Ten Great Guitarists To Follow
- Jack Stow
- 19 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Give your timeline some love and a musical upgrade by following these great guitarists, some of whom you might know, and some who may be less familiar.
1 - Harry Li
Anybody worried that the generation of British folk guitar giants, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch et al, is fading into the mists of time needs look no further than Lincoln's own Harry Li. I first came across Harry at a small music festival and was instantly attracted to his voice and classic folk guitar style. He counts the Celtic fingerstyle playing of Tony McManus and the classical guitar playing of Julian Bream amongst his influences. Harry is a young guitarist with great technique, an instinctive feel for folk music, and a distinctive voice and songwriting style. He is one to watch for in the future.
2 - Jake Morley
The kind of guitarist that has other players shaking their heads with open mouths when he fires up. His unusual seated position with a flat guitar makes him a very unique player, and his singing and songwriting take his craft to another level. I've seen him do it live, and it's quite something.
Find Jake Morley at jakemorley.com
3 - Ant Law
If jazz guitar is your thing, then Ant Law is your man. Being a music graduate of both Edinburgh University and Berklee College of Music, he certainly know his stuff. He can fire off riffs and launch into complicated melodic phrases with an elegant and effortless ease. Catch him live if you can.
Find Ant Law at antlaw.co.uk
4 - Tom Jaworski
Tom Jaworski is a graduate of the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford and has a fantastic roots based guitar style that is firmly planted in the Blues. He is a very classy player and is consistently in demand on the UK music scene as a live performer, session player and composer.
Find Tom at tomjaworski.co.uk
5 - Travis Collins
Travis, a well-known Country musician in his native Australia but perhaps less so in the UK, is a fantastic guitarist and songwriter. He’s also an outstanding vocalist and performer. I’ve toured with Travis several times and he’s one of the most talented and hardworking guys on the circuit.
If you enjoy Keith Urban or Brad Paisley then you’ll love Travis’ guitar tone and his rocking Country style.
Find Travis at traviscollins.com.au
6 - Ramon Goose
Ramon Goose is a UK guitarist who has embraced Latin America and African music, including visiting Cuba and Senegal and working with local musicians. He has developed his own unique style of playing, creating a blend that combines his mastery of the slide guitar with influences from his travels.
Find Ramon Goose at ramongoose.co.uk
7 - Geoff Achison
Australian virtuoso blues-roots guitarist Geoff Achison is renowned for his fiery guitar work, soulful voice, and genre-blending sound. He is an awesome live performer, and has a technique and groove that other guitar players can only dream of. Catch him live if you can.
Find Geoff at geoffachison.com
8 - Steve Earle
You'll probably have heard of this guy... What is a little less know is his "Guitar Town" series on YouTube, recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown, where he talks in depth about his incredible collection of rare and vintage guitars. A must follow for any guitar nerd.
9 - Larry McCray
If you like your Blues authentic, "low down and dirty" and "balls out" (his own description), then Larry McCray is your man. Hailing from Michigan, USA, he learnt his trade from playing with all the greats, including Buddy Guy and Albert Collins, and has built a career around his classic guitar tone and powerful voice. European audiences were first properly introduced to his music when he opened for Gary Moore during the "Still Got The Blues" tour.
I've had the privilege of playing keyboards for Larry on his UK tours. He's the real deal.
10 - Shane Theriot
I toured with Shane back in the day, backing Slim Whitman. I think it was Shane's first trip to the UK - there's even a video lurking around of us onstage with Slim. Anyway, since then, Shane has become one of the most sought after session players in the USA, with a CV that is basically a who's who of soul, rock, pop, Country and jazz stars. Luckily for us all, Shane now has a YouTube channel where he gives playing tips, gear recommendations, gig stories and so much more. A must follow for anyone serious about upping their guitar game.
So, there you have it. Ten great guitarists to follow, if you don't already. Enjoy!
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