The 10th annual University of Rhode Island Guitar and Mandolin Festival, beginning Sunday, October 19, is set to showcase some of the finest classical guitarists and mandolin players in the world. This weeklong festival includes lectures, lessons, and guitar workshops, along with public performances at various venues, including General Stanton Inn, the Courthouse Center for the Arts, and the URI campus. A dozen themed concerts include “Lone Star Strings,” “Guitar Meets Indian Fusion,” and “Fretboard Frontiers: Classical, Jazz, and Modern Fusion.”
A festival highlight is happening on Saturday, October 25, when Grammy Award-winning guitar great Tommy Emmanuel plays URI’s Edwards Hall. Emmanuel is looking forward to playing the festival, now in its 10th year. “I always love playing festivals and being part of musical events that host a lot of different styles and musical genres,” he says. “What I do just kind of crosses over pretty naturally. I play at bluegrass festivals, country music events, jazz festivals, blues festivals, singer-songwriter cruises, all that sort of stuff.”
Indeed, in addition to his original music, the Australian native has recorded in a variety of genres and styles, from the Beach Boys to the Beatles to Doc Watson and even show tunes. In 2024, Emmanuel won a Grammy Award for “Best Arrangement, Instrument or A Cappella” with the Johnny Cash classic “Folsom Prison Blues.” He just released his first solo album in 10 years, Living in the Light, a stunning blend of acoustic pop, jazz, and classical, and says he’ll be playing a few tunes from the new release.
“I'll be playing a lot of songs from the album, a lot of my new stuff, and I try to mix it up with well-known songs, songs that I love playing,” he explains. “I have three different guitars, one is in just regular tuning, and the other two are in special tunings, so I can mix and match. I can mix it up and have a different sound like a lower-tuned guitar, which makes me play a little differently and choose different songs.”
“When something strikes me, I want to work it out and see if I can play it,” adds Emmanuel. “Taking songs like ‘How Deep Is Your Love,’ songs that weren't originally necessarily guitar songs, and really turning them into your own is what’s really special. I had the honor of recording that song with the composer, Barry Gibb (of the Bee Gees) on the Greenfields album. And they brought in Little Big Town to sing all the extra parts.”
The veteran guitarist, who began playing in front of audiences at age six, has some advice for young players. “My best advice is don't waste any time - get to work,” he says. “Learn some good songs, get some good arrangements, and create something that people would want to come and hear. You've got to have experience, and you can't buy experience in college. You have to go out and live it. Learn as many good songs and good arrangements as you can and find where your strengths are and really work on that.”
The festival is designed to illustrate connections between traditional classical artists and modern players, an agenda that fits Emmanuel perfectly. “I love classical music, and I love seeing great classical players. It doesn’t feel any different than a bluegrass festival or whatever. It's just music, and the people are there because they love to play and they love the music. The bottom line is, I'm there for the people. I'm there to play for the audience and that's what matters to me.”
At age 70, Emmanuel stays busy recording and touring regularly. “I just finished the biggest tour I've ever done in China and Japan, and I just finished my camp here in Nashville,” he adds. “My biggest problem is that things just keep getting better, and that's great. I've been a professional guitar player for sixty-five years, and I'm just starting to get the hang of it.” Learn more at UrigmFest.org.
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