Guitar Festival Guide 2019

M A Y / J U N E

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M A Y / J U N E

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FLORAL PAVILION THEATRE SHOWS

FRI 31st MAY 7:30pm

MILOŠ £23.50

A leading exponent of his instrument, Miloš Karadaglić has delighted audiences worldwide. He has appeared at almost all major concert halls and festivals around the globe, working with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors. Miloš often finds himself in the role of radio and TV presenter, as a mentor for the nationwide talent competition Guitar Star on Sky Arts and co-presenting the 2014 BBC Young Musician competition.

TUE 21st MAY 8:00pm

SHOW OF HANDS

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TOUR £24 Show of Hands join forces with long-term friend and collaborator Richard Shindell to present their very own transatlantic ‘Special Relationship’ show this spring. Hailing from New Jersey and now a resident of Buenos Aires, Shindell writes flawless, vivid songs that paint pictures and tell stories. Along with a selection of their own material, Steve and Phil will join Richard to add their sparkle on songs such as You Stay Here, Reunion Hill and Next Best Western. From the Great War to the Civil War, from Bristol to Baltimore, expect a moving Anglo/ American exchange of songs of the road, history and the heart.

FRI 24th MAY SOLD OUT SUN 9th JUN 8:00pm ADDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND

RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC

SAT 1st JUN 7:30pm

THE MANFREDS

HITS, JAZZ & BLUES TOUR 2019 £25 The ‘60s group Manfred Mann is now considered, more than ever, one of the finest and most respected bands from that era. Their numerous hits were R&B based with an undercurrent of jazz - a very unusual but winning combination of playing style and substance.

As a result their records have a timeless quality and some 55 years on The Manfreds, with original front man Paul Jones, will be performing many of their hits including Do Wah Diddy Diddy, one of the most popular and instantly recognisable songs of the 60s and still the biggest audience pleaser at their concerts, along with a mix of Jazz and Blues covers and tracks from their individual solo albums.

Paul Jones, with his unique harmonica sound, will be joined by Mike Hugg on keyboards, Tom McGuinness on guitar, Rob Townsend on drums, Marcus Cliffe on bass, and Simon Currie on saxophone/flute.

ANNIVERSARY TOUR £26 | Gold Circle £36

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, the worlds finest tribute to Fleetwood Mac, returns to the stage in 2019 with its Anniversary Tour, a brand new show celebrating 50 years of the very best of Fleetwood Mac, including a very special blues set paying tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s legendary Peter Green era.

SAT 25th MAY 7:30pm

GARY MURPHY GUITAR LEGENDS THE ROCK & ROLL YEARS £21.50 Performed by Gary and his multi-talented band, the story of guitar history is narrated by BBC Radio Merseyside’s Billy Butler who gives an insight into the lives and songs of some of our best loved guitar heroes including: Django Reinhardt; Chet Atkins; Chuck Berry; The Shadows; The Beatles; Fleetwood Mac; Pink Floyd; The Eagles; Queen; AC/DC and many more.

The show highlights many different guitar styles including rock, pop, jazz and country and has something for all ages. 100 years of guitar history in one electrifying night!

SUN 2nd JUN 7:30pm

JETHRO TULL’S MARTIN BARRE BAND £26.50 In 1969 a band of four English musicians arrived in New York and literally took America by storm. Over the next 50 years this legendary band accumulated over 65 million record sales and a following of loyal fans that are the envy of rock bands worldwide! This band was Jethro Tull. At the centre of Tull’s unique sound is guitarist Martin Barre. Renowned for his formidable mastery of historic riffs, power chords and soaring melodic solos.

Martin is celebrating the fifty-year anniversary of Jethro Tull with a Tour of Tours. An event to do justice to Tull’s amazing history. He will be bringing a spectacular show with his touring band, featuring Dan Crisp on lead vocals, Alan Thomson on keyboard, Darby Todd on drums, with Becca Langsford and Ali Hart on vocals. Plus two very special guests - Jonathan Noyce and Clive Bunker both of whom performed with Tull for many years and were an important part of their success. The show will also feature a special multi-media presentation that, together with the music, highlights the 50 years of Jethro Tull musical career.

