Archive for year: 2020

Join Richard on Saturday 30 May at 7pm for his next Livestreamed Concert on YouTube and FacebookLive.

See the trailer for Saturday’s show here: 

The next in this fortnightly series features music from Richard’s highly acclaimed, 2018 double album Stringhenge. The album was launched at the start of a bicycle powered concert tour from St Magnus Cathedral Orkney to Brighton Open Air Theatre.

This fortnight’s concert comes at what would have been the start of an even more intrepid bicycle concert tour starting once again in the Cathedral on Orkney but this time taking Richard all the way to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain.  

Richard’s very individual take on JS Bach and other originals is performed on a guitar made from an English black oak tree that was growing more than 5,000 years ago and then preserved in the anaerobic mud of East Anglia.

This amazing instrument was built by the renowned luthier Gary Southwell – the Lincolnshire Luthier – and was one of the main inspirations for Stringhenge. 

Says Richard:

‘This guitar has an almost sacred presence and Stringhenge grew out of my relationship with it. It led me to commission the Uffington Tenor Guitar from Ian Chisholm, to write loads of new music and to gather the images for an entirely new show.’

The concerts on the 2020 tour have been rescheduled for 2021. But in this Saturday’s 45 minute concert you can hear some of the wonderful music from the album. The concert will be followed by a 15 minute Q&A giving the audience an opportunity to find out more about the music, the inspiration and the instruments.

This next concert in the series will be broadcast live at 7pm on Saturday on YouTube and Facebook. 
Just click on one of the links to join Richard…

We would be delighted if you would buy a ticket for this concert from £5 upwards. You can also support this project during or after the event.

Just click on the button below for details…

In difficult times, many people turn to music. The Italians and Spanish have shown us how to share that love of music from their balconies – even when in self-isolation…

So we thought we should give you a little boost to help get you through these challenging times: the first month on Richard’s online academy is NOWFREE. This is IN ADDITION to the first 7 days free that new subscribers normally receive. 

In the Academy there are in-depth lessons for both nylon and steel string guitar plus tenor guitar and ukulele. There’s even a Guitar Sight Reading module and a brand new series of films on how to learn and perfect a tremolo on classical guitar called “The Complete Guide to Tremolo”. 

To get the first month free at the academy click below and select Academy Passport then Subscribe Now.

Create an account and when you get to the checkout click Have a coupon? enter the coupon code loveguitar and click Apply.

You’ll then see a message that shows the coupon has worked. Enter your card details and complete your purchase.

‘This is a genuine gift from me to you with no catches. But please note that after a month and 7 days, monthly payments will start to be taken so you’ll need to cancel before then if you want to avoid this. Of course, if you want to stay longer – you would be very welcome!’

Richard Durrant

FILM YOUR OWN PLAYING

As you may have a little more time on your hands over the coming weeks why not film yourself playing? You can upload these short selfie guitar movies and tag your Facebook and Twitter posts with #loveguitar and @RichardDurrantX

‘Whether you are a beginner, ambitious improver or want to teach me a lesson, let’s see them all! The only poor guitar is the one that isn’t played.’

Richard Durrant

Richard’s diary of events and activities is having to make some adjustments as a result of the current coronavirus situation. Do keep up to date with any date changes or cancellations by checking out his online diary above.

A special year ahead for guitarists with the release of a new double album Weald Barrows, a ‘pilgrimage’ concert tour by bicycle from Orkney to Santiago di Compostela, and two amazing weeks of French Guitar Adventurers.

Richard is currently up to his eyeballs in writing and recording the music for Weald Barrows, his fantastic new album with it’s unashamed focus on climate change and European friendship. 

The first releases from this much awaited sequel to Stringhenge will be via BandCamp and social media. More of the tracks will be included in Richard’s gigs in April and May.

The completed album will be launched on 4 June at St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney at the start of Richard’s biggest yet Cycling Music tour all the way down to Spain.

And in July and September Richard will be staging his hugely popular French Guitar Adventurers holidays for guitarists in the South of France. As usual these are selling fast so get in touch quickly if you fancy taking part. There is room for each guitarist to bring a partner or guest.

Just look at these details from this amazing guitar made from 5,000 year old English black oak by Gary Southwell. In the pics above you’ll notice the patterns inspired by Northumbrian rock carvings. This instrument is particularly special as Richard explains:

‘This guitar was the inspiration behind Stringhenge (2018 double album). The history of the 5,000 year old tree and its spiritual resonances gave me heart and a longer perspective after the political horrors of 2016. I first got the instrument in those terrible months between the Brexit vote and the election of Trump!’

Richard Durrant

Richard featured this wonderful instrument in last November’s Homelink Charity gig at Glyndebourne last November – and thanks to Sam Stephenson for these great photos. Richard played the Bog Oak Bouree: