Thursday 15 August 2019

Edinburgh Fringe 2019

Plenty of tickets on the door if you haven't pre-booked...

...So no need to worry, just turn up at the lovely church of St Columba's By The Castle, 14 Johnson Terrace, Venue 367, and the doors will open 20 minutes before the concert starts 😊 tickets £8 & £6


Sunday 8 July 2018

Edinburgh Fringe 2018

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

I'm looking forward to performing again at C Too.

It's been so hot lately as I'm practising and I visualise that lovely cool stone interior at St Columba's by the Castle and a cold beer after the show in their garden at the back.

I hope to see you there in August.

Wednesday 30 August 2017

Post-Fringe recovery methods

First method - get self home and collapse in comfort (with a beer).
Second method - book a game of squash (or two).
Third method - get on the bike and go for a ride.
Fourth and somewhat vital method - get on with sorting out bookings while hammering the plans for next year into some kind of shape.

What a good time I had. I discovered another Edinburgh street or two I'd never been down before. Here for example; where the evening light made the top of this typical Scottish Parthenon look as if it was made of pure gold that evening. It was a little street just off Causewayside, where I'd been to Pataka for my dinner. Go there if you can - food delicious, interior interestingly Rennie Macintoshed and lovely people.

Monday 21 August 2017

Edinburgh Fringe 2017... over halfway through

Still plenty of time to BOOK TICKETS  for my show: 'Homage to the Dance' as we enter the final week of the Fringe so try to come along - you'll enjoy some gorgeous classical guitar dance themed music.

I've had fantastic audience responses and some lovely reviews

Hard though it is to find time to get out and see shows (because I HAVE to do my usual daily practising) I've seen some great shows and still more to come. One memorable experience was seeing Ionesco's 'Rhinoceros' at the Lyceum. It was part of the main festival of course, not the Fringe but I'm not proud.

On the Fringe I particularly enjoyed Maklena. Good performances, some  moving moments and fantastic music by Oliver Vibrans.

I also enjoyed the great guitar skills in the show Declan Zapala brought  this year - 'Three Colours Guitar'. Definitely one for guitar enthusiasts to get tickets for.

And many thanks to Stephanie and Rob for taking this picture.

Monday 24 July 2017

Edinburgh Fringe 2017

I'm back at Venue 4 from August 3 - 28  and can't wait to be in Edinburgh again. Join me for some guitar music if you can.  Book your tickets and I look forward to seeing you all there!

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Hear what my audience members had to say; then Farewell to Edinburgh and Hello Isle of Skye!


There are several film clips here of audience members talking about 'Around the World by Guitar'.

But it's almost time to leave. It's a great way to end the Fringe - with the amazing Scottish Chamber Orchestra and some classy fireworks. We joined the throng in Princes Street Gardens. It was a friendly sea of people and great fun. That's the bandstand lit up there beyond the clustered multitudes.

That was last night and during the afternoon I just had chance to fit in another event at the Edinburgh Book Festival. It was chaired by the fantastic writer Daniel Gray, whose book 'This is Scotland: A country in words and pictures' written in collaboration with photographer Alan McRedie I wanted to buy. I did buy it. I also had a large piece of coffee and walnut cake and a double macciato in the tranquil sunny garden. I am not very good at reading words in print (give me a Bach score any day) but I have been gripped each time I have dipped into this book - the photographs are excellent and the observations by Daniel are priceless and intuitive and between them they have done an amazing job of conveying the truth and demonstrating how uplifting the truth actually is. Buy the book - give copies as presents. It is published by the Edinburgh independent Luath Press

And yes - tomorrow I'm off to the Highlands. First I'm playing in Portree (book tickets!) and then on Friday in Fort William. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the beautiful country up there and I'm looking forward to it.

Sunday 28 August 2016

One more Edinburgh Fringe show left - quick, book your tickets!!


I had another great audience today and then all that's left of my Fringe this year is tomorrow's show. BOOK TICKETS!
It has been absolutely wonderful and the audience responses have made the experience very fruitful for me. There is something about the way that people focus on listening to the pieces I play that comes back to me, as I'm playing, and it somehow affects the way I'm doing it and when this process is working well it feels incredibly exhilerating and it also feels as if we are all in some way 'doing' it . By 'it' I am not even sure how to describe what I mean. It has something to do with music - making music, being part of the music (as one fan memorably says of Spinal Tap). Yes I fear I have strayed into the realm of parody so I will shut up. Suffice to say - playing to a live audience beats any other way of playing music so THANK YOU AUDIENCES - you are all amazing.

Some audience feedback from today (lots of other comments in the post below as well)...

'Fantastic! Great selection of music and lovely venue.' Sharon Collard

'Absolutely loved it. Varied programme of beautiful music, played brilliantly - thank you so much.' Elaine Weir

'10/10 - amazing performance. It's like a travel around the world but with guitar.' Hannah White

'Excellent choice of repertoire. Great playing and acoustic.' John McBeath 

'The show was excellent - beautiful acoustics and variety. Gorgeous venue.' Neena J

 'Thoroughly enjoyed the show, the Bach was beautiful and the tango was a rousing way to finish the show.' Audience member

'Excellent.' G. Lipkin