John Etheridge (Solo) With Kit Holmes

Coming up soon at Quay Arts in Newport will be a performance by one of the world’s most respected guitarists, John Etheridge.

John has performed with iconic Stephane Grappelli, The Soft Machine, Pat Metheny, Andy Summers, Dizzy Gillespie, Nigel Kennedy and is currently in a duo with the eminent classical guitarist John Williams.

He rightly enjoys an outstanding reputation throughout the jazz world and beyond and has been described by Pat Metheny as, “One of the best guitarists in the world”.

He is a prodigiously gifted and creative player whose approach to music can only be described as ‘eclectic’ as he refuses to accommodate or even acknowledge artificial musical boundaries.

John is equally at home on acoustic and electric guitar and his willingness to engage with so many styles is matched by his ability to excel in any of them.

With a prestigious career spanning over three decades, this highly acclaimed guitarist is known as a guitar master who knows how to use it to best effect in an enormous range of settings.

He is fast, a great chord man, inventive but subtle, as good with a pick as finger style, as at home on acoustic as on electric guitar. Critically, he knows what to leave out, when to use nuance and suspense and when to let rip.

John’s solo set is gripping as he weaves his way through from subtle acoustic numbers to dizzying gypsy jazz to deeply moving blues renditions. His unique style has wowed audiences all over the world whether he is picking out standards or interpreting razor-sharp modern jazz. John revels in the music and combined with his personal warmth and amusing anecdotes his audiences are left glowing!

‘I never wanted to be a star, just a highly respected musician like John Etheridge.’ Sting – The Guardian.

A measure of the universal respect for John’s accomplishment and skill was his nomination as one of just three finalists for the highly prestigious award for the 2006 Jazz Musician of the Year, presented on May 10th at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards ceremony at the House of Commons.

John’s special guest on his tour is Kit Holmes – a singer/songwriter and rising guitar star. Her music fuses a broad range of influences from pop to folk, blues and soul. Kit does not see herself as a pop artist or a folk artist but rather describes her musical style as an acoustic artist – one who has been wowing the audiences at this sell-out gig all over the country.

They do a pre-show guitar workshop (5:45 – 6:30pm) which is open to all abilities from age 10 years upwards. Develop your technique, musicianship and performance skills. Bring an acoustic guitar to take part of simply listen!

Bits and Bobs:
Performance Date/Time:Fri 28 Aug Performance 8pm: The Anthony Minghella Theatre
Bar & Special Menu from 6:30pm onwards: Café Bar
Location: Café Bar, Quay Arts & The Anthony Minghella Theatre
Ticket Price: £12 / *£11 (*Friends Concession)
Pre-show Guitar Workshop : 5:45pm – 6:30pm £5 or £15 /*£14 for both.
Box Office 01983 822490