PREVIEW: Guitar greats heading to Wirral later this year for 24th International Guitar Festival of Great Britain

Sep 21 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

THE musical greats heading to Wirral for the 24th International Guitar Festival of Great Britain have been revealed.

The annual month-long festival will take place throughout November at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, Pacific Road Arts Centre in Birkenhead, Birkenhead Priory and the Woodside Ferry Terminal.

Organisers are aiming to showcase the breadth and scope of the guitar, with a line-up including Edgar Broughton, Martin Simpson, Colorama, Dean Johnson, Simon Thacker, the Phil Chisnall Band, Martin Taylor’s Gypsy Journey and Woody Mann.

More mainstream names include a performance by Midge Ure at Pacific Road on November 5 on and Bill Wyman and his Rhythm Kings at the Floral Pavilion on Saturday, November 26.

Local names in the mix include Gary Murphy, Marc Kenny and Nick Ellison.

Workshops include master classes from American blues legend Catfish Keith and bluesman Woody Mann, while industry experts will run discussions on how to make money from music as part of Six String Saturday, a day of free music.

Festival director, Kate Carpenter, said: “We are looking forward to a fantastic month of guitar concerts, workshops and family events.

“This is my first year as guitar festival director and I wish to thank my predecessor, Rob Smith for leaving a vibrant and musically important festival for me to explore and sustain through the stormy economic times ahead; a challenge and a pleasure that I hope to uphold for at least another 24 years!”

All tickets are available from 666 0000 or www.bestguitarfest.com