Richard performing as part of the Arts Alive rural touring programme

And that is mainly thanks to Arts Alive/Flicks in the Sticks who promote live music, film and theatre in that beautiful part of the British Isles.

Richard spent four days cycling up from Sussex for his four concerts, carrying the Bog Oak guitar and a Tenor Banjo in his latest bid to limit carbon emissions.

“It took two back wheels and a replacement trailer to get to that first show – but I arrived on time and boy was it worth it. The energy generated by the audience was immeasurable, magical and gratefully received as the slings and arrows of the music business turned to dust under my fingers.”

Says Richard

For the shows on his tour Richard is playing music from the High Baroque, the English Baroque and, most unusually, the English Folk Baroque with tributes to Pentangle’s John Renbourn and the wondrous guitar playing of Martin Carthy.

Richard’s grasp of these different styles is unmatched; add to that his own, not entirely unrelated, compositions including a hypnotic new solo The Art of Levitation as well as audience favourites The Twitten and The Walrus Tree and this becomes a significant event for both acoustic and classical guitar lovers.


Cerys Matthews opened her BBC Radio 6 Music show last Sunday with the opening track of Richard’s new album Four String Bach Technique.

The response has been wonderful and whether on air or live in concert the notes of Bach’s famous 1st Cello Suite seem to flow like quicksilver from Richard’s delicately played Tenor Banjo. 


Four Strung Bach Technique

Don’t miss Richard performing live this summer at these venues:

Richard's summer tour 2025

Photo credits
Louise Durrant
Paul Cooper
James and Ruth Beale

Richard in St Magnus Cathedral in 2022

A guitar and a banjo will be Richard’s only companions on his ride to Shropshire next week – but they won’t have a seat. Instead they’ll be towed along in the trusty “Cycling Music” bicycle trailer.

Next week sees the start of Richard’s Summer Tour with four concerts supported by Arts Alive in the beautiful countryside of Herefordshire and Shropshire. There will also be some new music…

I’ve been working on a new solo called The Art of Levitation.  It’s an unusual, hypnotic creation in DADGAD tuning which will be premiered at the first gig on the tour. Then I hope it’s here to stay!” 

Says Richard

Also from his growing collection of originals Richard will include The TwittenBook of SpellsFirst Flight of the Baby Seagull, The Walrus Tree plus works by Barrios, Bach, Purcell and John Renbourn.

Richard’s intriguingly unpretentious style should not belie the emotional depth of his playing and his status as one of the world’s most inventive, virtuoso guitarists.

Four Strung Bach Technique – New album streaming live on all platforms from 29th May

Four Strung Bach Technique

Richard’s groundbreaking recordings of two of Bach’s much loved cello suites: No1. Played on Tenor Banjo and No.3 on Tenor Ukulele.

Here is where you can see Richard perform this summer:

Richard's summer tour 2025

Photo credits:
RD in St Magnus Cathedral: Louise Durrant
RD in Pluck Plank Studio: Daisy Durrant

Richard Durrant's cycling tour

Since 2014 Richard and his guitar have cycled thousands of miles around the British Isles raising awareness of climate change, the clean power of the bicycle and the magic of live music. 

Once again, Richard is in the saddle for the first concerts of his 2025 summer tour which begins on Thursday 29th May for Arts Alive in Harley, Shropshire. This gig will also mark the launch of Richard’s new solo album Four Strung Bach Technique. 

Richard Durrant

In between recording sessions for the album I often cycled up onto the downs for inspiration and training. More recently, because the first gigs involve some rather large hills, I’ve been cycling everywhere with a very large bag of John Innes No.3 in my trailer.”

Says Richard

Another big date on the tour will be Friday 6th June when Richard heads to Tate Modern London to attend the premiere of a film about the remarkable British artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey. 

Ackroyd & Harvey – The Art of Activism has a soundtrack by Richard recorded on his famous bog oak guitar (made from a 5,000 year old English Black Oak by Gary Southwell) and a ukulele by Pete Howlett made from Cedar rescued from the notorious 2002, Biscuit Creek, Oregon forest fire.

