Some of the professional players have worked together to produce this video and start a fund raiser to keep the festival going, that's how much they all care about, value and enjoy that special weekend in October. It's the annual "meet" of so many wonderful musicians,  we mere mortals get to watch them play, and if we behave, we might even be allowed to speak to them and buy them a drink. 

GoFundMe Link

Ullapool Guitar Festival Website

Two of the best ever musicians, and the backbone of the whole Ullapool weekend. They also have proper daytime jobs. Who'd have thought?

Gordon, of course, was my first ever professional customer, here he is playing his Leonardo alongside the very very famous Hugh Burns

Gordon's Website

Watching these two is probably the most fun you can have  while sitting in a dark room on uncomfortable seats in another country. There are other things I could say, but I'm not allowed. They have been known to  include innocent passers-by in their stage antics. I think my favourite night was when Seonaid Aitken joined in on jazz violin and song in the early hours. Astonishing.

Richard Lindsay would love to have them back again, but of course having become famous by playing the unique Ullapool Festival, they are now far too busy and expensive. Maybe one day.

This is another guitar from the collection I've mentioned. Made in 2019 and I can't see any marks etc anywhere.

The Oberon was the basis of Fylde in the 1970's. It's just about the only model we made for quite a long time, and it's become well known for its association with "English" guitar playing styles. That's a bit unfair really, there were plenty of Scots, Welsh and Irish players involved as well. It just means I happened to be around when so many UK players were adapting every style of music for steel string guitar.

Lucky me.

To be fair to myself, it wasn't luck. I was playing a lot myself at the time, and meeting all those people, it was obvious what was needed, so that's what I made. A smallish body that was suitable to be played sitting down, and a wider fingerboard and shorter scale than was generally available. Soon it seemed everybody wanted one. And here I am, fifty odd years later. Sigh.

For sale at £4,100. Grab one now. Oh, sorry, there is only one - SOLD

Ben is a young advocate of the Oberon. He has owned an old one, and a new one. Here he is, playing the new one, although it isn't quite that new anymore. He's good, isn't he?  That's what happens when you play an Oberon. 

Ben's Website

Another Ben, that's the only link here, apart from that Ben has just sent me this video. 

I'll forgive the addition of electric guitar, just because its Ben. Anyway, it's a Gretsch, they used to be the preeminent advocate of the zero fret idea and they have always had a lot of engineering in them, which is fun.  

Ben's a great player and we don't hear enough of him. I keep telling him to get to Ullapool.

Ben's Website

A second-hand mandolin, made in 2020. It came to us in excellent condition, and we've made it even better. I could sell it as unused if I were unscrupulous.

Complete with case, for sale at £1250 - SOLD

Archie was probably my first Scottish musician friend.  He's massively well connected, and I was reminded of that when Billy Connolly referenced him in " In My Own Words" on TV this week. We've always referred to Archie as "The man with the brown velvet voice". and he is at least partly to blame for my interest in the finest Malt Whiskies. A contemporary and friend to Billy, Davy Graham, Bert Jansch, John Martyn, Hamish Imlach, Barbara Dickson, and many others , he has been my connection to many people and many things. 

 He's playing his old Orsino here in a very interesting stage setting and singing about my part of the world.

More abour Archie

The video I shared last month had some nice  comments, so I found another one.

Gemma's guitar sounds lovely, she's a great singer  and  I really like the cheeky look she gives to the camera at the end of her video.

Gemma's Website

What fun!

That’s it for this month.. For those of you who can’t get to the festival, watch out for the next newsletter with guitars for sale, videos and doubtless lots of stories.