Live music needs to offer you something that you cannot get on a studio recording. It's the sense of freedom and intimacy, wondering how the songs will be played and what the reaction will be. Live concerts give you the tingle where the hair stands up on the back of your neck. "Live audiences give you the tension and responsibility to be creative, for me that's the challenge I like," says the iconic Dutch guitarist. After all of these years, you ponder what keeps Jan going out there, night after night. "It's my love to play for people all around the world," he smiles.


The supremely gifted guitarist is equalled by very few, and his legendary ability makes him impossible to pigeonhole. His position as Dutch royalty has been cemented; he received the Golden Harp Award in early 2005, Holland's most prestigious music prize, and in 2012, he was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. This royal honour recognised his contributions to Dutch music and his influence on musicians worldwide.


Akkerman was a founding member of Focus from 1969 to 1976, where he recorded several breakout albums, including 'Focus II/Moving Waves' (1971). The album spawned the mega-hit 'Hocus Pocus' which reached #9 on the US Billboard Chart, #12 in The Netherlands and #20 in the UK singles chart and the song has gone on to appear on numerous TV shows such as; Top Gear, Skins, Supernatural, Vinyl, My Name is Earl and Shameless as well as the 2007 film Hot Fuzz, 2014 remake of Robocop and 2017s Baby Driver. The song has been covered by several other artists, including Iron Maiden, Marillion, Helloween, Gary Hoey, The Vandals and Vanessa-Mae. 'Focus 3' (1972) featured another hit single, 'Sylvia', which reached #4 in the UK singles chart and led to appearances on The Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops. That year, Melody Maker declared him the 'Best guitarist in the world', above Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.


My Focus - Live Under The Rainbow was recorded across Akkerman's 2025 February tour, with his band,
Marijn van den Berg (Drums), David de Marez Oyens (Bass) and Coen Molenaar (Keys)as they played Bush Hall (London), The Fire Station (Sunderland), Philharmonic Hall (Liverpool), Oran Mor (Glasgow), The Met (Bury), The Stables (Wavendon), and The Apex (Bury St. Edmunds).


The album journeys through his timeless work with Focus - from the first song released from this release, "Answers Questions - Questions Answers", through to the mega-hits, "Hocus Pocus," "Sylvia", "Focus I" and "Focus II" - songs that are still close to his heart. "I play these songs because my soul and heart are in there. It's a God given talent I have, which makes me feel proud of myself!" he says.