John Wheatcroft

Unbelievably, another year has flown by and 2020 is off to a fine start. I’ve got some exciting news with some brand new videos to be released imminently: album play-throughs, fly on the wall studio footage, tuition tips and performance demostrations, all filmed beautifully by the incredible Matty Brady. The diary is looking great, with more dates with Colin Lamont’s Alchemy Collective in January and a series of Gypsy Jazz gigs in London starting in March, with Filippo Dall’Asta, Mark Rose and more. Guitar Techniques magazine continues to keep me out of mischief. I started way back issue 108 and I’m currently putting something together for GT307, so I’m up to way over 200 articles and long may they continue.

Hope you have a wonderful 2020 and hopefully see you at a gig soon, JWx

It’s been an insanely busy few months, with gigs, lecturing and magazine stuff. Yesterday, we played two shows at The Epstein Theatre in Liverpool, with Asa Murphy’s Buddy Holly Lives show. It was an incredible day, so thanks to everyone that made it along. I have a solo set at The Windsor Guitar Night (27/6) coming up, along with a trio set the next night at The Archduke (28/6) on the Southbank. Making a start on GT300 today also. For this landmark issue, I’ll be exploring some ideas other the classic ‘Rhythm’ changes. Hopefully catch up with you at a gig at some point soon, Jx

Been a busy few months, with some great new projects such as Asa Murphy’s ‘Buddy Holly Lives’ and Andy Moorhouse’s ‘Friends Of Norman Havelock’ album, featuring Ralph Salmins, Dale Davis, Kevin Webster and many more. There are some exciting Gypsy Jazz gigs on the horizon, so please keep checking in and I’ll give you more details early next year. Busy busy with Guitar Techniques as usual, although there has been a change to the general theme and layout to the articles, so we’ll see less ‘sound-alike’ artist analysis and more ‘nuts and bolts’ conceptual stuff to get your teeth stuck into. Have a great Christmas and hopefully see you in the New Year, if not before. JW

Big thanks to all at Hughes & Kettner/JHS for sending me one of their new acoustic amps to try out, the Era 1. I used it live for the first time last night and first impressions are very good indeed. I’ll keep you posted how I get on and if you can make it down to a gig you’ll hear how good it sounds first-hand. Wishing everyone a fruitful 2018 and big thanks to Ryszard Gabrielczyk for graciously making the introductions.

Thanks so much to everyone that came out to our shows at the Edinburgh Fringe this year with Three Colours Guitar, featuring the hugely talented Dec Zapala and Matt Buchanan. It’s safe to say that this was a huge success, with not one but two five-star reviews.

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/three-colours-guitar

I’m looking forward to seeing where this project goes in the near future so I’ll keep you posted with news about forthcoming releases and live dates as soon as they are confirmed. JW

It’s been a busy few months and we’re hastily preparing for our Three Colours Guitar run at the Edinburgh Fringe. It’s sounding ace, so I’m very much looking forward to sharing the stage with the amazing Declan Zapala and the equally wonderful Matt Buchanan.

The Liverpool Philharmonic gig with John Jorgenson was a roaring success, so thanks to Conor French for having the faith and vision to put it together and to my amazing musician friends, Micky Dunne, Mark Rose and Jake Woodward for contributing their considerable talents and making it a night to remember. Watch this space for the next event as plans are being hatched as we speak.

I’ve had the great pleasure and considerable challenge of analysing the style of two incredible players for Guitar Techniques recently, so keep an eye out for Bill Frisell in GT273 and possibly my favourite living guitarist, Biréli Lagrène in GT274. My Lenny Breau article is in the current issue and he’s definitely a player to spend some time both listening to and learning from. Hope you enjoy these.

Hopefully see you on the road somewhere soon. Make sure to come over to say hello.

JWx

After the great success of last year’s show with Robin Nolan and Remi Harris, it’s is my great pleasure to announce that on the Saturday 3rd June 2017 I’ll be performing with my good friend and insanely good musician, the legendary guitarist John Jorgenson at The Music Room, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall as part of Blue Drag Music’s Django Legacy series of events. John is undisputably one of the best guitarists in the world and amongst a ridiculously long list of his talents, Gypsy Jazz and the music of Django Reinhardt is arguably right at the top. This will be an exciting and unique evening and I’ll let you know all the details over the coming weeks as we have some equally amazing guests in the pipeline. Tickets will be available soon, but for now at least. you should definitely put this date in your diary. JW

Just a quick post to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and wishing you a wonderful 2017. It’s beginning to look like a busy one, so I promise to keep you posted re gigs, recording and all the various other things that keep me occupied and out of mischief. Best wishes, JW

My tribute and accompanying lesson based on the style of the great Irish guitarist Louis Stewart is in the current issue of Guitar Techniques (GT263), available now. Louis was a truly staggering player and he will be sorely missed by the jazz community worldwide.. JW

I had the great pleasure of contributing to a feature in the new Guitarist magazine called Master It Faster, alongside great musicians and educators, Phil Hilborne, Denny Ilett and Geoff Lea. It’s a really well put together piece, so congratulation to David Mead and it contains some great solid tuitional advice along with some interesting and original tips and ideas. Hope you enjoy it.. JW