Leoni Jane Kennedy Releases New ‘Closer’ Music Video And Announces New 2025 UK Dates
UK-based multi-award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Leoni Jane Kennedy has released the official music video for her second single release ‘Closer’ alongside announcing new live dates
London— Wednesday 12th March 2025 — Leoni Jane Kennedy Releases New ‘Closer’ Music Video And Announces New 2025 UK Dates
Leoni Jane Kennedy hit the ground running in 2025, she was voted #4 in PROG Magazine’s 2025 Readers Poll in the ‘Best New Artist Category’ and released her first single of the year ‘Different Kind of Woman’ which received radio airplay from the likes of MNPR Magazine Radio as well as interviews with Rock The Joint Magazine, Full Pelt Magazine and Overtone Magazine to name a few.
Leoni Jane Kennedy is a multi-award-winning singer songwriter, often described as ‘haunting’ by her audiences. With intricate guitar riffs alongside powerful, soulful vocals, Leoni is a musical polymath creating a new wave of rock with progressive influence in her rhythmic and melodic structures, offering lyrics that surpass her years. With a touch of a young Bonnie Raitt in her, Leoni performs her songs with a delivery second to none and is described by The New York Times as “a welcomed portal to something passionate and powerful”.
Winning her first title as the UK’s number 1 under 19’s singer songwriter award in 2014, thirteen year old Leoni performed live at the Houses of Parliament in London which led to a Yamaha sponsorship and an endorsement from Orange Amplification. Leoni would go on to win further songwriting awards and in 2018, ‘Queen’s’ Brian May and Roger Taylor chose her from hundreds of applicants to receive the ‘Freddie Mercury’ Scholarship, financing her entire university tuition fees. Leoni graduated with First Class Honours and then moved to North London where she is currently studying a Masters Degree in Songwriting. For the majority of her work, Leoni uses PRS Guitars, and her talents were again recognised when she was chosen as a ‘PRS Guitars Pulse Artist’ for 2023/2024, representing the brand as an artist in her own right and in late 2024 she was promoted to FULL PRS GUITARS artist endorsee after impressing the company with her dedication to live shows and social media presence.
Leoni’s latest album ‘New World Woman’ was independently recorded and released by her in 2023 as an acoustic compilation of reinterpreted tracks, originally penned by the Canadian prog rock legends ‘Rush’. After raising a whopping £5.8K via a Kickstarter’ campaign, Leoni then had the funding to create a huge merchandise range with products. ‘New World Woman’ has been a great success, completely selling out of CD’s with only 20 vinyl remaining! Leoni is touring all over the UK to promote this album which has gained worldwide praise and the hearts of many.
Her latest single “Closer” is the second of 7 single tracks being released from her debut originals album “Synthetic”.
Described as a ‘force of nature’, Leoni Jane Kennedy is recognised by most in the UK industry as one to watch out for.
The official music video for ‘Closer’ was filmed in her bedroom and directed by JJ Eringa.
Credits:
JJ Eringa – Videography / Editor
Music Production – Eliot Kennedy
Additional Music Production – Nick Andrew
Discussing the new music video, Leoni Jane Kennedy explains: “For the “Closer” music video, I teamed back up with JJ Eringa who also filmed and produced the video for “Different Kind of Woman”. I spoke with JJ about creating a visual that represented a lot of the frustration and isolation from the world that I felt during lockdown which is when this track was written. We worked entirely in my bedroom with a few lights and some see-through mesh-style sheets. It kept the focus more on the psychedelic elements progressing through the track which was visually representing the insanity I felt during the pandemic as I’m sure we all did for a while. JJ captured me in the most beautiful way and he truly has an eye for great detail, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
In addition, to her previously announced April 2025 UK dates with Solstice, Leoni Jane Kennedy will perform on Thursday 17th April 2025 at Cart & Horses in London (Birthplace of Iron Maiden) as part of a co-headline show with South African blues-rock guitarist Ross Harding.
This will then be followed by a series of solo acoustic supports for rising Grunge artist The Beautiful Darkness who will be joined by Leoni in Hull, Manchester, Leicester and Woking, Surrey.
Tickets for the new dates are onsale now.