SAT 8th JUN 7:30pm

LINDISFARNE LIVE £27.50 Legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne return with a classic sixpiece line up of long-time members fronted by original founder member Rod Clements. With a repertoire of unforgettable songs like Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run For Home and a reputation for live performance, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanise concert audiences remains undimmed and is guaranteed to get the crowd on its feet and singing along.

FRI 14th JUN 8:00pm

EDDI READER £25

SAT 25th MAY 7:30pm

XUEFEI YANG £21.50

Eddi Reader grew up in Glasgow and Irvine, Scotland and it was in those towns that she learned to use music as a vehicle for communicating with others through busking and performing at the local folk clubs.

In the early 1980s, Eddi travelled around Europe with circus and performance artists before moving to London where she quickly became a sought after session vocalist. She famously harmonized with Annie Lennox touring with the Eurythmics after her time with successful punk outfit Gang of Four.

Her rare blend of meltingly true vocals and towering romanticism combine with an astute and pragmatic nature to make her a unique and powerful figure in contemporary British music. She has effortlessly developed into one of popular music’s most thrilling and affecting performers.

SAT 15th JUN 7:30pm

LEO SAYER

JUST A BOY AT 70 £31.50

British music legend Leo Sayer will be touring the UK in celebration of his 70 birthday year. With this performance Leo and his band bring boundless energy, exuberance and a hit packed show to some of his favourite venues across the country.

Known the world over for his army of hits which include Thunder In My Heart, Moonlighting, One Man Band, I Can’t Stop Loving You, More Than I Can Say, Have You Ever Been in Love, The Show Must Go On and the transatlantic number ones, When I Need You and You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.

Xuefei Yang is acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists.

Her international success has led her to be invited to play in more than 50 countries. She has performed with tenor, Ian Bostridge and flautist, Sir James Galway. Her programme will include works by Rodrigo, Granados and Debussy. The second half of the concert will be dedicated to Chinese music to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of People’s Republic of China. This is guaranteed to be an exceptional recital.

FRI 31st MAY 7:30pm

ESMOND SELWYN & SANDIE WHITE £17.50 Esmond Selwyn has been described as one of the best jazz guitarists in the world. His awesome technique is intimately linked to the communication of the music he performs and the warmth and truthfulness of his playing.

His command of the standard repertoire and his ability to find new and interesting interpretations leave audiences spellbound. He is joined by the legendary Australian vocalist, Sandie White. She has performed throughout the world and has received great popular and critical acclaim.

SUN 2nd JUN 6:00pm

MANCHESTER ACOUSTIC BLUES FESTIVAL

FEATURING BEX MARSHALL, BLUESMAN MIKE FRANCIS & DAI THOMAS £11.50

This is a hit packed, high energy evening not to miss.

MABS working with the Guitar Festival present a riveting evening of Blues music.

FLORAL PAVILION BLUE LOUNGE SHOWS

Bex Marshall was voted Best Female Solo Acoustic Artist in the European Blues Awards 2015 through to 2018. Bex has toured with Big Brother and The Holding Company. She has a unique style of guitar playing that combines blues, rock and root pickin’.

SAT 18th MAY 8:00pm

JOHN COGHLAN’S QUO £17.50 John Coghlan’s Quo can be seen by audiences all over the UK and Europe recreating an authentic “70s Sound” in keeping with John’s time with Status Quo. Aside from John on drums, the band features long-term member Mick Hughes on guitar & vocals, Rick Chase on bass guitar and vocals and completing the line-up Rick Abbs on guitar & vocals.

A typical John Coghlan’s Quo show will always include evergreen ‘classic’ Quo standards but in addition the set list will often feature rare songs not heard for many years or even on occasion, never before.

One thing you will enjoy is a great night of Quo music as it should be.

Bluesman Mike Francis has over 40 years of touring and working with figures as diverse as the late Greg Lake, Tina Turner and Tears For Fears guitarist Neil Taylor. He is a hardened blues player.

Dai Thomas - A great storyteller and blues player. His live performances are powerful and spectacular.

MORE BLUE LOUNGE ACTS LISTED OVERLEAF

ALL PRICES INCLUDE A BOOKING FEE. NO FEE TO FRIENDS OF THE FLORAL. A POSTAGE FEE MAY APPLY.

