Artists / Event Information
Please See The Tickets Page For Times And Dates Of Events.THE MOTION PROJECT
The Motion project is a multi-cultural collective of over 50 musicians representing 18 countries. Some of the countries so far represented in the Motion Project are: Poland, China, South Africa, Venezuela, India, France, New Zealand, Slovakia, Zimbabwe, Columbia, Mexico, France and of course Ireland. For this event, some of the musicians from the Motion Project will be doing what they do best, taking various musical cultures and mixing it altogether for an eclectic evening’s entertainment. This is a unique chance to hear the world in one night.
METALLICA TRIBUTE NIGHT
VICTOR VILLADANGOS
Born in Buenos Aires, Víctor Villadangos graduated from the Juan José Castro Conservatory with the degree Profesor Superior de Guitarra under the tutelage of María Herminia Antola de Gómez Crespo. Since 1980, Victor has performed extensively, both as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles in Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, US, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Israel and Japan. In 1999, he was awarded the Diploma al Mérito (Merit Award) by the KONEX Foundation for his artistic endeavors and accomplishments over the last decade. Currently, he is Professor of Guitar at the Juan José Castro and Manuel de Falla Conservatories in Buenos Aires.
BRIAN KEENAN
Lowden Acoustic Guitar winner 2002 Heather Clarke Memorial prize winner 2004 Local classical guitarist, Brian Keenan returns to the Ards Festival with an eclectic programme of breath taking music. Brian has attended master classes with international guitarists such as Carlos Bonnell (RAM) and Benjamin Verdery (Yale), and in July 2004 performed for guitar legend John Williams. Brian sits on the committee of The City of Derry Guitar Festival and teaches guitar at The City of Belfast School of Music, The Ulster college of Music and The Crescent Arts Centre. The University of Ulster Music graduate specialised in performance with guitar tuition from Dr Frank Lyons. In April 2002 he premiered Dr Lyons’ new work “Go Between” for guitar and electronics at the Sonorities Festival at Queens.SEAN WOODS
Considered to be one of the leading lights on the Irish guitar scene, Sean Woods took up the classical guitar at the age of 21. He subsequently studied at Leeds College of Music and at Bretton Hall, University of Leeds, under the direction of the renowned guitarist, Luigi Palumbo. Sean has given many performances in the UK, Austria and Italy as both a soloist and an ensemble musician. He established the first guitar orchestra in Ireland and is founder and artistic director of the City of Derry Guitar Festival. He currently teaches at the University of Ulster and the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education.BLUE JAR
www.bluejar.co.ukBlue Jar combines the panache of Grappelli with Gypsy flamboyance, yet balances this passion with a dreamy, atmospheric classical sound. The group has played throughout Europe and Africa and continue to play in festivals throughout England and Ireland. With ‘Ducks and Geese’ to their credit, their second album “Pelican Crossing” is currently on general release. The members of Blue Jar come from a mix of backgrounds. After over twenty years each on the music circuit, they have combined their specialties, arrange, compose and entertain. They will be on tour in India Jan 08.
INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT
(Peppino D’Agostino, Andrew White, Antoine DuFour and Brian Gore) The International Guitar Night's intention is to bring together some of the world's foremost acoustic guitar players to perform their latest original compositions and exchange musical ideas in a public concert setting. Each season a new cast of guitar luminaries from the United States, Europe and elsewhere performs solos, duets and quartets to highlight the virtuosity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar. To that end, the guitarists in the show for the Eurpean tour UK are Peppino D'Agostino, from Italy originally and now living in the USA, Andrew White from New Zealand although born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Montreal-based newcomer Antoine DuFour and Brian Gore, from San Francisco who is the tour's founder. Brian Gore started the show in 1995 from a regular jam in a music commune in the San Francisco Bay area and it has now evolved to be the most successful show of its kind in North America. Each tour now features a live album recording of the solo and collaborative performances in the show on the Warner Canada label. Expect great steel string playing and terrific on-stage interaction from four masters of their trade.
THE MIKE WILGAR BLUES BAND
Playing blues harp from the tender age of nine, Mike didn’t hit the stage until a guest appearance with local blues and folk legend Murray McDowell in 2003. Within in a week Mike was asked to make a guest appearance with Rab McCullough in the Belfast Empire music hall. Mike soon formed “Ten Feet Deep” with Murray on vocals and Mike on blues harp and also took up a part time roll with “The Rab McCullough Band.” Mike still plays with Rab when possible. After “Ten Feet Deep” members decided to go their separate ways Mike formed “The Fun_da_Mentals a more funk orientated band and stayed for about a year when Mike then left to form the Mike Wilgar Band, concentrating on his own brand of blues and rock with hard driven blues harp and guitar.
