News
Press release - October 2025
28th Sep 2025
SORE FINGERS OCTOBER WEEKEND 24th to 26th October, 2025
LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO:
Now that time is closing in, we need to get all your bookings into the Sore Fingers Blender to ensure everything is mixed and ready for you when you arrive on site.
If you are intending to book, we would really appreciate it if you could send us your booking forms soonest.
Keep ‘em coming! Bookings have been a bit slow this year, and few more will reinforce the usual buzz favourably.
In addition, KHS has had a major management change, and it takes a bit more time to get things done while the new people settle in. Ideally, we’d like your bookings ASAP - in the next couple of weeks - to give them (and all of us) the best chance possible of producing a good event to the highest level of quality we can achieve.
The lineup of tutors this year reflects this level of quality as can be demonstrated from their ongoing standout performances keeping our styles of music at the forefront of acoustic music in venues and festivals throughout the UK, Europe, USA and elsewhere in the world.
Bios are on the website and there are several introductory videos on the Facebook page.
They are as follows:
Banjo - Percy Copley
Bass - Peter Earle
BG Fiddle - Sam Draper
Dobro - Chris Eaton
Guitar - Max Vizard
Mandolin - Abbey Thomas
Mandolin - John Moore
OT Banjo - Dan Stewart
OT Fiddle - Emily Smith
Singing - Paul Brewer and Philippa Ogden
Full bios are on the website but here is a little precis about who's teaching this year, a fine line up!
We are very fortunate to have the wonderful John Moore from the USA with us again this October. His mandolin class is an opportunity not to be missed. It is a little-known fact that Chris Thile took up the Mandolin after seeing John in California many years ago. John then mentored Chris. It’s no surprise really. John has one of the most fluid styles on both guitar and mandolin and excels at “clean notes”! Outstanding reviews surround his teaching wherever he goes. His award-winning Band career and involvement with TV commercials and Film Soundtracks makes him a much sought after musician.
Please note this class is open to all playing levels. He will be teaching a standard class with the opportunity to invite something more challenging if you are up for it.
Abbey Thomas will also be teaching a basic mandolin class. She’s really enthusiastic about welcoming you and helping to “get your chops right” as she does so well with several bands! That’s going to be an energetic class….
Alongside John and Abbey, we have a lot of fresh talent on the team. Max Vizard and Philippa Ogden have been delighting the festival circuits this summer and their skills are not in doubt.
Philippa’s collaboration with Paul Brewer should be enlightening. Paul is a veritable mine of information regarding early Bluegrass singing. What he doesn’t know probably isn’t worth knowing!
Demand for a Beginners class and one for Ukulele just didn’t get off the ground so that’s given us an opportunity to employ Mr Percy Copley to teach the 5 String Banjo for a change. In my humble opinion he’ doesn’t play it nearly enough. He’s just great and we all know he’s an excellent teacher too.
Chris Eaton is probably our only full-time teacher. That’s what he does week in week out. Teaches Guitar, Dobro, etc. Any students in his class will be in good hands to progress much further than one thinks is possible with a Dobro. An absolutely lovely instrument and I don’t agree with Monroe’s view that “Dobros ain’t no part of nothin” He said it… apparently – but then changed his mind. No wonder!
Fiddle should be classy this October with both tutors, the lovely Emily Smith and the amazing Sam Draper – who not only collaborate in a successful band but can demonstrate extreme skill individually with their bows and strings. Emily will be taking the Old Timers whilst Sam will be taking Bluegrass. We could have some explosive fiddle breaks on stage as well as in the classroom.
If Clawhammer banjo is your thing, Dan Stewart is in charge of the biggest class so far currently with the most students. This is a credit to his playing and teaching credentials. I know this man can reach certain parts that others just sail past and that’s why he proves so popular. There’s still some room in his class but don’t hang about.
Peter Earle, one of the scene’s most ubiquitous musicians, will be teaching Double Bass. Peter is one half of the Easter Beginners team and has been teaching proper things like Music Theory and Bass at S.F. for longer than I care to remember. If the Double Bass is still a bit of a mystery for you, Peter’s your man, he’ll set you on the right track.
Come to SFOWE at Kingham Hill School and assuage grim thought of the clocks changing at the end of October. Revel in the joy of learning more about these uplifting musical styles to spark you through the winter months.
John, Moira and the team