Traditional acoustic music for the 21st Century
Located in Bolton on the edge of the great Lancashire plain, Bill picks and slides his way around the edges of many traditional musical genres,
Musician in demand - Engineer & Producer - Music teacher
- As a session musician and composer, Bill contributes to many diverse and eclectic musical projects. He currently divides his time between teaching (Guitar, Dobro and Ukulele), providing small venue recording / production services and performing, both solo and with the "odd but satisfying" acoustic combo "Lonesome"
- Having played guitar for many years he has recently concentrated on studying the lapstyle resonator guitar (Dobro) with such musical luminaries as Sally Van Meter, Rob Ickes, Doug Cox, Ivan Rosenberg and Stacy Phillips both in the UK and USA.
- More recently, he has also taken time to study the delights of the humble ukulele. Far from just being played as a musical novelty he forges into more serious musical territories.
- As a solo artist, his work revolves around the rearrangement of traditional tunes, mainly from blues / bluegrass / folk traditions. His passion with "world" music ensures that textures from a wide range of traditions weave themselves into familar themes.
- Check out his new solo release “Grass Cuttings”
- Bill has also recently completed musical composition commissions for clients as diverse as alternative therapy practices and corporate "launch" events
- If you are looking to add some add some guitar or uke to your latest project then just send details to the contact mail on this pages
- As an engineer and producer he recently went back to college to assure a current working knowledge of the digital audio revolution. The mass of electronic processing modules, tape machines and bulky sound desks traditionally associated with professional recording has been replaced with digital equipment. This has opened up possibilities that were unthinkable in even the best equipped studios of the last 20 years.
- Bill's studio "Earwig" can provide professional results coupled with the flexibility and portability that digital studios can provide.
- Bill graduated with distinction at the prestigeous Manchester School of Sound Recording
- Bill has completed musical composition commissions for clients as diverse as alternative therapy practices and corporate "launch" events.
- He also provided technical advice to Grass Skirt Records on their first 3 releases.
- He is also currently involved with the "Stylo Magic" music label, a label dedicated to the renovation, preservation and distribution of vintage recordings at a reasonable cost
- Bill’s studio – “Earwig” – is a perfect recording and production solution for the solo musician or small band.
Contact discuss your recording / production needs.
- Bill has been a professional educator and trainer for over 25 years and he is in demand to teach at all levels of experience and ability (currently his private students encompass a very wide age range indeed!).
- He is a firm believer that with a little will and application anyone can play music for themselves – age is no barrier at all.
- He has presented music workshops at summer music festivals around the UK for a number of years and was proud to have been part of the teaching staff at the world renowned Sore Fingers Summer School in October 08 and 09.
- Review from Acoustic Magazine – January 2010 – The Sore Fingers Experience – Beginners Dobro class.
“Because of his relaxed approach, no one felt intimidated by their technique, or absence thereof, and Bill’s avowed intention that everyone would leave with a tune to play was achieved with much laughter and enjoyment along the way” - His passion for playing music started long after he left behind (what was considered to be) the strict formality of school music lessons. All you need is a sympathetic teacher who allows you to develop your skills naturally and allows you to play the music that YOU want to play.
- “I love helping anyone experience the delight of learning to play music -- we all start somewhere and we never stop learning!"
- When not in the studio or performing, you may catch him acting as master of ceremonies or presenting instrument workshops at summer music festivals throughout the UK.
Contact me if you are interested in taking lessons or would like me to be included in or provide some input to your latest musical project.