the lineup
All the best guitar events you need to put in the diary...
The UK Guitar Show 21 to 22 September Business Design Centre, London
With every week of updates, our UK Guitar Show steps up a gear, and you can see on the opposite page just how high the calibre is this year. But the show will offer so much more than world-class players – though we’ll have plenty present with our own team of contributing tutors hosting classes for you there, too. Great gear is definitely guaranteed with Fender, PRS, Marshall, ESP, Framus, Martin, Gretsch, Vox, Walrus, Takamine and EarthQuaker as just some of the brands bringing great gear to the show. And after reviewing the standard of entries this year, we’re especially excited about the four category finals for the Guitarist Of The Year competition – clearly the future of guitar is in good hands! www.ukguitarshow.com
Muse 14 to 17 September London O2 & Birmingham Arena
After a triumphant Simulation Theory UK stadium tour in June (that saw Matt Bellamy’s hero Tom Morello supporting the Teignmouth trio), Muse’s chief is staying busy, buying a majority share in Manson Guitar Works and returning for three more supermassive gigs – two of them at London’s O2 Arena. www.muse.mu
Paul Gilbert 16 to 24 September Various UK venues
While he’s over in the UK for this tour, the maestro will be hosting a masterclass at our UK Guitar Show (see opposite page). For these gigs, he’s bringing the same musicians he selected for his Behold Electric Guitar – Roland Guerin on bass, Asher Fulero on keyboards, and Bill Ray on drums. www.paulgilbert.com
Ullapool Guitar Festival 4 to 6 October The Macphail Centre, Ullapool
This is a really special event with workshops in the morning and performances in the afternoon from top acoustic players. Clive Carroll, Will McNicol, Tristan Seume, Hugh Burns and John Goldie are confirmed as tutors, and John Smith and Remi Harris are also on the extensive performers line-up. www.ullapoolguitarfestival.com
Brad Paisley 12 to 13 October London & Dublin
October sees two huge shows – in the UK and Ireland respectively – for the massive US country guitar-slinger. While new single My Miracle is his most unapologetically sincere love song yet, you can expect plenty of chicken-pickin’ throwdowns with the band to feature, too. www.bradpaisley.com
John Smith 19 October to 3 November Various UK venues
Following his appearance at the Ullapool Guitar Festival, Smith is touring the UK again in support of his superb Hummingbird album – a collection of his favourite folk traditionals and three originals. This tour starts in grand style, too, at the Islington Assembly Hall. www.johnsmithjohnsmith.com
Uli Jon Roth 22 November to 3 December Various UK venues
The former Scorpions man celebrated his 50th anniversary in the business last year with G3 dates alongside Joe Satriani and John Petrucci. He’s now forging ahead with a set celebrating the Scorpions era and Electric Sun, the band he formed after his departure in 1978. www.ulijonroth.com
Lucy Rose 4 December Barbican Centre, London
Following her April dates, which saw her gig at the Union Chapel sell out fast, Rose returns to the capital as a bonus for those who missed out. With Scott Matthews in support, this makes a particularly sweet deal for those who appreciate sublime folk-influenced songwriting. Get your tickets quick… www.lucyrosemusic.com
Alter Bridge 14 to 21 December Various UK arenas
Building a solid fanbase in the UK since 2005, Mark Tremonti’s band are now a bona fide arena act. Their visit to these shores this time is in support of sixth album, Walk The Sky, due 18 October. It finds the guitarist and bandmate Myles Kennedy contributing more on songs from their inception than ever before. www.alterbridge.com