CLASSICAL GUITAR SOCIETY
The Classical Guitar Society of Northern Ireland was founded in 1989 by a group of people who wish to promote the Classical Guitar and its music.The Society meets once a month in the Ulster College of Music, 13 Windsor Avenue, Belfast and meetings take the form of short recitals, workshops, ensemble playing and discussions. Each year the Society arranges a number of recitals by both local and international performers. Experienced teachers are always available at meetings to offer advice to anyone interested in taking up the Classical Guitar. Website: www.cgsni.orgGARETH PEARSON
THE ERIC BELL BAND
PRESTON REED
Auspicious genius Preston Reed’s entrance onto the music scene, supporting beat legend Alan Ginsberg at the age of 17 goes a little way to explain his significance in the annals of pop-culture. A better explanation is that Preston Reed has single handedly reinvented acoustic guitar playing - FACT. Drawing on blues, rock, funk and jazz influences among others, multi award winning musician Preston Reed weaves and melds genres, rhythms and textures to produce a signature sound that has earned him world renown for its emotional power and stylistic creativity. Playing an array of guitars from acoustic to electric to classical, Reed’s vast range of explosively original music will forever change your expectation of a guitarist. Reed engages the entire instrument, creating a rock/jazz rhythm section, melody line and chordal accompaniment simultaneously. He riffs with the conviction and guts of a rock band, yet plays with the subtlety of that most delicate of jazz pianists, Bill Evans. There are no fancy gadgets or gimmicky FX - just 6 strings (or occasionally 12), two hands and a daring and innovative musical imagination that crosses all boundaries.
CLIVE CARROLL
Clive Carroll was born in Chelmsford, England in 1975. At the age of two, Clive’s father made him his first banjo and a few years later he began to learn Bluegrass and Irish music. During his pre-teens Clive played banjo in the family band and by the age of eleven he had picked up the guitar. Throughout his teenage years, he also played at local venues in rock bands, funk & soul bands, a country group and several orchestras. In 1998, he gained a 1st Class Honours degree in Composition & Guitar from Trinity College, London. Throughout the college years Clive was also awarded many prizes including the John Halford Prize for Composition (1994) and Essex Young Musician of the Year (1999). Whilst at college, Clive was also awarded a concerto prize and recorded Rodrigo's 'Concierto de Aranjuez' with the Trinity orchestra. In 1998, he was given the opportunity to play at his local pub with John Renbourn who encouraged him to record a solo album, and finally in 1999, Clive was given his first record deal by their Celtic label, ‘Old Bridge Music’. His first solo CD, ‘Sixth Sense’ received an unusually high level of attention from radio shows, reviewers and journalists and has since been described as ‘a milestone in the journey of the steel-string guitar’. In 2002 the BMG/RCA record label took an interest in Clive. He recorded solo for them on one album, which is still selling very well.
THE RONNIE GREER BAND
PAUL MCMORDIE AND ALAN NIBLOCK
MOSE SCARLETT AND JIM CONDIE
Canadian guitarist Mose Scarlett is, unarguably, one of a kind. While he draws on a wide range of musical sources from the early 1900's through the 40's, his style defies categorization or comparison - the blend is unique. He bills his music as 'Jazz, Blues, Ragtime and Swing' because, as he says, "those are the four things I've been accused of most often". His self-taught, original technique of fingerpicking, dubbed 'stride guitar' by Canadian music journalists, delivers a syncopated punch and features simultaneous chords, melody and bass line, smoothly executed, without seeming effort. Over top of the resplendent guitar backing rides a big bass-baritone voice, warm and rich, with enormous emotional range. Mose Scarlett and Jim Condie met in 1992 while Jim was touring in Canada. They hit it off immediately, both socially and stylistically.The two have played together frequently since then, both here and in Canada. Mose’s last CD release ‘Precious Seconds’ was a kind of tribute to all the guitarists who have accompanied him throughout the years in Canada and featured each of them on two tracks.. Ards Festival-goers may be surprised to see Jim, who last appeared there two years ago with his son Leo, forsake his fingerstyle and Dobro playing for a high-speed flatpicking jazz technique – a style much more sympathetic to Mose’s ‘stride’.
LEE HEDLEY BAND
THE WINDING STAIR
The Winding Stair bring folk noir from Belfast with cello, violin, acoustic guitar and plaintive vocal to create a rich, dark and uniquely immersing sound. Fusing evocative chamber music with knotted acoustic folk, it is as compelling as it is original. The Winding Stair played Glastonbury Music Festival in June 2007, appearing third on the bill at the prestigious Acoustic Tent. Hard work and true musical verve have gained the band emphatic respect from gig goers across Ireland. The national press has hailed their work as 'Breathtaking'; 'A revelation' and 'Endlessly inventive'.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS 2007
Organisers of the Ards International Guitar Festival are challenging emerging Northern Ireland bands to go into battle! With a recording contract, professional mentoring and promotion package up for grabs, along with the coveted title of ‘Band of the Year, the competition is set to attract some determined contenders! In association with Ossia Music, the ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition is open to young people aged 11-21 yrs, living in Northern Ireland. Heats will take place at venues across Northern Ireland during September. The winners of the competition will perform at the Ivy Bar on Friday 12th October. See the Competitions page for further information.THE AVALON SINGER / SONG WRITER OF THE YEAR
The search is also on for the Singer/Song Writer of the Year. This competition is open to all singer / songwriters under the age of 30. All compositions must be performed on, or accompanied by acoustic guitar. A locally handcrafted Avalon guitar worth over £1000 is on offer for the winner of the competition. Three finalists will have an opportunity to record a demo CD courtesy of Ossia Music. Heats will take place at Ards Arts Centre on Saturday 29th September. All finalists will be invited back to perform publicly on Tuesday 9th October with the winner of the competition offered a chance to perform within the Ards International Guitar Festival in October 2007. See the Competitions page for further information.WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
The workshop sessions present guitar enthusiasts with a wonderful opportunity to look, listen and learn some new skills. The workshops cater for all levels of ability. Finger Style Guitar Workshop with Gareth Pearson This workshop by Gareth Pearson will cover his inimitable style of finger style guitar playing. Having played with maestros Tommy Emanuel & Ray Davies, Gareth has a wealth or knowledge and is an incredibly talented musician. Don’t miss an excellent opportunity to ask the young star about his experiences and learn his techniques. Composition Workshop with Preston Reed Join guitar mastermind Preston Reed for a relaxed, hands on lesson in composition technique. Preston weaves and melds genres, rhythms and textures to produce a signature sound that has earned him world renown for its emotional power and stylistic creativity. This is a unique opportunity to get up close & personal with the man and his guitar!FRINGE FESTIVAL
Due to the popularity of last year’s fringe festival, we are providing a series of Free performances featuring the cream of local guitar and songwriting talent. This year we’re also taking the fringe events to venues in the Ards Peninsula. Check out The Winding Stair at the historical Grace Neill’s bar & restaurant in Donaghadee and The Motion Project at The Quays in Portavogie.In and around Newtownards you’ll find folk, blues and sultry songwriting at The Streat, The Ivy Bar and The Honey Pot. Artist’s performing in this year’s fringe include the exceptional acoustic talent of Sal Hanvey & Rodger Graham and local band Rigger. Sal Hanvey who grew up in a musical environment has since spent her time honing her song writing skills while paying her dues to the live music circuit. She has performed in Ireland, Europe & the USA. Sal has developed a unique sound that resonates a whispered and powerful beauty. Rodger Graham plays acoustic finger style guitar in a range of altered tunings. He is a fan of a diverse range of styles and players such as Michael Hedges and John Fahey and will play a mix of personal compositions and improvised pieces.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
AVAON GUITAR FACTORY TOURS
www.avalonguitars.com
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Every year as part of Ards International Guitar Festival, a guitarist is chosen to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their work with the guitar. The first recipient of the award in 1999 was local guitar veteran, Norman Watson, who has made his mark in both the classical and jazz worlds. Other recipients include Davey Graham, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, Martin Carthy, Louis Stewart and John Martyn and Arty McGlynn. The enigmatic Martin Simpson collected the accolade in 2006. So who will it be this year? Find out at the Queen’s Hall on Saturday 13th October!
Click here to download the Ards Guitar Festival 2007 Brochure in PDF format.