FLORAL PAVILION BLUE LOUNGE SHOWS

CONTINUED FROM OVERLEAF

THU 6th JUN 7:30pm

ERIC BELL BAND £17.50 2019 is the 50th anniversary of Thin Lizzy and Eric will celebrate this landmark the way he likes best, playing live in as many towns and cities as possible. He brings with him two musicians who are also no slouches when it comes to recording and touring; Dave Wintour on bass and Romek Parol on drums, who, between them have a client list that looks like a who’s who of the rock’n’roll world.

Eric will work his way through a playlist of songs that takes him from early days and influences, through his “Lizzy” days, back catalogue and right up to the present day. The evening will be full of surprises as no two nights are ever the same.

SUN 9th JUN | WORKSHOP 1:30pm | GIG 7:30pm

WOODY MANN

WORKSHOP £31.50 | GIG £21.50 Woody Mann is an outstanding guitarist who as Sing Out Magazine states ‘blurs the lines between jazz, blues, classical and world music creating his own sound in the process.’

Woody studied with the legendary Rev. Gary Davis and worked with jazz phenomenon, Lennie Tristano. Woody will be leading a workshop and performing a solo concert in the evening.

You will need to bring along your guitar if you are attending the workshop.

FLORAL PAVILION BLUE LOUNGE SHOWS

CONTINUED

THU 13th JUN 7:30pm

LOCAL GUITAR HEROES £9.50 This concert features Keith Singleton, Sue Reid, Robin Thomas, Roger Parker, Martin Pope, Mike White and Alan Jeffs in various combinations, plus solo guitar, covering a range of styles and music, including jazz, blues and folk. If you are interested in jazz and folk guitar, this intriguing concert is for you.

FRI 14th JUN 7:30pm

DEIRDRE CARTWRIGHT & ALISON RAYNER £16.50 An evening of guitar and double bass duets from the highly respected duo of guitarist, Deirdre Cartwright and double bassist, Alison Rayner.

Deirdre became famous as the guitar tutor on BBC TVs Rockschool.

The jazz stylings of both players are well known but they are also gifted raconteurs. Deirdre explains that the evening will include playing originals, exploring jazz standards and having fun.

SAT 15th JUN 8:00pm

ELLIOT RANDALL BAND £19.50 Elliott Randall is one of the most respected guitarists in the world. His guitar solo on Steely Dan’s Reelin’ In the Years is considered one of the greatest rock solos of all time. Elliott was a member of Steely Dan and has worked as a high profile session guitarist for many artists incuding the Doobie Brothers, John Lennon and Richie Havens. We are certainly in good company.

WEST KIRBY ARTS CENTRE FRI 31st MAY 7:45pm

DEAN JOHNSON

NEIL YOUNG - AFTER THE GOLDRUSH £8 PURCHASE AT westkirbyartscentre.org.uk Dean Johnson presents an acoustic take on Young’s breakthrough album.

In 1989 Wirral singer-songwriter Dean Johnson staged the first ever Neil Young tribute night at Stanley’s Cask in Wallasey. The event was given the blessing of Mr Young himself. Dean went on to have a successful recording and performing career, but the Canadian-born troubadour remains his major influence.

After last year’s sell-out rendition of Neil Young’s album Harvest.

This year he brings us Young’s classic After The Gold Rush. Critics were not immediately impressed with the original album; Rolling Stone magazine gave a less than complimentary review. By 1975, the same magazine referred to the album as a ‘masterpiece’. Gold Rush is now considered a classic album of Young’s recording career.

This concert will sell out! Book your tickets early.

SUN 2nd JUN 7:45pm

PAUL COSTELLO £10 PURCHASE AT westkirbyartscentre.org.uk Paul Costello has performed in Europe and the UK, with musicians from the worlds of jazz, classical, folk, and world music. His solo guitar performances defy easy categorization, weaving together the many strands of his own musical journey, to create music that is beautiful, compelling, and very much his own.

WEST KIRBY ARTS CENTRE SAT 8th JUN 7:45pm

CHRIS WOODS GROOVE ORCHESTRA £10 PURCHASE AT westkirbyartscentre.org.uk When an artist is described as ‘changing the perceived boundaries of the acoustic guitar’, you know you aren’t talking about your average musician. An instrumental phenomenon, The Chris Woods Groove Orchestra blends ear bending dropped-tuned grooves with endearing stories to create his performances. There is an eerie feel to his music; a dark jazz texture driven by explosive guitar percussion.

