The ShortListen: Jeff Wootton (no. 256)

Who? Jeff Wootton

What’s the story? As an in-demand guitar player, 28-year-old Jeff Wooton has already ticked off more life ambitions than most could ever dream of. As a member of Gorillaz, he headlined the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2010. He has backed both Gallagher brothers (including playing Wonderwall with Liam at the Olympic closing ceremony), and collaborated with innumerable legendary musicians, from Brian Eno to members of the Clash (he played at Paul Simonon's birthday party just before Christmas). Now, though, he's going it alone, with his first solo album, The Way The Light, out next week. The exclusive live version of Venus above here (recorded in Damon Albarn's studio), should give you a taste of what an incredibly diverse, varied and brilliant record it is going to be.

For fans of: The Stooges, Fela Kuti, Can

In three words: Raw, fuzzy, groovy