Applications sought for City of Derry Guitar Festival

The event will be hosted in the state-of-the-art facilities of the Music Department of the North West Regional College, Derry/Londonderry.

The Festival offers guitar lovers three days of intense guitar therapy in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Alongside the traditional Classical Guitar Course this year’s Festival will be offering a Flamenco Guitar Course, while acoustic guitarists are in for a treat as the king of Celtic guitar Tony McManus makes a welcome return to our city. The Festival will also offer the Thin Lizzy Riffs Library Electric Guitar Course, a Songwriting course with Eoin O’Callaghan (aka Best Boy Grip) and an Absolute Beginners’ Course. The first day of the Absolute Beginners course is free and promises to be a great experience for those wanting to give the guitar a go.

Audiences will also be treated to a series of unique guitar concerts featuring internationally acclaimed artists, such as Tatyana Ryzhkova, Pat Coldrick, John Walsh, Benyounes Quartet, Tony McManus, Sean Woods and Sarah Murphy.

Applications from guitarists of all standards are welcome. Download an application form on the website www.cityofderryguitarfestival.com, or email [email protected]

Course fees range from £120 for non-residential to £255 residential for a full weekend of classes.

Tickets are £12, £10 concession and £6 for students.

To book call 028 7131 1288 or send an email.

The City of Derry Guitar Festival is funded by Arts Council NI, the North West Regional College, City of Culture 2013 and the D’Addario Foundation.

Concerts: Thursday, August 22, 8pm, at Foyle Theatre, NWRC, with performances by Pat Coldrick (Classical Guitar) and John Walsh (Flamenco Guitar); Friday, August 23, 8pm, Gala Concert with performances by Sarah Murphy and Sean Woods (Flute & Guitar), followed by the Benyounes Quartet, and Benyounes Quartet and Sean Woods (Strings and Guitar); Saturday, August 24, 8pm, World Stage, Foyle Theatre, solo performance by Tatyana Ryzhkova (Classical Guitar) and Tony McManus (Celtic/Acoustic Guitar), and Sunday, August 25, 7pm at Foyle Theatre, NWRC, Student Gala with performances by students involved in the guitar courses. The City of Derry Guitar Festival Ensemble will premiere a new piece by Paul Coles.

Admission is free.