Well its nearly over but it has been one of the coolest weekends of my life and that is no understatement.
To report on the acts so far:
Eric Bell - Great session and the workshop I attended was truely a inspiration, he really looked after us and demonstrated a few of his tecniques. It was a great hour and with only seven of us of various standards we really rocked at the end of it.
Nick Harper - I was a bit dissapointed with the session but the workshop was great, again a intimate setting and we jammed along mostly strumming skills at this one with some great bass lines.
Preston Reed - The gig was great, this guy can play a Tap, slap and
slide all in one tune. He is not a showman but with his skill he does not need to be. I didnt enjoy the workshop as this was far beyond my skill and I broke 2 strings trying to get a strange tunning on my guitar but I did play a very simple but catchy slap tune afterwoods so it was worth it.
Clive Barnes - A new hero!!!!!!, The gig was out of this world and he plays so many styles. He used a sheet of ply with a old humbucker pickup to get a beat going with his feet and it made my hair stand up on end. He played a great slide with a bottle end, so much so that I am going to make slide a part of my learning scedule. Not only is his guitar skills great but he sings in style like Chris Rea and sounds great. During the gig he took us through the stories of each song and has laughing, crying and clapping there was so much passion in each and every song. The workshop was the best hour I have spent EVER learning so much so that I have booked him privately for a couple of sessions and he does not come cheap but this will be a great investment for my dream of a solo set
John Spillane - Great session, and I learnt some celtic type strumming during the workshop
Thomas Leeb - Verry similar to Preston Reed, a bit more energy in his set but again the workshop was beyond my skills.
So the weekend was a great Craic spent with likeminded people, I have made so many new friends and learnt more than I could ever have dreamed. Am I better player? Well no, but in time and with this experience I find my own style and try to perfect it.
I highly reconmend to all of you to come over and sample this festival next year, you will NEVER and I repeat Never find the hospitallity and intimate sessions with world class guitarists anywhere like it on the planet. I bumped into and joined jam sessions with some of my idols and despite the bum notes and chords I played I was never put down and we had a great Craic. I even gave a chord progression that I have been working on to one of the acts after having a pint to many, by the end of last night my tune was jammed with and song was wrote and it now a festival tune!!!!! I must record my version of it and post it.
The end of festival party will soon start (10pm local) and it will go on all night just like last night so I have asked the boss for tomorrow off so I can join them and he says YES!
Finally to sell the festival again if you want to go to a great place in world with true Irish hospitallity and a great Craic, mingle and I mean truely mingle with the great acts by sharing a pint afterwoods and jamming with. Workshops that will probably not have more than 10 people in and are interactive and they do not hold much information back this is the place for you, save up your pennies and book now for next year. I can sleep at least 4 of you comfortably so save on hotel bills and the girlfriend can do a mean Irish breakfast.
So who is up for it?
Well off to the party, I will catch you all again hopefully tomorrow if I wake up.
