John Denton

With raw and gritty lyrics reminiscent of a young Sam Fender and the ability to attack a 12-string guitar like an early-1960s Bob Dylan, John Denton, despite his young age is breaking boundaries and showing clear signs of becoming Manchester’s next proud son.

Having played guitar and written his own songs since the age of 8, John performed his first ever gig at Malaga Drift Coffee Shop in Eccles at just 11. Since then, he has been on a roll of gigs, traveling across the country and steadily building a name for himself.

In February 2025, John released his debut single Not The Same, an upfront and honest song addressing social injustice and poverty around the world - all from the perspective of a 15-year-old who only knows the streets of Salford. The track has earned praise for its lyrical maturity and infectious guitar hook, accumulating tens of thousands of streams worldwide.

Over the years, John has also received unwavering support from The Smith's ex-guitarist Johnny Marr, who even funded John’s journey for a year. Shortly after his 15th birthday, he was personally invited backstage at Bruce Springsteen’s Manchester show at Co-op Live, enjoying a brief chat with The Boss and even handing over a demo CD.