I was feeling inspired this week - there was something happening - I grabbed my guitar and found it in standard tuning. That’s unusual for for me - I’m usually in DADGAD.
I didn’t want to interrupt the flow however…
Read moreApr 22 2024
I was feeling inspired this week - there was something happening - I grabbed my guitar and found it in standard tuning. That’s unusual for for me - I’m usually in DADGAD.
I didn’t want to interrupt the flow however…
Read moreJun 28 2023
The first video of Howard Feng’s blistering opening salvo under his own name certainly made an impression.
Having trashed his hotel room so thoroughly in order to build our film set it seemed churlish to stop at just on video…
Read moreMay 12 2023
Yes, I admit it, I buggered off to a tropical paradise with scarcely a look back.
Honestly, it doesn’t take much - an email from one of the world’s greatest luthiers with the subject Come To Maui will do the…
Read moreApr 7 2023
I am often asked how to create a huge acoustic guitar sound in the studio - in particular for full band mixes. There are several tricks that I employ and I reveal them in this lovingly crafted video just for…
Read moreSep 18 2021
Here's something a little different! This recording was inspired by a voice message sent to me by my friend Brian Truesby which I believe neatly encapsulates the thought process that goes into every video I make.
I know I won't…
Read moreApr 24 2021
Practice - it's a huge topic for every musician and everyone approaches it in their own way.
I'm often asked to recommend ways to make practice more effective. I have found that nothing beats discipline, intent, focus and a little…
Read moreDec 31 2020
Thinking back over the past year I am tremendously grateful for the vocal support and appreciation of my growing audience. 2020 did not go to plan for any of us but knowing you were out there helped me to keep…
Read moreJul 9 2020
The latest issue of The Guitar Magazine features my review of an instrument by Ciaran McNally - Check it out, I hope you'll enjoy it!
It's very pretty...
Until next time, Stay Tuned!
Michael
Apr 1 2020
The first series of Luthier Stories took me all over the world from Texas and California to South Africa, Scotland and Surrey! It's been a blast, as well as a thinly veiled excuse to hang out with some very dear…
Read moreMar 31 2020
It was a real pleasure to talk with Dominic Adelbert of DA Musical Radio in Berlin today for a live stream interview where we look at all sorts of different things from inspiration from non-guitarists, modern luthiery and sustainability, and…
Read moreMar 19 2020
It was a joy to catch up with two giants of the acoustic music scene Tommy Emmanuel and Jerry Douglas at Royal Festival Hall in London. The guys were in town for the Transatlantic Sessions concert and I was dispatched…
Read moreFeb 27 2020
Throughout my life as a player the archtop guitar has held a brooding and slightly intimidating mystique. Now, as I'm learning how to appreciate the subtleties and nuances of these beautiful instruments - built with an intent and technique far…
Read moreFeb 21 2020
One of the joys of a visit to the Turnstone Guitars workshop is a cup of tea and a chat with Rosie Heydenrych, the luthier behind all these beautiful instruments.
This time we filmed it (it's been a while!) as…
Read moreFeb 10 2020
It's always a pleasure to visit Rosie Heydenrych of Turnstone Guitars - all the more so because I can be pretty sure that due to her constant explorations of English woods she'll have something for me to play that I've…
Read moreJan 20 2020
I was back at Surrey Studios this week to record The 5am Tango - which will be one of the 9 tracks on my next album HYLAB. I was really looking forward to this session as the good people…
Read moreJan 8 2020
It's been an exciting start to the year for me and I sincerely hope for you too!
Thank you to everyone for your messages over the holiday period. It was wonderful to hear from you all!
I've been busy in…
Read moreDec 19 2019
Nov 29 2019
Nov 6 2019
And we're off! It's official, the first recordings have happened and I am very pleased with the results!
I spent a wonderful day back at Surrey Studios last week with the dream rhythm section that is Rex Horan (Double Bass)
…
Read moreOct 28 2019
I was first introduced to the music of Willy Porter by Jason Kostal several years ago and I've been looking forward to meeting the man himself in person ever since. Willy is currently on tour here in the UK and…
Read moreOct 11 2019
It has been a busy month that has seen me complete the writing process for my next album HYLAB (Have You Left Anything Behind). With all the pieces demo'd to some extent I met up with producer Jack Vasiliou of…
Read moreAug 14 2019
Ben Walker has been one of my favourite players for a while now and it was a pleasure to finally get to meet him at his studio in Brighton this week.
Ben's beautiful new album Echo has just been released…
Read moreAug 5 2019
It's funny, archtop guitars have been much on my mind of late. Maybe it was performing on Linda Manzer's Iceberg at the closing ceremony of the Group of Seven exhibition in London...
Or discussing the joys of good archtops with…
Read moreJul 29 2019
Luthier Jason Kostal is rightly recognised for his attention to detail at all stages in the guitar making process and during my recent visit to his workshop in Phoenix Arizona we had a chat about the importance of string choice…
Read moreJul 21 2019
Over the past few years Rory Dowling of Taran Guitars has been working on a very special new design with legendary UK guitarist Martin Simpson! Yes, really!
Taking inspiration from a 1930's Martin and Rory's Tirga Mhor design this…
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