Ackroyd & Harvey: The Art of Activism

The provenance of these instruments and Richard’s work raising awareness of climate change are satisfyingly linked to the subject matter of this film and the work of two of Britain’s most renowned artists and climate change activists.

On Wednesday 18th June Heather and Dan plus film maker Fiona Cunningham-Reid will be joined by Richard for a screening and Q&A at Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham. 

Photo credits
Richard  with his bike: Dawn Jee
Richard with the ukulele and tenor banjo: Maggie Constable

Kent Downs © National Landscape

Richard Durrant

J S Bach has been a constant companion on Richard’s musical journey since his 1986 London debut with a performance of Bach’s D minor Chaconne…

Richard continues to play Bach as part of his lifelong daily practise and has now decided it is the right time to record his versions of JS Bach’s Cello Suites No.1 on Tenor Banjo and No.3 on ukulele.

Richard Durrant studied the cello alongside guitar and composition at the Royal College of Music lending an interestingly authentic angle to these stunning new interpretations. Listen to a sample:

The instruments used on these recordings are both tuned like a cello (CGDA) enabling Bach’s iconic notes to remain unchanged.

Instead it is the articulation that changes allowing Durrant to create the impression of a second and sometimes a third voice. In this way he challenges the usual associations of the banjo & ukulele and, with deceptive ease, invents a whole new sound world that is bright, crisp and beautiful.

In true Durrant style the album will be launched on 29th May at his Arts Alive rural touring scheme gigs in Shropshire & Herefordshire. Richard will arrive having pedalled all the way from Sussex carrying everything on his bicycle and trailer, limiting carbon emissions and delivering his familiar, gently spoken message of care for the natural environment. 

To order advance copies of FOUR STRUNG BACH TECHNIQUE on CD or hi-rez audio files visit Richard’s online shop. Also streaming on all platforms from 29 May.

Photos: Maggie Constable

Richard Durrant with bike

Richard has been training hard on his guitar, ukulele and bicycle ready for his summer gigs.

So far there are 14 shows including four rural touring dates for Arts Alive in Herefordshire, and a performance in Wiltshire’s beautiful Malmesbury Abbey of Rodrigo’s Concierto di Aranjuez with the Wessex Concert Orchestra:

During the tour Richard will be making a welcome return to Music in Quiet Places in Greatford, Lincolnshire (10th July), Swindon Arts Centre in Wiltshire (11th July) and Trinity Theatre Tunbridge Wells in Kent (25th July). 

Richard will also be appearing for the very first time at the fantastic Cambridge Junction (Wed 23rd July).

Please note… There are two particularly exciting events which we will be announcing soon. Look out for these on Richard’s website and social media!

French Guitar Adventurers

8-14 September 2025 in a converted Cognac House in the Charente

All guitarists and their guests stay at the beautiful French Retreat, a converted Cognac House in a secluded location in the Charente region. Accommodation is en-suite and all meals are cooked at the Retreat.

This an opportunity to work hard on your music in group sessions and private practise time but it is also a tranquil place to hang out with fellow guitarists and partners.  Lasting friendships are forged at FGA.  It is a great social space, there is an outdoor swimming pool and nearby fields crisscrossed by paths.

‘Becoming a Guitar Adventurer is an opportunity to explore standing up to play (my speciality and default position) and to discover the very real benefits of using a strap whether sitting or standing. Our daily sessions are best undertaken on a nylon strung, classical style instrument ideally with a cut-away and strap. This will leave you free to develop a more efficient and stylistically neutral playing position, strengthen technique and increase accuracy and agility.’

Says Richard

The FGA week progresses via enjoyable and supportive group study sessions and many chances to develop your guitar technique. A very relaxed open mic night preceeds a well attended end of week public concert in l’eglise Notre Dame, Yviers comprising student solos, ensemble pieces and other surprises.

Totally changed my view of music, practise and life generally.  All the better for it!’

Said Phil, an FGA participant
The French Retreat

‘The FGA week was a turning point when playing my guitar standing up became as natural and easy as breathing. The surprise was that it was like learning to fly, an extra dimension where the tone and overall sound was beyond anything I’d imagined I would be able to play.’

said Gill, an FGA participant

Please note that half of the available spaces are gone. So if you are considering coming along please contact us soon for a chat.

