Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

'Tommy Emmanuel is unquestionably one of the most gifted artists of our time.'
Acoustic Guitar Magazine

'Martin Taylor out-shreds all of us put together ... I’ve never seen anything like it'
Jeff Beck

Two of the world’s greatest acoustic guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor, embark on a collaborative UK tour in March 2013 entitled The Colonel and the Governor. The tour will see both guitarists playing together and separately. The tour is also the name of Emmanuel and Taylor’s collaborative acoustic guitar album scheduled for February 2013 release.

Why the title, you ask?

While they are both serious 'men of letters' with Tommy Emmanuel being an honorary Kentucky Colonel, a CGP (Certified Guitar Player), an Order of Australia Medalist (AM) and the holder of an honorary masters (MA) and Martin Taylor being an M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) and holder of two Honourary Doctorates, they honour each other affectionately with these titles. Both acoustic guitarists are leaders of music in their respective countries - Australia and the UK. Call it a British Commonwealth thing!

Known for his complex finger-picking style, Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist who performs energetic concerts, and is highly regarded for the use of percussive effects on the guitar. In 2008 and 2010, Guitar Player Magazine’s Readers Poll voted him Best Acoustic Guitarist.

Martin Taylor is a multi-award winning guitarist and Acoustic Guitar magazine calls him, 'the acoustic guitarist of his generation'. He dazzles audiences with his solo shows, which combine virtuosity, emotion, humour, and a strong stage presence while his inimitable style has seen him recognised as the world’s foremost exponent of solo finger style guitar playing. Taylor has invented and developed a way of playing the guitar that is admired, and often imitated, by guitarists all over the world. Collaborations with artists including Jeff Beck, Bill Wyman, Jamie Cullum, David Grisman and Bryn Terfel have seen him garner two honorary doctorates, a BBC lifetime achievement award, Top 10 albums in both the USA and Europe, a record 14 British Jazz Awards and in 2002 he was appointed MBE ‘For Services to Jazz Music’ by Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain. As one of the world’s most recognised online guitar teachers his innovative online guitar school with its headquarters in Napa, CA has been featured on NPR, BBC, Fox News and the LA Times and is subscribed to by guitarists in over 58 countries. 2012 saw the London premiere of Martin Taylor’s Spirit of Django orchestral Suite at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms.

'Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He’s unbelievable'
Pat Metheny

'No matter how complex or daring, Taylor’s interpretations never short change the melodies; indeed, his remarkable fluid touch embues a seamless beauty. Martin Taylor is something to behold.'
The Washington Post

Throughout his career, Tommy Emmanuel has played with many notable artists including Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Sir George Martin, Air Supply, John Denver, Les Paul and Doc Watson. Tommy and his brother Phil performed at Sydney’s closing ceremony at the Summer Olympics in 2000. The event was televised worldwide to an estimated 2.85 billion viewers. Tommy has said that even at a young age he was fascinated by Atkins’ musical style of playing bass with the thumb and melody parts with the first two or three fingers at the same time. This technique became the basis of Tommy's guitar style. While Tommy has never had formal music training, his playing ability has won him fans from all over the world. He is known to play percussion parts on the body of his guitar. As a solo performer he never plays to a set list and uses a minimum of effects.  He usually completes recordings in one take.

'Tommy Emmanuel’s steel-string fretwork is technically dazzling and atmospheric.'
Chicago Tribune

'Blessed with impeccable taste and exceptional technique, he’s able to perform folk, rock, jazz, country and blues with fluid ease and impressive authority.'
San Diego Union-Tribune

There are no booking fees for this production.

However, all bookings made through ATG Tickets for this venue are subject to a £2.85 Transaction fee.