Bideford Folk Club are happy to have Aram Guitars as Sponsor for the American Roots & Bluegrass Session

In the past twenty five years Kevin has made over 300 classic guitars, most of these being smaller bodied Spruce top instruments. Each guitar is individually hand made and uniquely named. He makes every part himself with the exception of the Strings, the Machine Heads and the Fretwire. For the first ten or so years of being in business Kevin combined making with restoring and repairing which gave him the opportunity to examine some of the finest instruments in the world. These include guitars by Vicente Arias, Paulino Bernabe, Domingo Esteso, Arcangel Fernandez, Ignacio Fleta, Herman Hauser 1st, Santos Hernandez, Manuel Ramirez, Josè Romanillos and David Rubio. Since moving to North Devon in 1991 he has concentrated solely on the development of the small and medium sized Spruce top guitar in the Torres and Hauser traditions.

Kevin's experience of working with this type of guitar must be amongst the most extensive of any maker working today. He has built and repaired instruments for many professional musicians. Amongst the many are; Gilbert Biberian, Carlos Bonell, Colin Downes, Anthea Gifford, Forbes Henderson, Joe Jewel, Earl Klugh, Eleftheria Kotzia, Norbert Kraft, Jonathan Leathwood, Juan Martin, Pepé Martinez, Friedemann Wuttke and John Zaradin. Kevin's best known customer is Julian Bream. He was introduced to Julian by George Clinton, the then editor of "Guitar International", in August 1986. Julian purchased the guitar "La Cancion" in October of that year. A second instrument "Myrtle" was purchased in 1988. Both instruments have been used for concerts worldwide and "Myrtle" was used to record the Popular Catalan Folksongs by Miguel Llobet on the recording "Julian Bream - La Guitarra Romantica."

Aram guitars are known for their beauty, playability, reliability, projection and above all their musicality. Of this type of guitar they are amongst the finest available.

More information about these beautiful guitars from www.aramguitars.co.uk

American Roots and Bluegrass

Monday 14th August

This will be a great evening of musical entertainment in the company of Martin and Marianne Lucas and members of the Wildflower Mountain Music Club. This open mic session will also feature a set by the Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys; an up and coming band on the Bluegrass circuit.

If you are an American Roots or Bluegrass musician and would like to play, arrive early enough on the evening to book yourself a playing slot as they will be only a limited number of slots available.