IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION RE MY GUITAR TUITION, CHECK OUT MY 'GUITAR TUITION' BLOG. FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE, EMAIL OR PHONE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
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COMING SOON!!!......... GROUP WORKSHOP.........COMING SOON!!
'AN INTRODUCTION TO BLUES IMPROVISATION FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS'
A group workshop on a Sunday afternoon coming soon (date to be confirmed). Venue - 'The Tower of Song', Cotteridge, Birmingham (home of 'The Crossroads Blues Club'). A value for money introduction to improvisation for intermediate guitarists. Want to learn to jam? This could well be the one for you....... Acoustic or electric, a range of abilities catered for. More details to follow shortly (limited places, so worth registering your interest early - you can message here or via mark@markbennett.co.uk).
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EXCITING NEW DUO PROJECT IN THE MAKING - TO RUN ALONGSIDE BOTH MY SOLO STUFF AND 'MY MATE MARK'!! IF YOU LIKE THE COOL BLUESY, ROCKY, JAZZY END OF 'MMM' THEN YOU'LL LIKE THIS (WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND OUR NEW MYSPACE!!!!).
Rather too many to mention I'm afraid. I'm influenced in some way by everything I like, and that in itself covers a pretty broad spectrum - from country blues through classic rock, to jazz, funk, fusion and beyond.... A little bit of each probably shows up somewhere in what I do.
I'm particularly fascinated by quality guitar playing - especially in the context of the solo acoustic performance. To me as a listener, a bit of instrumental prowess combined with a passion for what you're doing can go a long way towards making a performance. I suppose those are two qualities I strive for as a performer myself.
A random sample in no particular order: Matt Scoffield, Paul Weller, Nick Harper, Joe Bonamassa, Pink Floyd, John Scofield, Deidre Cartwright, John Goldie, Eric Bibb, Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Santana, Doug Macleod... etc etc. I said it was diverse! And of course that's not to mention the many quality musicians on a local level I've had the pleasure of sharing a platform with in and around the midlands. There's something to learn from just about everyone.
Time for a bit of a page update, me thinks! As the emphasis for me is swinging away from acoustic to my electric playing, I thought it best time to perhaps reflect that here. I'm still very much doing the acoustic thing with my duo 'My Mate Mark' (see top friends) alongside Mark Whitmore ('Urisk' - ditto), and some solo acoustic blues, but the barometer is definitely swinging in the direction of electric blues.
My music (this time round) has always put my guitar playing somewhat centre stage (rather than my singing that is!) and with my love of blues developing nicely, an electric trio definitely seemed the way to go - nothing recorded yet, but watch this space.... I'm starting to put myself around as a guitar player too (electric and/or acoustic, all styles), so if you feel my playing could enhance your project - be that for one-off recordings, the odd gig, or a full time member of the band - I could well be interested (just drop me a line).
I'm also now offering guitar tuition (see 'GUITAR TUITION' blog for more info). In addition to catering for total beginners and intermediate players, I can offer guidance to acoustic singer-songwriters hoping to take their playing up a notch. If you're birmingham based, are dissatisfied with your playing, or just want to develop your guitar parts to match your vocal/songwriting prowess just get in touch.
In lieu of new recordings, I've run off a few quickie 'home videos' to maybe better illustrate the direction I'm moving in. Nothing flash.... very rough, very real, very live........ but maybe a bit more indicative of 'where I'm at' than the rather dated solo acoustic recordings on my music player (still relevant, but recorded just 4 months into my fledgling singing career!)
I can be contacted for bookings, sessions, new projects or tuition here, or via mark@markbennett.co.uk.
Enjoy!
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Original Blurb
I play what is perhaps best described as 'laid back acoustic rock 'n' blues' with just a hint of jazz from time to time (as the fancy takes me!). My repertoire covers both the familiar and the unexpected - the only criteria being I have to really love it!! (if the original moves me, hopefully my version might move you!). I try and find ways of making anything I do my own, even if it's not! When it comes to covers, I'm not particularly interested in the straight 'rehash'.
As I've had this page up and running for 3 or 4 months now, I thought it perhaps about time I had some music on it! Being one for playing my stuff out rather than recording it, a certain inertia had begun to set in on this front (.... say no more!). Anyway thanks to a certain Mr Paul Walker (www.paulwalkermusic.co.uk) I now have something to show. Recorded on a very wet afternoon early December up in Stone, these are my takes on a few tunes you might know .... and some you probably wont.
It was all recorded 'live', with several of the tracks being done in just one take. I'd like to say with no overdubs, but unfortunately that would be lying (I think we had two little inexcusable gliches that we dropped in on, basically 'cause we 'couldn't be arsed/didn't have time' to do the whole thing all over again...). You'll hear plenty of excusable ones if you listen hard enough by the way, but that's the beauty of live recording. In short what you hear here is what you get live.... the whole purpose of the exercise.
“Friday night at BASE STUDIOS in Stourbridge we film
bands and musicians who come down to play the OPEN MIC and we
make promotional videos for FREE. Just turn up at 7pm to play the OPEN MIC. Filming begins at 7pm.
There's always a crew there. The Bar opens at 7pm too and if you want more
people in your video then bring a crowd down with you (It makes your videos
look better)” - Nick
Interview: Camera: Andy Watts
Music clip Director/editor/camera: Nick J.Townsend
Hi Mark, Here's a workshop that you might be interested in on Saturday 21st March at the Sutton Blues Collective. Jim Crawford is one of the Country's leading acoustic guitarists, and will be giving instruction on fingerpicking and bottleneck styles.
He is also performing in concert at the Sutton Blues Collective on Wednesday 18th March. A rare chance of seeing him this far north of Devon.
