Herschel Freeman Agency

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 U.K. TOUR

Antoine Dufour, Peppino D’Agostino,

Andrew White and Brian Gore

 

The International Guitar Night will be making its first U.K. tour in September/October 2007.  Joining Brian will be the three dynamic fingerstyle guitarists who performed on the first Canadian tour in November 2006:  Andrew White from Nova Scotia, Antoine Dufour from Quebec, and Peppino D’Agostino from California.

International Guitar Night

 

The Performers

ANDREW WHITE

Andrew White, originally of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, moved to New Zealand when he was 16 and quickly established himself as one of NZ's top guitarists and singer-songwriters.  He released his first album, Conversations, in 1984 and was immediately signed by the US label Narada Records.

So far, he has recorded ten albums, including Islands, a collaboration with Grammy-nominated artist David Arkenstone. Following a live broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland, he was snapped up by Linn Records and recorded Guitarra Celtica, a stunning instrumental album featuring 16 hauntingly beautiful original tracks. This was followed by Andrew's first vocal album, Pray For Rain, features such artists as Karen Matheson (Cappercaille), Michael McGoldrick (Afro Celt Sound System), and  Brendan Power (Sting, Ray Charles). Released on the independent Scottish label Vertical Records and produced by Capercaillie founder Donald Shaw, it is a skilful recording with a unique mix of styles, strengthened by Andrew's brilliant guitar playing and soulful vocals.

Andrew White has toured internationally as a soloist and supporting superstars such as Irish folk rock group Clannad, The Corrs, Michelle Shocked, The Indigo Girls, Taj Mahal. He also toured with Scots folk outfit Capercaillie and took a 50,000-strong German festival audience by storm in a pairing with Brendan Power, the harmonica sensation from the Riverdance Orchestra. 

Andrew’s unique sound is difficult to describe. He was inspired in his youth by folk guitar greats Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch and John Renbourne but is of a generation even more mind-blowing in its dexterity and inventiveness on the fretboard. While technically brilliant, his guitar work is not just out to impress - it has a pleasing, highly melodic structure. In acoustic circles in Scotland, where he lived until recently, those who have been lucky enough to see him rate him on a par with Tony McManus, but in a different genre.

After sold-out tours of both Ireland and New Zealand with Australian Guitar Supremo Tommy Emmanuel followed by his own solo tour of New Zealand, Andrew resides in Nova Scotia with his family whilst working on a highly anticipated new vocal album.

ANTOINE DUFOUR

Antoine Dufour is emerging as one of Canada’s young stars of acoustic, fingerstyle guitar.  With a recent CD of original material that was released to critical acclaim, along with appearances and awards at major festivals, Antoine is building a national reputation for innovation and creativity.  He will be touring across Canada in 2006 as a member of the International Guitar Night, an all-star evening of the best original guitarists/composers in North America.

Dufour was born in the little town of l’Epiphane, near Montreal.  He started playing guitar at the age of 15.  He studied at the CEGEP of Joliette, where his teacher made him listen to Leo Kottke, Don Ross and Michael Hedges.  His life and his vision of the guitar changed, and since then he has been completely devoted to fingerstyle steel string guitar.  His musical style is a mix of the powerful rhythms of rock, the sensibility of classical music, a funky groove, and a pure folk melody.

Dufour recently played at the 2005 Montreal Jazz Festival and at the 2005 Canadian Guitar Festival, where he was awarded 2nd prize in the Fingerstyle Guitar Championship.  He has appeared in concert and given workshops  throughout Quebec, produced a video in Fall 2003, and released his 2nd CD in 2004.  Dufour’s style continues to develop, bounded only by his imagination and his technical dexterity.  As he says, “The acoustic guitar is an instrument which has a very rich sound, and offers infinite possibilities to the player.”

PEPPINO D'AGOSTINO

Guitarist Peppino D'Agostino immigrated twenty years ago to America to pursue his dream as both a composer and performer. Those early days as a struggling street musician (and sometimes house painter and vegetable seller) in San Francisco now seem far behind.  Peppino has since released ten critically acclaimed albums and a DVD in the US, and two CDs in Europe. D'Agostino has been praised by the San Francisco Chronicle as "a poet...among the best talents around", lauded by Acoustic Guitar as "one of the most capable composers among fingerstyle guitarists," applauded by the San Diego Times as " potentially a giant of the acoustic guitar," and touted by Jazziz as a "phenom in the same league with John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Doc Watson and John Renbourn." A busy touring schedule has whisked him from Carnegie Hall to Wolftrap, and to music places such as the Vancouver Festival where he's shared the stage with such noted guitarists as Leo Kottke, Doc Watson, Chet Atkins, Laurindo Almeida, Michael Hedges, David Bromberg, David Grisman, John Lee Hooker, and Egberto Gismonti.

