Around 50 in 2006. Key members/guitar players include Chris Fry ( Chair), Rob Southall (Secretary and treasurer), Andy Long (Vice Chair and bass secretary) and Liz Keegan (Assistant Secretary), Olivier Anton, Alex Haines, Dave Gibbon, Dave Porter, Chris Harding, Steve Tippings, Dave Brutnell, Chris Moore, Brett Green, Dale Warner (Earth Balm), Jacgui and Richard Rudd, Graham Pearson, and not forgetting former member (now professional guitarist) Gareth Pearson.
Influences
Past Guests: Chris Moreton, Archipelago (Tim Nikolai & Namaste Lochrie), The Amigos, Graham Pearson, Dylan Fowler, Chris and Dan Fry, Phil Millichip, Duck Baker, Michael Raven, Folk Di Fyno, Contraband, Blue Coup (Roger Granelli & Richard Jones), Eric Roche, Eddie Walker, Bob Brozman, Michael Roach and Ian Briggs, Adrian Byron Burns, Lauford (Laurence Eddy & Wynford Jones), Resonator (Ned Clamp and Ian Lawrence), Johnny Dickinson, Catfish Keith, Rod Fogg, Wizz Jones, Pete Smith and John Buckley, John James, Tim Crahart, Martin Simpson, Daniele Bazzani and Gina Fabiani, Keith Christmas, Jacques Stotzem, Peter Howlett, Gareth Pearson, Steve Tilston, Tristan Seume, Steve Ashley, Peter Finger, John Goldie,Sild, Boys from the Hill, Allegria, Ian, Rick and Remo (The Albino Frogs) Nick Beggs (Chapman Stick Recital), Jon Gomm, Alan Burke, John Rodge and Melt Kingston, Hootenanny 3 with David Grier, Magenta, TOGz, Tin Pan Alley, The Fugitives, The Geyers, John Renbourn & Jacqui McShee, Steve Lawson, Allan yn y Fan, Emily Smith Band, Woody Mann, John Etheridge, Gareth Pearson, Halflight, the Shelleys, Sambuca, Brett Green. Kit Holmes, Roland Chadwick, Nick Jones & Mike Markey, Kevin Brown, Doc Rossi, Dan Arborise, Pete Berryman, Christopher Rees, Buffalo Gil's, Jim Lampi, Ron Trueman-Border, Terry Clarke, Seth Horan, David Rogers, Tony Cox(BMI), Adrian Hughes, John Lester, Gordon Giltrap (guitar day), Kadesha, Nathan Treadgold, Andy Irvine, Evaburn, Ragtime Jug Orchestra, Sarah McQuaid, Thomas Leeb (BMI) Jack Harris (BMI), The Gentle Good (Gareth Bonello)
Sounds Like
Chris Fry, Rob Southall, Olivier Anton, Alex Haines, Dave Porter, Dave Gibbon et al. Here's some of the latest with Alan Cole and Gareth
Mills plus more of Magenta unplugged.
The Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club was established in January 2002 and is Wales’s only acoustic music club specialising in the acoustic guitar. Club evenings are diverse and range from solo guitar, singer-songwriter, Welsh or international, traditional duos and trios and occasionally more unusual instruments such as lute, cittern, banjo, Chapman Stick or bass guitar are featured. We have featured a wide range of musical styles over the years including classical, blues, jazz, folk, and even progressive rock, however the main focus of the club is folk blues and we have featured a number of prominent names in this genre over the last eight years including John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, Martin Simpson, Andy Irvine, Bob Brozman, Catfish Keith, Wizz Jones and Steve Tilston.
The club usually meets once monthly, on the third Friday, at the Crosskeys Hotel where we have been based since October 2004 - thanks to Dick and Jean who are great hosts . The club has occasionally hold concerts on other days of the week and at other venues, e.g. Newbridge Memo, Blackwood Miner’s Institute, Risca Rugby Club or Crosskeys Rugby Club for concerts with bigger name artists. The focus of all our planned activity in 2010 will be the Crosskeys Hotel and you don’t need to be a member to come along.
Evenings at the Crosskeys are typically welcoming and laid back and you can sit back and enjoy a pint or two, or even a meal if you get in early, while watching. We usually start the evenings at 7.30 with an open mic slot where anyone can get up and play. This is then followed at around 9pm with a concert consisting of two 45 minutes sets by the featured artists. Our guests are always highly regarded and capable performers, whether local or from further a field. Most guests are professional musicians and are singers in addition to being accomplished guitarists –which is why we need to charge an admission fee.
Here's some footage of our club Chairman Chris Fry and his brother Dan playing at the Crosskeys on Friday 11th December 2009
and above is some footage of Jon Airdrie playing Woolacombe Fair in June 2008.
Here's Wizz Jones, Pete Berryman and John James at the club in April:
Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club's Friend Space (Top 40)
WE FINALLY HAVE SOME NEW DEMOS UP!! Please check them out and tell us what you think!
Since we have changed the name of the band our CD is now a collector’s item! If you’re interested, please show your support and Purchase the Sand Timer CD here.
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
PS: Sorry if you've already received this... with over 20,000 friends, its kinda hard to keep track!!! Nevertheless we'll do our best to keep our friends informed :D
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Thanks a lot for your kinds words and for giving me the chance to play last Friday. I really enjoyed myself and will hopefully be able to come along again sometime :)
