The new album "FAR" is now OUT!!!! It's available through itunes (just search for "Michael Berk") or you can buy a hard copy through CD Baby:
To purchase it through iTunes, click on this link:
www.myspace.com/roundmidnightbar
For the last 10 years, Michael Berk has been stunning audiences around the UK, performing over 250 shows a year with little more than a guitar and the occasional percussionist.London's famous 12 Bar Club calls him "one of the few truly gifted acoustic guitar players around- a true virtuoso". Born in March 1981, Michael began playing at the age of 6 using his mother's old guitar and a Beatles songbook. By the time he was 11, he was playing professionally with bands. Since then, Michael has performed in 6 countries, has privately taught over 80 students and is a regular session guitarist for several well known London-based producers. Yet it has only been over the past 6 years that he has received recognition for his own music, leading one leading promotion company to refer to him as "the greatest exponent of acoustic guitar on the live scene, not for the faint of heart!" (taken from Up All Night Magazine). London's former Human Soundwave Club says, "Michael stuns with his intricate compositions". A review from Guitar 9 Records (internet magazine) said: "London fingerstyle guitarist Michael Berk has already been compared to the likes of Michael Hedges, Adrian Legg and Preston Reed and the intricate compositions on his debut CD certainly invite comparisons with these masters. Advancing a percussive style on a steel-strung acoustic, album cuts such as 'All Enquiries' and the title track leap from the speakers, displaying technical mastery, a robust, commanding acoustic guitar tone and a passion for the sensitive side of guitar playing. The unpredictability of his compositions is also a strength - the music keeps your attention and offers a sense of fullness of expression."Michael has recently returned from the United States having performed in New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, New York and competed in the prestigious "National Fingerstyle Guitarist of the Year Competition" held in Winfield, Ks.Music from Michael's debut album "Organized Chaos" appeared on the documentary "Cancer Cures" on ITV.In June 2006 Michael completed a run playing guitar onstage at the Royal National Theatre in 'Burn' by Deborah Gearing..
Michael is a private guitar teacher and has been teaching from home for the past 5 years. Anyone interested in lessons (serious enquiries only please) should e-mail him at nervoustensionmusic@hotmail.com. Beginners to advanced welcome.
Alan here.
Packing me boots, stringing me guitars and getting ready for the next two weeks. Don't be frightened to shout out any songs off the album you want to hear and don't forget the crazier you are the crazier we are.
Look forward to seeing you in the asylum at the end of the tour.
Really enjoying you're playing, i last say you about five or six years ago at Windsor with Amrit. Enjoyed you're stuff nice to see where you're going now with it.
Really enjoying you're playing, must have been about five years since i last saw you with Amrit at Windsor. Great stuff, hope to catch you live again some day.
Hi Michael thanks again for a wonderful performance at THE SONG CLUB the other night. Quality as ever. Sorry for the poorer turnout. Hope you got back ok without braking down.
I played Amrit Sond - Circular Motion Byron Johnston - Boula... You - One Drunken Night at Mulligans You - The Graveyard Shift (I did some research beforehand you see!)
I also played Amrit's version of Two For The Road earlier in the show.
The interview will be played tonight on http://www. gu2. co. uk sometime between 7pm and 10pm. I'd love to be slightly more specific but it'll depend on the live band I have on tonight.
If you can't listen then there is a listen back feature on that website and I'll tell you roughly when I play it later.
HI MICHAEL SORRY FOR NOT GETTING BACK - ONLY JUST LOOKED AT THIS SITE THIS WEEK. NO SWEAT ABOUT THE GIG - I PHONED AND LEFT YOU A MESSAGE. IF YOU WANT TO DO ANOTHER ONEIN OCT/NOV/DEC LET ME KNOW. FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH CHEERS GAZ
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