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The International Guitar Foundation (IGF) is set to take over the ancient town of Cheltenham, UK, for a comprehensive celebration of guitar playing as it marks 31 years of summer school events. With unique masterclasses and performances dedicated to improving each attendee’s skill sets and confidence levels, the IGF is vastly expanding its offering for a milestone event open to all players.
IGF Guitar Festival and Summer School brings together guitarists eager to improve across a dizzying range of genres and playing styles for an immersive experience tailored to players from all walks of life and playing levels.
As the organizers champion, “the guitar is the instrument of the people,” due to its ability to metamorphose its voice and transcend class, race, and gender. Guitar heroes have risen through the ranks from an array of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and the event looks to reflect and celebrate its inclusivity.
Contemporary course leader and ex-Guitar Techniques editor Jason Sidwell, who has also written instructional books plus courses for the Guardian and Observer newspapers will dedicate his time to teaching the groove course. His lessons will cover soul and funk, from James Brown to Prince and beyond.
Jon Bishop, known for his tours with Shakin’ Stevens and film and orchestra performances such as Love Actually, will run the Rock & Blues foundations course for beginner electric guitar players focusing on the fundamentals from major and minor chords, the pentatonic scale, string bending, and blues riffs.
Blues award winner Chris Corcoran will hone in on the glory of vintage electric blues, T-Bone Walker, Freddie King and B.B. King being three iconic players under the spotlight.
Andy Saphir, who regularly contributed to Guitar Techniques will lend his creativity to the blues and country course, covering Eric Clapton style soloing through to Brent Mason inspired hybrid picked riffs.
Esteemed musician and author John Wheatcroft will offer his expert advice on the jazz course, focusing on popular American songbook standards through to gypsy jazz approaches favored by greats such as Django Reinhardt.
Meanwhile, Chris Quinn’s acoustic course will stretch from Celtic through to pop stylings to help attendees unlock the versatility of fingerpicking techniques, with flamenco and classical courses set to be run by Samuel Moore and Francisco Correa respectively.
Moore's generational talents have seen him tackle flamenco’s most complex arrangements alongside his tradition-honoring originals at prestigious venues like New York’s Carnegie Hall and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London.
Francisco Correa leads the classical course, hailed as a “truly remarkable performer,” by BBC Radio 3, and “virtuosic and heartfelt” by Classical Guitar Magazine. Guest tutors include international stars Xuefei Yang from China and Francisco Bernier from Spain.
The festival will also feature concerts by international artists and jam nights offer students the chance to perform with the house band. As esteemed shredder Marty Friedman once said, performing before an audience is vital to developing as a guitarist.
First-class accommodation at Dean Close school is available, with meal options included. Tickets are open to residential and non-residential students. There are also scholarships available for young players of modest means.
Tickets start from £485, and guitarists aged 18 and under will receive a 35% discount.
Head to IGF to learn more and see each tutor’s video.