A guitarist, composer, performer, producer and an educator. Having appeared at festivals including Glastonbury Festival (UK) and Mikulášsky Jazz Festival (Slovakia), and prestigious shows such as the NAMM show in LA, this latest tour marks the release of the new album In Pareidolia.

SAT 29th JUN 7:45pm

CLAUDE BOURBON £10 PURCHASE AT westkirbyartscentre.org.uk Claude Bourbon is known throughout Europe and America for amazing guitar performances taking that take the blues, Spanish and Middle Eastern stylings into uncharted territory.

‘‥.this accomplished artist offers tender, compelling performance through highly developed precision. His sound instantly creates ambience - from haunting Spanish moods to lyrical, romantic jazz, Claude Bourbon provides both a rich evening of music for lovers and a real treat for music lovers...’

BBC, UK

BIRKENHEAD PRIORY SAT 15th JUN 2:00pm

LIVERPOOL GUITAR SOCIETY £5 PURCHASE AT liverpoolguitar.org/tickets Liverpool Guitar Society will perform Oxton-born Cyril Scott’s Sonatina for Guitar. This piece, commissioned by Andrés Segovia in 1927, was thought lost and only rediscovered as recently as 2001. The programme will feature Richard Harding’s classical guitar quartet arrangement of the piece alongside works written by other English composers. In addition soloists from Liverpool Guitar Society will be showcasing their talents with pieces from the classical guitar repertoire.

SU N 16t h JU N Look out for more information about the Guitar Festival Family Day. Think of a myriad of strings, a single tune, a beautiful beach and the wonders of recycling. Get yourself glued to our sparkling new website and social media for further details. Get excited, get very excited!

WILLIAMSON ART GALLERY & MUSEUM SAT 1st JUN 7:30pm

GRAHAM DEVINE £20 Graham Anthony Devine is widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of his generation. He is a leading recitalist and performs frequently at The Wigmore Hall, Purcell Rooms as well as Hakuji and Phoenix Halls in Japan.

Graham has a huge repertoire that covers music from the Renaissance period to twentieth century works.

His recital is entitled Fiesta and will include work by J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi alongside Astor Piazzola and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

FLORAL PAVILION PANORAMIC LOUNGE

Throughout the festival there will be a full programme of free lunchtime gigs.

Please visit bestguitarfest.com for further details...

The Floral Café is open daily from 10am serving a range of hot and cold snacks including sandwiches and paninis as well as cakes and pastries, along with a selection of teas, coffees and cold drinks. Why not drop in to meet up with friends or to just relax and enjoy the view. Dogs are welcome in the ground floor café area.

BOOKING YOUR TICKETS

MARINE LAKE

MARINE PARK

ROWSO N ST

ATH ERTO N ST

NEW BRIGHTON TRAIN STATION

BUS STOPS A554

PA R K I N G

MARINE POINT RETAIL & LEISURE PARK

FLORAL PAVILION

RIVER MERSEY

FORT PERCH ROCK

VICTORIA RD

BOX OFFICE Floral Pavilion,Marine Promenade New Brighton, CH45 2JS ONLINE SERVICE 24hrs a day seven days a week at floralpavilion.com

The Floral Pavilion has full disabled access. Please ask at Box Office when booking tickets if you require one of our wheelchair spaces.

A loop hearing system is also available on request.

All event information is correct at time of going to press, E&OE. We reserve the right to cancel or change events, times, dates, seating configurations and artists without prior notice.

Please visit floralpavilion.com for full Terms & Conditions.

Priory Street, Birkenhead, CH41 5JH

TELEPHONE SERVICE 0151 666 0000 Mon to Sat 11am to 6pm Sun 12 - 4pm COUNTER SERVICE Mon to Sat 11am to 6pm Sun 12 - 4pm (until curtain up on performance days) ON THE DOOR Tickets are available on the door from an hour before performances commence.

29 Brookfield Gardens, West Kirby, CH48 4EL

Slatey Road, Birkenhead, CH43 4UE