Guitars Will Be the Stars so Rock Ard …
By Damien Murray
As the humble guitar is common to blues, rock, folk, bluegrass and classical guitar music, it is no surprise that all of these genres feature at the 12th Ards International Guitar Festival, which runs in Newtownards until October 19.
This plectrum-plucking, finger-picking musical rollercoaster of an event offers performances (many free!), workshops and even tours of the Avalon Guitar Factory.
A tribute to Irish rock, a folk night and a ‘metal’ night are planned before the bigger names perform next week, while local artists are not forgotten with appearances by Eilidh Patterson, Simon McBride, Iain Archer, Ken Haddock, The Deans, Grainne Duffy, Jackie Rainey, Girls With ‘G’ Strings, The Grazin Hussies and others.
The festival’s main attractions include a Queen’s Hall concert on Thursday headlined by cult American bluegrass artist, Peter Rowan, with support from Trent Wagler & Jay Lapp; an American duo who take a grassroots approach to music with their fusion of roots, folk and Americana.
Wagler & Lapp then have local dates at Killyleagh’s Dufferin Arms (Oct 17), Londonderry’s Waterside Theatre (18th), Dungannon’s Common Room (19th), Groucho’s Music Lounge, Richhill (21st), Enniskillen’s Higher Bridges Gallery at the Clinton Centre (23rd) and Crusoes Coffee Shop in Castlerock (25th).
Respected guitarist Gordon Giltrap brings a jazz flavour to the festival next Friday in a concert that also boasts world music from the prolific Bob Brozman, whose dexterity resonates with elements of blues, jazz, gypsy swing, calypso and even the most modern hip-hop and ska beats, while South African, Guy Buttery, who is world- renowned for his string performances with guitar and sitar, completes the bill.
Other artists appearing at the festival include Johnny Dickson & Paul Lamb, Adrian Legg, the Dave Allen Band and Sarah McQuaid (full festival details available at www.ardsguitarfestival.co.uk).
** Although he toured here last year with his full band, it is now two years since the more acoustic-based duo of Maine singer- songwriter, Rod Picott, and his Texan fiddler and singer-songwriter partner, Amanda Shires, paid us a performing visit.
The good news is that they are both back in action at the Real Music Club at the Errigle Inn on Thursday, Rathfriland’s Bronte Music Club next Friday and at The Music Station at Cromore Halt in Portstewart on October 19, where they will no doubt feature samples of Picott’s Summerbirds CD and Shires’ forthcoming release.
** Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, Luka Bloom, is back with a new album and will be performing his only local gig of this promotional tour at the Waterfront Hall’s Studio Theatre on Wednesday.
This 12th album, Eleven Songs, returns to the raw live sound of his earlier records, reminding us why he is such a master of the concert stage.
Like many Irish performers, Bloom comes from a family of singers and songwriters and first went on tour with older brother Christy Moore.
He has since brought his songs to clubs, theatres, festivals, bars and arenas all over the world and his incredibly gifted electro- acoustic guitar playing always guarantees an impassioned live performance of his original, poetic and melodic songs.
** Gig round-up: Cara Dillon begins her current tour at Londonderry’s Millennium Forum this evening, before moving on to Cookstown’s Burnavon Theatre on Thursday, Omagh’s Strule Arts Centre next Friday and Coleraine’s Riverside Theatre on October 18, while local rich-harmony band, The Delawares, play Lisburn’s Island Arts Centre tomorrow.
damien.murray@hotmail.co.uk
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