fragile alongside other acts and events at the Official 50th Anniversary Yes Fan Convention at the London Palladium in the afternoon of 25th March 2018, before Yes Official play the evening show. Info. Tickets(1). Tickets(2).
[Photos from The London Palladium]

John Holden: Oliver has performed on album 'Capture Light' by John Holden. Now completed, it featuring many top musicians including Oliver Wakeman (ex-Yes), Billy Sherwood (Yes), Joe Payne (ex-The Enid), Gary O Toole, Pete Jones (Tiger Moth Tales) & more. Album is out now. More info.



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Copyright 2019
Photographs by Chris Skellern (top) and LDK Photography.

@OliverDayGuitar

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