Slade stomp

The current tour by guitar wizard Beppe Gambetta (I) culminates this weekend at the 1st Inishowen International Guitar Festival. Anyone who has seen and heard him during the tour will appreciate what Clem O'Brien said on stage last weekend at the Colfer's American Country, Bluegrass, and Roots Music Festival - that he is one of the outstanding guitarists who have taken flat-picking to the heights it has now reached.

Beppe remains very conscious of the music's roots and the sounds that first excited and influenced him. This emerges both in his stage shows and in his 'most bluegrassy album', Slade stomp (2006), each track of which is dedicated to one or more of his guitar heroes - including Doc Watson, Charles Sawtelle (the title track), Woody Guthrie, Charlie Waller, Mark O'Connor, Norman Blake, and Clarence White. More details are on the Beppe Gambetta website.