Tutors

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ADVANCED CLASSES -

As we have done in previous years at October, we hope to stage a couple of advanced classes depending on tutor's availability.

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TONY FURTADO - BANJO MASTERCLASS

TONY FURTADO Tony Furtado is a major musical force without a doubt. He has his black-belt in voice and bottleneck guitar and his banjo playing scares the crap out of me.”
– David Lindley, musical adventurer

Very few musicians of any stripe so personify a musical genre as completely as Tony Furtado embodies Americana roots music. Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele who mixes and matches sounds and styles with the flair of a master chef (he’s also an accomplished sculptor, but that’s another story). All of the music of America is in Tony’s music. Relix hit the nail on the head when writing of Tony: “True talent doesn’t need categories.”

A native of Pleasanton, California, who now makes his home in Portland, Oregon, Tony Furtado took up the banjo at age 12, inspired by the Beverly Hillbillies TV show and a sixth grade music report. He first attracted national attention in 1987, when he won the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Not long after that, Tony opted for the life of a full-time professional musician, joining Laurie Lewis & Grant Street. A second victory at Winfield, in 1991, bookended his years with Grant Street.

In 1990, Tony signed a recording deal with Rounder Records, one of the country’s preeminent independent record companies. Beginning with Swamped in 1990, he recorded six critically acclaimed albums for the label, collaborating with such master musicians as Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, Kelly Joe Phelps and Mike Marshall. During this period, Tony also performed and recorded with the band Sugarbeat and the Rounder Banjo Extravaganza with Tony Trischka and Tom Adams.

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STANDARD CLASSES -

Our standard classes bring together the best of British and European based tutors to teach you the finer points of Bluegrass and Old Time Music.

And, don't for minute be fooled by the fact they don't come from Kentucky or Tennessee, these guys and gals can easily hold their own with the masters form across the Atlantic as has been proved on many occasions in the tutor Concert!

They are just the best!

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Patrick Couton - Autoharp

Patrick Couton A professional musician for over thirty years, Patrick Couton began his career aged six playing flute before progressing to accordion then guitar. He then moved onto Old Time Banjo and Dobro. In 1971, Patrick added the Autoharp to his arsenal of instruments and quickly got into traditional Iris music and “old Jazz”. His first Autoharp dedicated CD -Autoharp Ce Soir - was re-issued in the US by famous luthier ad Autoharp maker Oscar Schmidt which was received to great acclaim on the other side of the Atlantic. As a result of that exposure, Patrick subsequently toured the US with George Fischer between 1980 and 84 and those trip included many appearances at the Prairie Home Companion.
Patrick’s professional work includes playing with several bands, mostly guitar. But the Autoharp is never far away and is currently revisiting his repertoire for the Autoharp with a view to re-releasing a new CD in 2011 featuring his long time partner George Fischer.
It’s great to welcome such an accomplished musician at Sore Fingers and we hope this will be the first of many.

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Ben Somers - Bass

Ben Somers Ben Somers grew up surrounded by music as his father Steve Somers was and still is a very active professional musician. Steve was a long time colleague of Peter Sayers well known for his part in the UK country and bluegrass scene.
Ben began playing the saxophone at the age of 16 and went on to study jazz at university in London. It was around this time that he got drawn back to the sounds of his childhood and got hooked on bluegrass, country and western swing. He got hold of a double bass and fully immersed himself in the music.
Currently Ben tours regularly with Seal, singing backing vocals and playing sax. He has also played and recorded with the likes of Dr John, Dizzee Rascal, Mika, Leon Hunt, Krystle Warren and many more. He is also very active on the jazz and world scene playing as a regular member of the Gareth Lockrane big band, Kate william's septet (daughter of John ), Real Word recording artists Dub Colossus, Latin ensemble Manteca.
Ben is interested by all forms of music and by making music with others and more recently, he's been heading up tours with many of America's highly sought after Bluegrass musicians. If there's Bluegrass around your town, Ben could well be involved!!!

Website

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Paddy Kiernan - Bluegrass Banjo

Paddy Kiernan Paddy is one of Ireland's most in-demand banjo players and teachers. He currently plays with progressive folk band Pine Marten, Persian/Irish crossover band Navá, Roots/Bluegrass band Lands End, the Niall Toner Band, and gigs regularly throughout Ireland and the UK. His banjo playing has also been featured in the dance world, in works by Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre Company and the National Ballet of Ireland. Constantly pushing boundaries on his instrument, Paddy was the first 5 string banjo player to graduate from the University of Limerick’s MA in Traditional Music Programme. He also maintains a busy teaching schedule, both privately and at Walton's New School of Music in Dublin City Centre.
Paddy is no stranger to Sore Fingers Summer Schools having dipped his tow into the water several times at our Easter course as a student. You’re in safe hands with Paddy. This is going to be an exciting class!

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Noel Dashwood - Dobro

Noel Dashwood Noel is quickly becoming the dobro player of choice on the British scene. He is absolutely dedicated to the instruments and at festivals, you rarely see him without his Resophonic seeking out sessions!

We thought it was time to let him lose o the Sore Fingers Students and let him pass on some of that knowledge. He's bee a regular at the Easter event learning with the masters, Rob Ickes, Billy Cardine, etc.

We are pleased to confirm this course will run as scheduled.