Songs of the Solstice at Ropetackle

Richard opened his Christmas Tour with four shows at the Ropetackle…

What a delight it was!

‘So many fabulous moments. Thanks for a magical, peaceful afternoon of wintery wonder.’

Lanie Pringle

‘The voices and harmonies this year were glorious. Each one of the players bought something magical to the stage and it all blended so well’ 

Nicky Thornton, Marketing Manager, Ropetackle

Songs of the Solstice

There is still time to hear this beautiful music from these six gifted performers:
14 Dec  Wilmington
19 Dec  Coventry
20 Dec  Scopwick

Photo credit: Maggie Constable

Songs of the Solstice band

Richard has been busy getting ready for this year’s Christmas tour: Songs of the Solstice.

Priory next door to the church of St Mary & St Peters in Wilmington, Sussex

Come along to one of the eight shows to enjoy the growing collection of stunning original material contributed by every member of this remarkable six piece band performed alongside numbers such as Johnny Flyn’s The Burial Blessing, Fleet Foxes White Winter Hymnal and Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjeilo.

The inspiration for these shows came in 1994 when Richard was living in the 11th century Priory next door to the church of St Mary & St Peters in Wilmington, Sussex. On one quiet midwinter’s afternoon somebody knocked on the door…

‘I was asked if I could pop into the church to share some music with a group of toddlers. I happily grabbed a guitar and met the children sat around the Christmas tree. I played a few tunes and we began to sing together and as we sang the winter sun managed to peep over the top of  Windover Hill to shine through the church window. The sense of shared magic was complete.’ 

Says Richard

Richard will be joined by his long-term Christmas collaborator, the singer, songwriter and actress Amy Kakoura. You can also hear three Durrant siblings Rooney, Daisy and Django.

The sixth voice joining this year is the internationally renowned keyboardist Howard Beach with whom Richard collaborated for their 2014 album Harpsichord & Guitar.

Songs of the Solstice

Songs of the Solstice

7 Dec    Ropetackle Arts Centre
8 Dec    Ropetackle Arts Centre
14 Dec  Wilmington
19 Dec  Coventry
20 Dec  Scopwick

Photo 1 by Louise Durrant
Photo 2 by Guillaume Issaly (Unsplash)
Artwork by Amelia Bartlett

Songs of the Solstice - cropped

Announcing Richard Durrant’s 2024 Midwinter Shows with guest musicians: Amy Kakoura, Howard Beach, Daisy Durrant, Django Durrant & Rooney Durrant-Davies.

‘With six of us singing there will be an extra richness to this year’s shows – not to mention a certain Howard Beach on keys. Expect some Vivaldi and Bach amongst the Pagan dancing.’

Says Richard

Richard and friends are pleased to include shows in St John the Baptist Church, Coventry and Scopwick Village Hall, Lincolnshire.

Songs of the Solstice

7-20 December 2024

Check out all the dates and buy your tickets now:

Richard Durrant

And what a tour it was as Richard Durrant shared his love of Paraguayan music, in particular that of the great Mangoré with audiences in England, Wales and Scotland.

‘I reconnected with many special people including lots of friends from my rural touring days. Some of the venues also felt like old friends. The two new dates on the tour, Alnwick Playhouse and The Acorn Penzance, were magical. Thanks one and all for your support and hard work.

Says Richard
Pluck Plank Studio

The Guitar in Paraguay

Saturday 26 October, 2pm to 6pm

There will be one last chance to experience some of the music from the tour and get to talk about Agustin Barrios with Richard in his studio.

Richard will perform highlights of the show and then lead a discussion. You do not need to be a guitarist to attend as all are welcome to come and visit Richard’s musical HQ. Limited numbers available.

There is a free ticket for the PluckPlankStudio event for the first person to explain what is going on in this photograph:

Email your answer to info@richarddurrant.com

Three runners up will receive a copy of Richard’s book The Number 26 Bus to Paraguay containing stories, pictures and guitar music from his travels in South America.

Photo credits: Alnwick Playhouse, Dr Christopher Roberts (NCEM) and Louise & Richard Durrant.