The London Acoustic Guitar Show
Indie |
Monday 24th September 2012 | Osh
The Olympia plays host to the annual celebration of the very best stripped back acoustic artists and the instrument which so inspires them.
The venue boasted hundreds of guitars from a range of specialist shops all showcasing the finest guitars that money can buy, ranging from £20 Ukele’s to £3,000 Martins. The very distinct impression that this was in fact, for musicians in the edifice, very much like being a child in the candy store was a very recognisable undercurrent to the event. The show furthered this with its wide range of tutorials and master classes from the likes of two time Grammy award winning Wings guitarist Laurence Juber and renowned folk artist Jim Moray.
Whilst this may sound like Disneyland to acoustic players and performers for those simply there to enjoy performances from the preeminent artists in the field, the two intimate stages offered viewers a chance to witness superb, emotion filled sets close up first hand. The acoustic cafe offered the calm, chilled atmosphere of exactly that; a Cafe in which viewers were seated round tables with everything from coffees to beers, with standout shows from the likes of Ryan Keen and Stu Clark.
Meanwhile in a room usually reserved for conference speeches on everything from climate change to business consultants plans for reconstructed management hierarchy, the likes of former Feeder front man Grant Nicholas, the unique and ever impressive Newton Faulkner and the fragile and emotion filled Benjamin Francis Leftwich, whose Sunday headlining performance was a fitting end for a wonderful event which excellently showcased the relevance and brilliance of acoustic music.
For any aspiring acoustic musicians, singers or simply just fans the London Acoustic Guitar Show will offer you a little slice of what you envisage as heaven for a very reasonable price.
By Joe Longhurst