“When I judged ‘Rock the House Under 19’s National competition in London in 2014, 13-year-old Leoni blew me away with her talent. Fast forward two years and a video of Leoni covering a prog rock song by Rush got 17,000 hits in 48 hours via Planet Rock’s website. Acoustic or electric, solo or with a band, Leoni definitely has a bright future!” – Paul Anthony (Planet Rock Radio)
“I’m so impressed with how far Leoni has come. There is a bit of the young Bonnie Raitt in her. There is a wisdom and a touch of the blues in her voice and songs that would fit with a woman twice her age. If she gets the chance and the support to play in front of thousands of people, travel, experience what life throws at her, I believe what I believed seven years ago, that LJK will become an accomplished, internationally recognised musician and songwriter with an enduring career.
My company just released Laura Marling’s seventh album and Laura just turned 30 this year. I predict a similar trajectory for Leoni.
I would encourage you to support this gifted and dedicated artist.” – Robin Millar CBE – Chairman, Blue Raincoat Chrysalis Group (Sade, Eric Clapton, Big Country, Randy Crawford)
In respect of Leoni’s performance at Prog The Forest December 2024, Jerry Ewing said “Leoni Jane Kennedy continues to impress Prog, even though her intention to appear with a full band doesn’t happen this year. Performing solo with acoustic guitar, she kicks off with a take on Rush’s Kid Gloves, hardly the easiest of tracks to play, and later delights the crowd with New World Man and a poignant Tears, while her own material is equally awe- inspiring. No wonder The Anchoress, with whom she plays live, holds her in such high esteem.” – Latest Issue of PROG Magazine
Leoni Jane Kennedy’s new single ‘Closer is out now.
Stream/Download Here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/leonijanekennedy/closer
Leoni Jane Kennedy will support Prog band Solstice on the following April 2025 UK dates of their Clann tour:
Apr 9: Southampton The 1865
Apr 10: Cardiff Earl Haig Club
Apr 11: Nottingham The Old Cold Store
Apr 12: Huddersfield The Parish
Apr 13: Sheffield The Corporation
Thursday 17th April 2025 – Ross Harding & The Dark Hearts and Leoni Jane Kennedy
Venue Address: Cart & Horses (Birthplace of Iron Maiden), 1 Maryland Point, London E15 1PF
Venue Information: This event is 18 and over. Any ticket holder unable to present valid identification indicating that they are at least 18 years of age will not be admitted to this event, and will not be eligible for a refund.
Ticket Price: £11.00 (Advance Ticket Price)
Ticket Link: https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/ross-harding-the-dark-cart-horses-tickets/14308263
Venue Website: https://www.cartandhorses.london/
Thursday 15th May 2025 – The Beautiful Darkness With Special Guest Leoni Jane Kennedy
Venue Address: O’Rileys. 83 Beverley Road, Hull, Kingston upon Hull, HU3 1XR
Ticket Link: https://good-show.co.uk/events/2049
Thursday 29th May 2025 – The Beautiful Darkness With Special Guest Leoni Jane Kennedy
Venue Address: Lions Den Manchester, 253 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Ticket Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-beautiful-darkness-tickets-1275197242279?aff=oddtdtcreator
Friday 11th July 2025 – The Beautiful Darkness With Special Guest Leoni Jane Kennedy
Venue Address: 5 Yeoman Street, Leicester, LE1 1UT
Ticket Link: https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/the-beautiful-darkness-the-the-shed-tickets/14251663
Friday 8th August 2025 – The Beautiful Darkness With Special Guest Leoni Jane Kennedy
Venue Address: The Fiery Bird, 32 Goldsworth Rd, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6JT
Ticket Link: https://www.fierybirdvenue.org.uk/front/event/the-beautiful-darkness-support/?instance_id=1664
(More dates to be announced soon)
Tickets for Solstice are available via the tour page of Leoni Jane Kennedy’s official website here: https://www.leonijanekennedy.com/
Please credit all photographs to Rob Blackham/Blackham Images
Blackham Images Website: https://blackhamimages.com/
Please find further information below.
For more information on Leoni Jane Kennedy visit:
Official Website: https://www.leonijanekennedy.com/
Official LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/LeoniJaneKennedy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LJKmusic/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWxTbcnLPFKaymMqDUp1W5w/videos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonijanekennedy/