SATURDAY 21 MAY
Manchester Guitar Festival – SATURDAY 21 MAY
1pm – Whitford Rees performance
Former Chetham’s School of Music student Whitford Rees will perform during the Saturday afternoon of the Festival. Rees – a fresh face in a new generation of guitarists – is about to continue his music education at the University of Cambridge. He will present a wide programme of pieces from early musicians such as Madurra and Dowland through to newly commissioned guitar works from emerging composers.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
1pm – Flamenco Workshop with the Daniel Martinez Flamenco Group
Teaching students from all over the world for over 12 years, this is an unmissable experience for guitar enthusiasts. Suitable for all levels as there will be simpler and more challenging alternatives to each exercise.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
1.30pm & 3.30pm – Jazz and improvisation workshop with Jim Faulkner
Jazz guitarist Jim Faulkner leads an introduction to jazz and improvisation through learning the blues. Learn how blues informs jazz and how to add colour and depth to your chordal playing and lines. Suited to all levels of player.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
2pm – Bring your solo guitar pieces to life with Alexandra Whittingham
Alexandra Whittingham will take you through the process of preparing for your solo performances – exploring warmup techniques, the art of practice, building tone and how you present – this class will help you feel confident you can engage your audiences. Expect to demonstrate and develop your pieces with Alexandra.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
2.30pm – Boo Hewerdine performance
Boo Hewerdine has been considered one of the UK’s finest singer-songwriters. As lead singer of seminal band The Bible, his songs have been covered by the likes of KD Lang, Kris Drever, Chris Difford, Heidi Talbot and Hannah Rarity. He will be singing songs from his new album and his extraordinary back catalogue. A naturally gifted raconteur his gigs are always a total joy.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
4pm – Rhythm workshop with Becky Langan
Becky Langan will demonstrate simple percussive rhythms (accessible to all ages) and introduce open tunings, movable chords / shapes (for more intermediate players). The aim is to teach people how to be creative/write in open tunings, as well as demonstrate how to play percussion on the guitar. Time for questions and to listen to Becky put these skills into practice. Any level/age is welcome.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
4.30pm – Gwenifer Raymond performance
Sparse and sometimes Gothic American Primitive instrumentals drawn from the roots music of Mississippi and Appalachia. Influenced by the likes of Skip James, John Fahey, Roscoe Holcomb and John Hurt.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
4.30pm – Top guitar tips with Wendy Jackson
Top Guitar Tips with Chetham’s School of Music tutor Wendy Jackson.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
5.30pm – Alexandra Whittingham performance
Former Chetham’s School of Music student Alexandra Whittingham will perform during the Saturday afternoon of the Festival. Whittingham, whose debut album in 2021 My European Journey reached Number 1 on the iTunes Classical Chart and who has a huge YouTube following, will share her love of bringing lesser-known composers into the spotlight.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
6pm – Ukulele workshop with Chris Hough
Learn how to get started on the right note in this interactive workshop with Chris from The Ukulele Uff Trio.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
6.30pm – Becky Langan performance
The live line up for the festival includes Rochdale born percussive “fingerstyle” guitarist Becky Langan – a semi-finalist on the second series of Sky Arts’ Guitar Star 2016.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
7.30pm – Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company performance
Experience vibrant and authentic Flamenco music and dance from the spectacular Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company. Their production Art of Believing recently won the prestigious Herald Angel Award and is bursting with truly stunning flamenco music, bringing to Manchester the passion and fire of Andalucia.
Book now
9.45pm – The Ukulele Uff Trio performance
The joyous “string band swing” that is The Ukulele Uff Trio specialise in obscure and wonderful 1920s/30s jazz, Tin Pan Alley songs and traditional Hawaiian music.
Included in your festival ticket, no booking required
