WORKSHOPS

TIM STAFFORD WORKSHOP IN CAMBRIDGE, MA

Grammy award-winning guitarist Tim Stafford, of the bluegrass band Blue Highway, is teaching a guitar workshop on Saturday, April 6th from noon until 3 pm (before the BBU’s Blue Highway show in Lexington that evening). Tim will have copies of his book “Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story” available for sale, and possibly his Acoustic Guitar Fundamentals DVD.

The workshop will be held in N. Cambridge near the Cambridge/Arlington border, and there is ample meter-free, permit-free parking available. Thanks to Andy Katz for motivating this workshop by hosting a similar Dobro workshop with Rob Ickes of Blue Highway.

UPDATE: There are only a couple spots left in the bluegrass guitar workshop with Tim Stafford (Grammy award-winning guitarist in Blue Highway). Tim will be teaching this Saturday, April 6th from noon until 3 pm before the BBU’s Blue Highway show in Lexington that evening. Full disclosure: my band, Tony Watt & Southeast Expressway, will be opening for Blue Highway this Saturday in Lexington. The workshop will be held in N. Cambridge near the Cambridge/Arlington border (with plenty of free parking), and further details are included below. Please contact me off-list at tonywatt@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions. Thanks!

BLUEGRASS MANDOLIN FOR BEGINNERS – FAST TRACK!

The Education Directors of the Boston Bluegrass Union are proud to announce that once again, master classes will be offered the day that the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival begins, Friday, Feb. 12th. We are pleased to present a mandolin fast track class for beginners taught by Tony Watt. Class size is limited to 12- 15 participants and the class runs from 11 AM – 4 PM with a one hour break for lunch.

This mandolin fast track workshop is geared towards total beginners, or those who would like a review of the fundamentals. You do not need to have previous experience playing (or even listening to) bluegrass, and you don’t need to be able to read music. In this one-day workshop we’ll learn the basics of bluegrass mandolin, both rhythm and lead. We’ll begin with bluegrass chop chords and then quickly get into playing lead on the mandolin. The primary goal is to provide you with a strong foundation of the skills needed to play bluegrass mandolin and participate in bluegrass jams.

Students should bring a playable mandolin, a pick, and a three-ring binder and pen (handouts will be provided). If you don’t have a mandolin, let us know when you preregister at least a week in advance, and we’ll try to get you a loaner for the day. Sorry, we can’t do the same if you register later than that. To register: contact Tony at tonywatt@gmail.com

WORKSHOP WITH LINCOLN MEYERS IN BROOKLINE, MA

I’m very excited that I’m going to be giving a bluegrass guitar workshop with one of my musical heroes (who is also my former teacher), Lincoln Meyers (bio below). The workshop will be on Saturday, June 13 from 1 until 4 pm in Brookline. The workshop is open to all levels, and will cover both rhythm and lead. Pre-registration is strongly recommended, which you can do by e-mailing me at tonywatt@gmail.com The guitar workshop will be held at 59 Windsor Rd. in Brookline, MA 02445, near the Mass Pike exit 17. There is plenty of free street parking on the opposite (even numbered) side of the street. Parking on the odd numbered side results in a parking ticket. It is also less than 5 blocks from stops on the B, C, and D Green Lines. If you have any questions about our bluegrass guitar workshop, please let me know.

Lincoln Meyers

Lincoln Meyers is native to the mid-west but has been established in New England since the early ’90’s. Over the years he has been a part of numerous bands and recording projects throughout the region. Lincoln has played and toured with The New England Bluegrass Band, banjo extraordinaire Tony Trischka, The April Verch Band and is currently playing with Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen. Lincoln has won several guitar competitions over the years including the New England Flatpicking Championship. He was selected to record for the well respected Seacoast Guitar Society compilation, and as a host band member for National Public Radio’s nationally-syndicated program Says You. While one may hear influences of legendary flatpickers, Lincoln has an instantly recognizable style that is very much his own.

WORKSHOP WITH LEIGH GIBSON IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

Leigh Gibson, guitarist of The Gibson Brothers, and Tony Watt, award-winning flatpicking guitarist, to teach Bluegrass Guitar Workshop in Saratoga Springs, NY. The workshop will be held at Saratoga Guitar on Saturday, March 14 at 10:30 am. The workshop will be limited to Bluegrass guitar styles, however both rhythm and lead will be covered, and all levels are welcome. Pre-registration is strongly suggested; to sign up call Saratoga Guitar at (518) 581-1604 or e-mail Matt McCabe at songman@saratogaguitar.com. Saratoga Guitar is located at 438 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Leigh Gibson

As one half of the vocal powerhouse bluegrass band, The Gibson Brothers, Leigh Gibson has made a name for himself as one of the finest purveyors of traditional bluegrass music today. The Gibson Brothers’ last four albums have all gone to #1 on the Bluegrass Unlimited Chart, an overwhelming achievement due in large part to Leigh’s song-writing and singing.