Neil Campbell / Liz Hanks & Michael Walsh

Neil Campbell The music of Liverpool classical guitarist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Neil Campbell draws on elements of contemporary classical, progressive rock, jazz and other musical styles. His output includes pieces for solo guitar, guitar and cello, songs, instrumental pieces for varied instrumentation and choral music. He has produced around twenty albums including three CDs of solo guitar music Through the Looking Glass (2003), Night Sketches (2004) and Tabula Rasa Suite (2014), along with a book of his compositions for solo classical guitar. His solo performances often involve him using loops and other technology to expand the sound and scope of what one performer can do with the classical guitar. As a soloist he has performed in the UK and Europe, and has been a regular performer at the International Guitar Festival of Great Britain. He particularly enjoys playing in ‘special’ venues and has performed solo concerts in spaces such as Union Chapel (London), Lancaster Priory, Birkenhead Priory, Sheffield Cathedral, Bishops House (Sheffield), Liverpool Central Library, John Ryland’s Library (Manchester), Chetham’s School of Music Library (Manchester) and St Lukes (Bombed Out) Church (Liverpool). In October 2013 took part in the legendary Irish Sea Sessions at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. He has recently toured North West venues with a refreshed version of his piece Ghost Stories - A Night Opera for soprano, guitar, soundscape and visual projections. One of the best acoustic guitar players of our time’ – Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility ‘music of serious quality and distinction’ – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music ‘The best guitar playing I have heard for a long long time’ – Victor Wooten, bass player ‘an outstanding guitarist whose originality of thought makes him far more than just another gifted purveyor of finger acrobatics’ - Classical Guitar Magazine ‘a man whose fingers have the ability to harness any imaginable sound in any given style’ – Sean Bradbury, Getintothis Liz Hanks Having always been inspired by folk and world music Liz has performed and recorded with a number of eminent folk musicians, including Martin Simpson, Kate Rusby, Jon Boden, Maire Ni Chatasaigh and Chris Newman. Liz is a co-director of the 'Up North Session Orchestra' and is in demand as a session musician. Album credits include Richard Hawley, Paul Heaton (The Beautiful South), Duane Eddy, The Longpigs, Ben Ottewell (Gomez) and The Courteeners. She has performed live with international artists including Smokey Robinson, Edwyn Collins, Richard Hawley, Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Neil Finn Amy MacDonald and The Charlatans. For the last 2 years Liz has been the solo cellist for Liam Gallagher’s UK and European tours culminating in performances at the 2018 Brit Awards and this year at Glastonbury Festival. Liz is also a keen improviser and has been involved with many theatre, dance and film projects. In 2018 performed at the Yorkshire Silent Film Festival, improvising to silent films alongside the pianist Neil Brand. This year Liz recorded a solo cello score composed by Anthony Weeden for the Laos film ‘The Long Walk’ which premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. The collaboration with Michael Walsh began in 2016 (after Liz discovered they were neighbours by hearing his playing over the garden wall!) and has been inspired and encouraged by Michael to experiment using cello in a variety of traditional and contemporary folk styles. Michael Walsh Born in Manchester and raised in Stockport,England Michael Walsh grew up learning Sligo style flute playing from Marian Egan & Tony Ryan. ​ He is a Tutor and Doctoral Candidate at the University of Sheffield Department of Music specialising in Asturian Folk and Irish Traditional Music. His new album, Quarehawk, was released in August 2019 and launched at Cambridge Folk Festival. Recorded in Manchester with Michael McGoldrick and in Sheffield with Tom Wright and Sam Proctor, the album is a mix of his Irish and English influences as well Asturian music he learnt during his doctoral research. He will be playing flutes, whistles and hulusi as well as singing two songs. The album showcases repertoire learnt growing up in the Manchester Irish community and documents the emotions he went through afterhis father died tragically during the recording. ​ In 2016 he was a finalist in the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal Competition in Cork. He is a former All Britain Senior Flute Champion and has performed across Europe and in The United States with Trad Irish Groups, Céilí Bands and Theatre Productions as well as being featured on the Soundtrack to ‘The Irish Empire’ TV Series Commissioned by Radio Telefís Eireann/BBC Northern Ireland/SBS AUSTRALIA. ​ "This album moved me like no other" Eileen McCabe, Irish Music Magazine. "Spectacular" Lynette Fay, BBC Radio Ulster. “Beautiful” Ruth Smith, RTE Radio 1 "Unwavering boldness" Allan Wilkinson, Northern Sky. "Brave, groundbreaking and experimental" Nicky Crewe, Penny Black. "A striking coherence across a multiplicity of influences and styles" Dave McNally, Folk Radio UK