Chance to hear top guitarist John Goldie

Mar 18 2009 by Gordon Robertson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

ACCLAIMED Coatbridge-born guitarist John Goldie will be playing a rare home town show when he joins the guys from Intimate Gigs at The Georgian Hotel on Friday.

John started playing guitar around six years of age, gradually progressing to playing in rock and blues bands at around twelve years old.

John was spotted by the musical director of a visiting Motown act from the States and asked to be guitarist on their next UK tour.

This was to be the start of many tours and work as a session player on CDs, radio and TV shows.

During one of these tours, a chance meeting with jazz guitarist Martin Taylor and a subsequent invitation to perform together, led to a dramatic change in direction.

Not only did this collaboration lead John and Martin to form the award winning group Spirit of D’Jango, who released several CDs and toured to packed houses, but it was also the spark which ignited the solo career John now enjoys.

His live performances have won him the admiration of many of his contemporaries, including Tommy Emmanuel, Thomas Leeb and Jon Gomm.

World renowned jazz guitarist Martin Taylor called John “the finest acoustic guitarist in the world”.

John was also asked to play a private show for legendary American guitarist and singer George Benson when he was in Scotland. Praise indeed.

While developing a solo repertoire, John also wrote material for his own trio, recording the acclaimed CD Turn and Twist, with tours and festivals following.

John started writing material for a solo CD and after hearing a couple of demo tracks, Acoustic Music, the premier acoustic label in Europe, invited him over to Germany to record a solo album.

This album of original compositions and quirky takes on popular tunes received critical acclaim in the UK, USA and Europe. John has also attracted the attention of two of the biggest companies in the acoustic world, Martin Guitars and AER Acoustic Amplifiers, and he works as a demonstrator for both companies.

The release of the album This Time and Place followed this natural progression and, while drawing on his own Scottish and jazz influences, placed his music at the forefront of accessible virtuoso acoustic guitar. With a mixture of new compositions and well-known tunes, the CD gained plaudits for its originality and quality of production and brought John and his music to a much wider audience.

John was also approached by the BBC to compose the theme music for the comedy show Dear Green Place. The show and its music won a BAFTA and has became a firm favourite on the BBC.Š

Released in February, his new album Open 4 Closure establishes him as one of Britain’s most outstanding guitarists. The album features fellow Scottish luminaries Angus Lyon on accordion, Duncan Lyall on upright bass and Jim Drummond on drums. Together the band fuse traditional music with a jazz tinge to create a dynamic band sound that ranges from the violently dancy Back Door Creeper to the eloquently phrased An Honorary Scot.

Tickets for the show are available from The Georgian Hotel or on line at www.intimate-gigs.com. Doors open 8pm. For more info call 01236 421888.