John Otway and The Big Band

John Otway is an English singer-songwriter who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour, and a self-deprecating underdog persona. John Otway and The Big Band perform on 26 September 2026 at 6:00 pm at Hot Box Live Events.

From the age of 9, Otway knew he wanted to be a pop star. But even at that young age, having listened to his sister's Beatles and Stones records, he knew he would never be able to do what they do. However, when his sister got the latest Bob Dylan album, he knew there was a place for him and he set about learning how to play guitar.

Otway had to wait until 1977 and the rise of punk before his dream of fame and fortune would become a reality. Having caught the eye of the producers of the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test, Otway's performance on that show would grab the attention of the watching audience. Otway decided to jump onto his colleague's amplifier during a performance of Bob Lind's Cheryl's Going Home. (Un)fortunately for Otway, he misjudged his leap and sent Wild Willy Barrett’s amplifier tumbling as he crashed down, straddling the box under the amp.

The full force of the impact was absorbed by the most tender body parts, but in doing this one simple act of recklessness and his disregard for his own safety, Otway became a talking point among viewers of that evening's programme.