John Kirkbride (musician)

John Kirkbride

John Kirkbride in 2008
Background information
Born (1946-02-17) 17 February 1946
Ullapool, Scotland
Genres Blues, folk
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1975–present
Website john-kirkbride.com

John Kirkbride (born 17 February 1946, Ullapool, Scotland) is a Scottish singer, guitarist, songwriter and entertainer, currently residing in Germany.[1]

Style

Kirkbride's musical style is deeply rooted in the 1920s and 30s inspired by such musicians as Blind Blake, Willie McTell and Robert Johnson. Later guitarists such as Doc Watson, Chet Atkins and Leon Redbone were also an influence. Slide and alternative tunings play a huge role in providing accompaniment to the many many songs he has composed over the years, that is not including of course the many jazz and blues standards played in his own style. His songs are not all recognisable as standard blues. Many of the songs, for example his song Gas Tax Blues, are of a social and critical nature more reminiscent of Bob Dylan or Randy Newman. His voice that has been compared to a "thousand litres of whisky".[2]

History

John Kirkbride has been touring the world with his music since 1975 and has witnessed many changed in musical fashion, but has himself remained true to the older traditions of acoustic guitar and vocals.

Remaining true to his musical direction, and therefore not commercial in outlook, he is nevertheless respected enough to have been invited to play at the 1984 Montreux Jazz Festival.[2] Also John has shared the stage with Joan Armatrading, John Mayall, even Golden Earring and Whitesnake.[2] He has performed as a duo with Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Alexis Korner, Lightning Hopkins, Bert Jansch, Chuck Leavell and Louisiana Red and a notable session with Hank Marvin in the mid-1970s.

Today

As of 2015, John Kirkbride is still touring, composing and recording. He is also teaching guitar to a new generation of young musicians who are increasingly fascinated by the guitar techniques of yesteryear, where a single guitar, picked fully, could sound like a one-man band.[3]

Discography

LPs

CDs

References

  1. "John Kirkbride: Sketches Out Of The Box". Der Sankt Michaelsbund website (in German). Der Sankt Michaelsbund. Das katholische Medienhaus. 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "John Kirkbride". FolkClub.de (in German). Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  3. Thomas Stöcker (17 November 2010). "Gitarren-Lehrstunde mit John Kirkbride in Zeulenroda". Ostthüringer Zeitung website (in German). Ostthüringer Zeitung. Retrieved 19 February 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/16/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.