Me, some guy called Graham and Big Bad Mark came across the name by accident in the local pub back in 2001

I currently perform solo acoustic gigs, (I play all of the instruments myself on the recordings) in the hope of gaining more exposure through reaching a wider audience and ultimately attracting label attention.

I have most recently played at The Zanzibar Club as part of their fortnightly Acoustic Club on 23rd July, 24th September and 6th December, The Magnet Bar and Bistro on August 16th and September 1st as part of Glasswerk events, Hannah's Bar on 10th October The Liverpool Barfly supporting iLikeTrains on 16th October, The Cavern Club on 24th October as part of OxJam, Bumper on 25th October supporting Major Major and Priory Falls and Fuel Bar Manchester on November 2nd.

I have visited London in January of this year and played 2 dates at Viva Viva in Hornsey and The Slaughtered Lamb in Clarkenwell and have dates booked throughout January, February, March and April 2007 in Manchester, Blackburn and Liverpool.

It makes music a whole lot more accessible to more listeners, which I believe is what music's all about. Giving people a unique take on the things we all experience through life whilst making them smile, or cry or both.

If I was granted total artistic freedom and could write, record and produce all my own stuff...

Avant Gardner was borne out of the creation and subsequent demise of numerous bands and collaborations over a period of 12 years.

Sick of the constant struggle to get numerous individuals to work as an enthusiastic, like-minded team, coupled with the logistical nightmares involved with orchestrating weekly practises, (not to mention impending ego's) Avant Gardner decided to strike out on his own.

Instead of wasting precious time questioning the Why's and How's of a Bands disintegration and looking for someone to blame, Avant Gardner decided to go it alone, come what may, he can only blame himself this time!

And so, 5 years after his last ill-fated collaboration, and utilising a wardrobe for the majority of that time as his only refuge, Avant was able to fulfil his passion for Writing, Playing, Recording and Producing.

3 self-financed albums and 50 songs later, Avant felt it was time to take a break from Writing and Recording so that he could take the music to the people. Without a band to back him up, Avant’s taken to performing solo Acoustic gigs around the City to offer an alternative Live take on his recorded offerings.

Attempting to change the way in which Popular Music is created and received from the ground up whilst retaining the essence of what makes a good song think of it as total re-engineering. Avant Gardner believes in using Music as a platform to give an alternative, truly independent approach to Music.

Nirvana
Pixies
Beck
The Beta Band
Flaming Lips
Super Furry Animals
Syd Barrett

Amsterdam

Martin DX1 Acoustic
Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric
Yamaha Attitude Standard 5 Series Bass
Marshall VS100R Amplifier
Boss GT-8 Guitar FX
Shure SM57, SM58, BG1.1 and Condenser Mics
Pentium P4 3.2 Ghz PC
Steinberg Cubase SX v2.2
Sony Sound Forge v8
Waves DX Plug-InZ
Various VSTi's, (too many to list here)