Tommy Emmanuel

Two-time GRAMMY nominee Tommy Emmanuel CGP is one of the world’s most respected musicians. With a professional career spanning five decades, Tommy has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide.

His unusual talent and life are common lore in Australia: born into a musical family, Tommy got his first guitar at age 4 and was taught by his mother. He quickly learned by ear, with no formal instruction, and has never read music. By age 6 he was working as a professional musician in the family band (variously named The Emmanuel Quartet, The Midget Surfaries and The Trailblazers.). By the age of 10, young Tommy had already played his way across Australia.

In the 1970s, Tommy was in high demand as a session player and sideman: he played on recordings for Air Supply, Men at Work and dozens of other popular bands and artists, as well as thousands of commercial jingles and tunes. Some of his most notable appearances were on the Air Supply hit singles “Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “Every Woman in the World,” and “Now and Forever.” Tommy soon became known as one of the best modern guitarists in Australia. In 1985 he joined one of the decade’s biggest Australian rock bands, Dragon, and recorded the platinum-selling album Dreams of Ordinary Men. It is for his successful solo career, however, that Tommy is best known.

In the 1980s, Tommy finally met and got to play with his hero, Chet Atkins, in Nashville, TN. From that magical moment forward, Atkins took him under his wing, and the influences are evident throughout Tommy’s music: in his personal philosophy, technical precision, virtuosic improvisations and unusually broad repertoire (encompassing not only country and bluegrass, but pop, jazz, blues, gospel, even classical, flamenco, and aboriginal styles.). Tommy speaks of his mentor with the love and gratitude of a son, and his dream of recording with Chet Atkins came true in 1996 when the pair made an album titled “The Day The Finger Pickers Took Over The World” for which Tommy received his first GRAMMY award nomination.

Chet honored Tommy with the title of “Certified Guitar Player” (CGP) for his contribution to guitar music, a very rare distinction shared by only four other people in the world. After an amazing performance with his brother Phil at the Sydney Olympic Games Closing Ceremony, the world wanted to know who this mysterious Australian guitar virtuoso was. In 2001, Tommy released his first solo-acoustic album, ONLY and his popularity has grown by leaps and bounds aided by a non-stop touring schedule and increasing exposure in the media.

His album The Mystery earned him another GRAMMY nomination, and in 2008 Guitar Player Magazine and Acoustic Guitar Magazine named him Best Acoustic Guitarist and Gold Medalist in the Readers’ Choice and Players’ Choice Awards. Guitar Player’s 2010 Readers Choice awards named him Best Acoustic Guitarist for the second time.

Tommy Emmanuel is an honorary Kentucky Colonel, a CGP (Certified Guitar Player), an Order of Australia Medalist (AM) and the holder of both an honorary Masters Degree (MA) and more recently an honorary Doctor of Arts (DR) from Charles Sturt University in Australia in recognition of his commitment to rural Australia and his contribution to music education.

Jerry Douglas

“Jerry is not only a great Dobro player, he is a big part of the fabric of modern bluegrass, country, jazz, folk, and rock. He has a lifetime of knowledge in performing, arranging, songwriting, recording and producing, working with everyone from Alison Krauss, James Taylor, Paul Simon, John Hiatt – the list is endless! I look forward to getting to collaborate with Jerry during this precious time together in Iceland! Long live the King of the Dobro!”

Dobro master and 14-time GRAMMY winner Jerry Douglas is to the resonator guitar what Jimi Hendrix was to the electric guitar: elevating, transforming, and reinventing the instrument in countless ways.  Additionally, Douglas is a freewheeling, forward-thinking recording and touring artist whose output incorporates elements of country, bluegrass, rock, jazz, blues, and Celtic into his distinctive musical vision.