D'Agostino, who claims to have been "obsessed" with music since his childhood, is still exploring and expanding. Few can match Peppino's combined technical prowess and lyrical artistry on the steel string, and not many are as eager to challenge the limits of their instrument--using unconventional tunings, playing the notes on the fretboard only with the left hand while simultaneously creating percussive effects with the right hand and inventing a mini orchestra of sounds that, on first listen, seem almost impossible for one lone guitar.

Italian born D’Agostino was first drawn to the guitar after watching his cousin perform during church services in his hometown of Torino; the self-taught musician began picking out tunes by ear, and inspired by legends like Paco de Lucia, Leo Kottke and Carlos Santana, was composing and recording solo throughout Italy by the age of 18. Immigrating to San Francisco in 1984 to pursue his dream as a composer and performer, he paid his dues as a street musician before developing into a world renowned recording artist and performer critics have long hailed as “a poet…among the best talents around” (San Francisco Chronicle) and “one of the most capable composers among fingerstyle guitarists” (Acoustic Guitar magazine).

In addition to regularly performing concerts throughout North and South America, Canada and Europe, D’Agostino has been featured on numerous guitar samplers alongside greats like Pat Metheny, Mike Stern and John Scofield; written numerous guitar instructional books and videos; and in 1997 wrote, composed and produced a soundtrack for the feature length Italian movie Ardena, directed by Luca Barbareschi. D'Agostino was recently a featured guitarist in the World Guitar Ensemble, an ensemble composed of seven of the world's top classical guitarists and D'Agostino on steel string.  His most recent recording is this year's Bayshore Road on Favored Nations.

BRIAN GORE

"Brian Gore's strong, well developed melodies and intriguing chord sequences set him apart from the myriad of steel-string fingerstylists who compose in open tunings.  His finely crafted poetic "songs without words" take the listener on a spellbinding emotional ride.”
    --Ron Forbes Roberts, Acoustic Guitar Magazine

“An artist of the highest caliber.”
--Ray Toumey, the Boulder Chautauqua

San Francisco guitar poet Brian Gore is gaining a reputation as one of the most interesting and influential performers of "the next generation" in fingerstyle guitar. A musical romantic, his compositions draw inspiration from myth and modern literature. Hailed as having "...one of the most unique new acoustic guitar styles on the scene today (News and Review)," his lyrical, understated compositions integrate classical and percussive techniques that display what the Los Angeles Times calls "a characterful bounce and spaciousness all his own."

Gore’s style of playing offers strikingly beautiful tone and dynamics-- qualities that are often hard to find in steel string players.  His melodic, evocative songs rely heavily on the use of open tunings, extending the “stream of consciousness” style of guitar composing he grew up with in Northern California.  “Music started out as a kind of therapy for me,” says Gore.  “Consequently, I am a very emotional player. Now, my style of playing has also become a well honed craft. I am very grateful I can share this with people.”

His buoyant personality and odd sense of humor help add lightness to his shows.  “By the time I’m done with a performance,” explains Gore, “people really know the meaning of the term ‘extroverted introvert’.”  While Gore integrates some of the flashier percussive techniques into his pieces, the poetic quality of his music is preserved.  “Because my music is simple and somewhat rootsy, it’s easy to relate to, which is something I’m thankful for.  Also, it helps keep me grounded.”

Gore is an artist in residence at the Boulder Chautauqua, and endorses LR Baggs Equipment, Ryan Guitars and Morris Guitars. He is founder of the International Guitar Night, sponsored by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. His first CD, produced by Peppino D’Agostino, is called The Path of Least Resistance. His second CD, Legacy: Solo Guitar and Duets, is available on Germany’s Acoustic Music Records Label.  His music has been featured on NPR’s nationally syndicated Echoes Radio, and many other local public radio programs.

Brian founded The International Guitar Night in 1995 as a forum for the world’s finest guitarists/composers to play their latest original songs and share musical ideas with their peers in public concert.  This has evolved into six critically acclaimed annual U.S. tours, a CD on Favored Nations Records released in 2004, and a 2nd CD on Pacific Music in 2006.


Tour Schedule

 

September 27  GLASGOW, BBC Radio Scotland 'Travelling Folk'
September 28  NEW GALLOWAY The Catstrand 
September 29   MORECAMBE The Platform
September 30 CHESTER  Alexander's
October 2  GLASGOW  Blackfriars
October 3  ABERDEEN The Lemon Tree Arts Centre
October 5  GLENUIG  Glenuig Community Hall
October 6  ULLAPOOL  Royal Hotel
October 7  FOCHABERS  Grant Arms Hotel
October 9  GLENFARG  Bein Inn
October 10  ALNWICK  Alnwick Playhouse
October 11  EDINBURGH Jazz Cellar
October 12 NEWTOWNARDS (N Ireland) Web Theatre
October 13  DARTFORD The Mick Jagger Centre


Return to Artist Menu

 

International Guitar Night Main Page

September/October 2007 U.K. Tour

November/December 2007 Canadian Tour

January/February 2008 U.S. Tour

November 2008 Canadian Tour

January/February 2009 U.S. Tour

 

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