Beginners or improvers – here’s your chance to gain and develop your music-making and performance skills under the guidance of leading musicians and performers from the folk circuit.
CVFolk is hosting a series of specialist workshops at the Albany Theatre, Coventry on the first Saturday morning of each month. For 90 minutes you can build your expertise in a range of instruments and performance styles, inspired by experts.
2024 dates fixed so far:
Feb 3rd Improvers’ Acoustic Guitar with Kevin Dempsey
Founder member of legendary bands Dando Shaft and Whippersnapper, Kevin is regarded as one of the finest acoustic guitarists on the international folk scene. Based in Coventry himself, he is also an experienced tutor and welcomes guitarists at all stages to join him and improve on their abilities. Just bring your guitar and join the fun. He will be hosting a number of workshops on the CVFolk programme, so watch out for follow-up dates.
Book your place here, or just turn up and take a chance that there’s space: bring a fiver and your guitar
Mar 2nd Scratch Fiddle with Lauren South
Talented multi-instrumentalist and singer, Lauren includes some ace fiddle-playing in her live shows and has extensive experience as an instrumental tutor. So, if you’re a complete beginner or only have limited experience, why not come along and have a go at the fiddle? Bring your own if you can, although there will be a small number instruments to borrow, and Lauren will get you playing by the end of the session.
Book your place here, or just turn up and take a chance that there’s space: bring a fiver and a fiddle, if you have one.
Apr 6th Beginners’ Slide Guitar with Bob Powell
Member of acclaimed trad Americana trio The Harvesters, Bob’s talents in slide and laptop guitar (among several other instruments) produce the powerful blues-y sound that brings something special to the guitarist’s repertoire. He will guide you through the basics – kit, technique, tuning and licks – as preparation for follow-up work on playing techniques and constructing solos.
All age groups are welcome to join our Folk Freshers Workshops and we’d be especially keen to see young people taking this opportunity to launch their journeys as musicians and performers. We’ll be announcing more events shortly where you can develop your skills in different instrument techniques, songwriting and other aspects of the folk and acoustic performing arts.
Each session takes place in one of the newly refurbished studios in the Albany Theatre building, starting at 11.30am and running until 1pm. Admission is £5 per session – please check if the workshop is for beginners, improvers or advanced.