Claude Bourbon is the special guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 9th July and is yet another terrific example of the prodigious talent to be heard in Folk Clubs. The unique Claude Bourbon has played the Irvine Club before and is known to be a formidable performer.
Claude is a French-born guitarist who was classically trained in Switzerland but his musical influences extend far beyond. He plays a travel-worn Gibson with such mesmerising dexterity that his fingers become a blur. He plays parts of the guitar that wouldn’t even occur to most players and using all ten fingers, it’s part of the fun deciding which hand to watch!
Apart from plucking, finger-picking and strumming with great speed and precision, Monsieur Bourbon also sings. His gravelly voice being put to particularly good effect on Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’, ‘Bright Lights, Big City’, and the Blues number ‘I Needed Shelter’. Some say he sounds like a latter-day Dylan with a French accent. In Belgium, they affectionately dubbed Claude The Frog with the Blues!
A swift glance at his gig list illustrates the demand to hear Claude live. He tours extensively in the USA playing at concerts, coffee houses and house concerts. Dates in Germany, France, Denmark, Belgium and the UK also abound. This man is a seriously good performer.
Hear Claude Bourbon at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 9th July. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre, starts at 8pm and while it’s BYOB, there is an excellent café.
Finally, not long until The 47th Marymass Folk Festival starts on Wednesday 20th August. Full information and tickets for the Evening Concerts are available by contacting Joyce on 01294 551047 or visit www.irvinefolkclub.co.uk. The world renowned Battlefield Band top the bill on Marymass Saturday Night 23rd August, so securing a ticket early is strongly advised.
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