One of the most outstanding instrumentalists in rock over the past 40 years, Texas guitarist Eric Johnson was
already a legend before he recorded his first album. By the early 1980s, many celebrated guitarists were singing
the praises of this skinny kid from Austin with the mind-melting chops. Comparisons were made to such guitar
heroes as Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix and when he joined the ‘70s Austin fusion band Electromagnets they were
being hailed as “the Mahavishnu Orchestra of Texas”. With the release of his highly-anticipated 1986 solo debut
album Tones, the underground guitar legend finally emerged onto the scene fully-formed. It landed him on the
cover of Guitar Player magazine, which hailed the album as a “majestic debut”, and earned him his first Grammy
nomination for the song “Zap”. With the release of his follow up album, 1990’s platinum-selling Ah Via Musicom,
which contained the Grammy Award winning song “Cliffs of Dover”, Eric Johnson became a bona fide international
guitar phenomenon.

The New Age Music Guide once opined that “Eric Johnson plays guitar the way Michelangelo painted ceilings:
with a colorful vibrancy that’s more real than life” while Rolling Stone included him in their list of the 100 Greatest
Guitarists of the 21st century. A dynamic singer as well as an incredibly gifted guitarist, a pianist and a prolific
songwriter, Eric has been featured on the cover of countless guitar magazines around the world while also racking
up critical accolades along the way.

Since 1986 Eric has released seventeen albums, in addition to albums with other artists such as Eclectic with
jazz guitarist Mike Stern, and the platinum-selling G3 Live with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Eric has received eight
Grammy nominations along with numerous other recognitions, awards and wins in various polls and magazines.
Among Johnson’s many accolades are a GRAMMY award in 1992 for “Cliffs of Dover” as Best Rock Instrumental
Performance, lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats, and his listing among the “100 Greatest
Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician magazine. In his hometown of Austin Texas, a city full of guitarists, the
readers of the Austin Chronicle voted Eric Johnson the city’s “Best Electric Guitarist” and “Best Acoustic Guitarist”
in their yearly poll year after year. They also named him “Electric Guitarist of the Decade” and one of the top five
“Musicians of the Decade”. In February 2024 Eric was honored with induction into the Texas Heritage Songwriters
Association Hall of Fame.

2023 found Eric on his ‘Treasure Tour’, 67 US dates that were split between a Spring and a Fall tour. In January
and February 2024 Eric joined the ‘G3 Reunion Tour’ with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, and the resulting new live
album from the tour will be released in January 2025. In August 2024 he heads out for a run of dates in the north
and northeast including the Backroads Blues Festival in New York. In September and October 2024 Eric was
a featured performer on the ‘Experience Hendrix 2024 Tour’, crossing the country from Washington state to
Florida, and then rejoined in March and April 2025 for the ‘Experience Hendrix 2025 Tour’ throughout the east and
northeast USA and Canada.

Over the course of more than four decades, Eric Johnson has been traveling on a prolific odyssey. Along the way,
his creations have cross-pollinated the various musical genres which include rock, blues, jazz, fusion, soul, folk,
new-age, classical, and even country. Inevitably EJ says it best himself in sharing that regardless of the genre “It
really boils down to the music and the song at the end of the day”, he explains. “The most important thing for me is
to grow musically and make a more expansive and meaningful artistic statement with every new project”.

Description

KK's Steel Mill stands as a significant cultural asset within Wolverhampton, a city with a deep-rooted industrial heritage. More than just a commercial enterprise, this venue has firmly established itself as a vital hub for live music, drawing audiences and artists from across the UK and beyond to the heart of the Midlands. It serves as a contemporary echo of the region's manufacturing past, now repurposed to forge new cultural experiences.

The interior retains much of its original 1903 industrial character, with portal-framed steel columns supporting the distinctive 'A-framed' roofs. The raw steel framework and brickwork create an authentic, unvarnished aesthetic, where the scent of stale beer and the lingering hum of amplified sound often permeate the air. Thoughtful lighting design accentuates the vastness of the space, casting dramatic shadows that play across the historic structure.

Practical considerations for visitors are well-addressed. The venue offers level access throughout, including a dedicated raised platform for those requiring it, alongside a policy for free essential companion tickets. Refreshments are readily available from multiple bars accepting various payment methods, and a snack bar provides sustenance during events. While there isn't a specific garden mentioned, the surrounding area offers ample parking options.

The programming at KK's Steel Mill consistently delivers a robust schedule of performances, primarily focusing on rock, metal, and alternative genres. It regularly hosts touring acts, tribute nights, and themed festivals, catering to a dedicated fanbase seeking high-energy live experiences. The venue's adaptable capacity allows for both intimate gatherings and larger-scale productions, ensuring a dynamic range of events throughout the year.