THE recent winner of Sky TV’s competition ‘Guitar Star’ is set for a number of appearances in Donegal this week.
Gary Lutton (23) from Carnmoney, Co Antrim was crowned the winner of Sky Arts show in July seeing off hundreds of other guitarists from across the UK and Ireland.
Hosted by Edith Bowman, Guitar Star was a nationwide search to find extraordinary guitar talent of all ages and styles.
Guitar experts Nitin Sawhney, Helen Sanderson and Huey Morgan headed up the audition rounds, where competing guitarists were tested on their ability to play in a style of their choice and demonstrate outstanding skill and ability, whether their jam is rock, classical, jazz or acoustic.
Throughout the process, players were mentored by some of the biggest guitar stars in the world – Tony Iommi, Lee Ritenour, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Miloš Karadaglić. After nine weeks of competition, winner Gary performed in front of 30,000 people on the main stage at the Latitude Festival in Henham Park, Suffolk.
Gary will be appearing on Highland Radio’s Centre Stage with Jimmy Stafford on Wednesday, December 16, 7.05pm to 8:30pm, and will then give a free performance in the Cottage Bar, Letterkenny, on Thursday night. He will be supported by local duo Simon McCafferty from Dumkeen and Letterkenny singer Karen Kelly.
The talented musician will also be performing at the monthly event Clubeo, hosted by Clannad’s Moya Brennan, in Leo’s Tavern, Meenaleck, Crolly, on Friday night, December 18.
A lecturer, teaching guitar at both the Ulster College of Music and Belfast Metropolitan College, Gary s currently in the final stages of completing his part-time masters degree in music at the Ulster University campus at Magee. www.facebook.com/garyluttonmusic
GUITAR STAR FINAL – Episode 8, Latitude Festival 2015
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ON Friday night The Cottage in Letterkenny, was packed out for its monthly Live Sessions.