Website

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Niles Krieger - Bluegrass Fiddle

Niles Krieger Originally from Connecticut, Niles Krieger is now based in Newcastle upon Tyne and plays with up-and-coming UK bluegrass groups The Kentucky Cow Tippers and Assembly Lane. He graduated from Newcastle University’s Folk and Traditional Music course in 2015 and has since completed his master’s degree, which involved researching the social history and repertoire of the fiddle in 18th Century New England. As a performer and teacher, however, Niles is most likely to be found playing bluegrass. His smooth, bluesy style marries the traditional with the contemporary and is influenced heavily by the likes of Kenny Baker, Byron Berline and Stuart Duncan, although it incorporates aspects of the many different types of music he is inspired by. In addition to playing the fiddle, Niles plays mandolin and guitar and sings.

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Yves Aerts - Guitar

Yves Aerts Yves is widely known for his phenomenal guitar playing and for his smooth and velvety voice. He started playing guitar at the age of 14 exploring singer-songwriters before moving on to Bluegrass flatpicking. Yves has spent a significant amount of time in the US picking up the bluegrass style of Tony Rice, Tim Stafford and David Grier.
Through the years Yves have played in several prominent European Bluegrass ensembles including Rawhide, Blue Cartel and Rocks & Ivy to mention just a few. Yves' tight and groovy rhythm and crisp and melodic leads drive the sound of the Sons Of Navarone.

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Percy Copley - Mandolin

Percy Copley Percy Copley has been around the British Bluegrass festival circuit quietly plighting his trade for as long as one can remember. Percy, a man of many talents is equally adept on Mandolin, Banjo (tenor and five string), Guitar and Ukulele…, in fact you name the instrument it and it is likely he can get a tune out of it! Percy is on the entertainment staff at Eurodisney in France and has been there since the park opened in 1992. Recently relocated to the depths of South Wales, we’ll see more of him and that’s a good thing.
He’ll be leading a new thing, a Ukulele course. People have asked about this and we thought it was time to try things out. Percy is the best man for the job, he’s even been to the place they came from! Now an established S.F. Tutor there’s no one better to teach you the intricacies of this fascinating instrument. So, all you Uke Players, come out for a weekend, it’s going to be fun.
Percy has an infectious sense of humour but behind the façade, there is a real professional at work. His class is guaranteed to be fun but expect to meet a dedicated master of his art.

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Andy Quelch - Old Time Banjo

Andy Quelch Andy Quelch is one of those musicians who doesn’t make a lot of noise but then appears on stage or in a session and turns heads! He is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years’ experience of playing American traditional styles and has become sought after in the UK Old-time and bluegrass scene for his driving and inventive rhythm playing on Banjo and Guitar.

Andy played for many years with Chris Moreton in Trouble and Strife and the Chris Moreton Trio and now regularly performs with Emily Smith (our Old-time fiddle tutor) in A&E Oldtime String Band where he plays Banjo and Guitar, and the Ragged Out String Band. As well as teaching private lessons and workshops, Andy has been a regular tutor at Sore Fingers on both Banjo and Guitar.

The course is aimed at beginner and intermediate players, and will focus on the building blocks of great banjo playing: focussing on solid rhythm, picking out the basic melody, and the role of banjo supporting the fiddle. Andy and Emily will develop some shared repertoire across the banjo and fiddle courses to liven up the evening’s jamming!

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Emily Smith - Old Time Fiddle

Emily Smith Emily Smith’s love for American fiddle styles was ignited 20 years ago by an early Stringbean Akeman recording of Little Maggie with Chubby Wise on fiddle. Since then she has been a regular student and teacher at Sore Fingers, learning from the great American and UK players and sharing her own knowledge at our October weekends.

Emily regularly performs and runs workshops with Andy Quelch (our banjo tutor) in A&E Oldtime String Band and the Ragged Out String Band. Their partnership has led her to explore the endless treasure trove of Old-Time fiddle tunes which she loves to share through teaching and performing.

The course is aimed at players who can already play their fiddle/violin at a basic level. Emily will teach Old-Time American fiddle tunes, breaking down each tune phrase by phrase and focussing on the tunings, bowing patterns and inflections that make the unique sound of Old Time fiddle music. The tunes will be taught by ear so you don’t need to read music. Emily and Andy will develop some shared repertoire across the fiddle and banjo courses to liven up the evening’s jamming!

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Sue Pomeroy - Singing

Sue Pomeroy With harmonies at the heart of her performances and song-writing, Sue Pomeroy has always been steeped in bluegrass, old-time and country music. She has hardly missed an opportunity to soak up influence from the masters herself by attending workshops with the likes of Val Mindel and Alice Gerrard (and by being a fierce attendee at SFSS!). It was the quality of vocal harmonies in her previous band The Woodberrys which won them the band competition for Ely Folk Festival in 2012. Sue now performs in a duo The Rye Sisters with versatile singer Ishani Siriwardena. The Rye Sisters won the ‘BBC Song for Lincolnshire 2016’ song-writing competition. As a result of this, and their growing reputation from their busy gig schedule, they are becoming known for beautiful singing arrangements and harmonies in American music with wide appeal. They also love old-time song harmonies and recently performed at Orwell festival to much acclaim. Both teachers by trade, Sue and Ishani can easily demonstrate and impart the techniques and knowledge for singing powerfully and in perfect harmony.

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Phil Doleman - Ukulele

Phil Doleman Phil’s voice is as big as his ukulele is small, and his love of vintage blues, hokum, jug band and jazz shines through in his intricate picking and driving rhythms on both uke and tenor banjo. Phil has travelled all over the UK and to Europe and the US, performing and leading workshops at festivals, theatres, clubs and events. He has appeared on several albums, performed on BBC radio and TV, taught over 1500 ukulele players, and shared the stage with some of the world’s finest players.

Phil paid us a visits during the Easter week and loved Sore Fingers. He makes his debut this October and we hope he bring s a lot of uke player friends with him! A fun guy to be around!

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