Called “Dobro’s matchless contemporary master” by The New York Times, three-time CMA Musician of the Year award recipient Jerry Douglas is one of the most innovative recording artists in music as a solo artist, band leader for The Jerry Douglas Band and his GRAMMY winning bluegrass band The Earls of Leicester, as well as a member of groundbreaking ensembles including Alison Krauss & Union Station, J.D. Crowe & the New South, The Country Gentlemen, Boone Creek, and Strength In Numbers. Douglas shines and soars.

His distinctive sound graces more than 1500 albums with artists such as Garth Brooks, George Jones, Paul Simon, Little Big Town, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Earl Scruggs, Ray Charles, Dierks Bentley, and Tommy Emmanuel, among many others.

In addition to touring, Douglas has co-produced and performed on a series of platinum albums. He has produced albums for Alison Krauss, Del McCoury Band, Maura O’Connell, The Whites, Jesse Winchester, and Steep Canyon Rangers. He is co-music director of the acclaimed BBC Scotland TV series Transatlantic Sessions. In 2004, Douglas was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts with an American Heritage Fellowship, and he served as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Artist in Residence in 2008.

As Jerry Douglas continues his incalculable influence on country, Americana, bluegrass and their many related genres, he forges ahead as a true pioneer in American music.

Martin Taylor

“It’s a great privilege to have my dear friend Martin come to teach at my camp. He is not only a great jazz guitar master with a lifetime of experience and knowledge, he is a wonderful teacher that I’ve admired for as long as I’ve known him. His humor and off-beat ways are so endearing and refreshing to all who get to meet him, so get ready for a great adventure in learning!”

Grammy-nominated musician  Dr. Martin Taylor, MBE, is a virtuoso guitarist, composer, educator, and musical innovator whom the magazine calls  ‘THE Acoustic Guitarist of his Generation.’

Widely considered to be the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz and fingerstyle guitar playing, Martin possesses an inimitable style that has earned him global acclaim from fellow musicians, fans, and critics alike. He dazzles audiences with a signature style that artfully combines his virtuosity, emotion, and humor with a strong, engaging stage presence.

Taylor has enjoyed a remarkable musical career spanning across five decades, with more than 100 recordings to his credit. Completely self-taught beginning at the early age of 4, he has invented and developed a unique way of playing the guitar that is greatly admired, and often emulated, by guitarists all over the world.

In addition to his solo concerts and recordings, he has also collaborated with musicians from many different musical genres, including Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel, Bill Wyman, Chet Atkins, Stephane Grappelli, David Grisman, George Harrison, Jamie Cullum, Bryn Terfel, Dianne Schuur, and Gary Burton.

Taylor brings a rich and varied musical heritage to his play, to the extent that Tommy Emmanuel remarked that [Taylor] is “a portal into all that came before.”
Over his stellar career, Taylor has amassed a record 14 British Jazz Awards as a guitarist. Several of his albums have been in the Top 10 in the USA and Europe.

Mike Dawes

“Mike is one of the shining lights in our world, he’s loved and admired everywhere he plays! We have toured together a lot lately and he really brings out the best in people. His style of playing, arranging, and performing is going to be a game-changer for the lucky campers!”

Mike Dawes is an English guitarist known for composing, arranging, and performing multiple parts simultaneously on a single guitar. He is hailed as one of the world’s most creative modern fingerstyle guitarists with a repertoire spanning solo viral videos and popular arrangements, alongside mainstream chart success performing with Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues.

Dawes was named ‘Best Acoustic Guitarist in the World’ two years in a row (2017 & 2018) by Total Guitar Magazine/MusicRadar reader polls and simply needs to be seen to be believed. His ability to combine the melody, bass, harmony, and percussion all seamlessly together with just one guitar leaves audiences absolutely stunned, both with original music and popular covers.

He is now releasing his first ever live album, ‘Shows and Distancing: Live in the USA.’ The album features fan favorites such as ‘Boogie Shred’ and ‘The Impossible’ as well as ‘William Shatner’s Pants’ in its live debut. It also features many of Dawes’ viral cover arrangements with unique versions of ‘One’ by Metallica, John Mayer’s ‘Slow Dancing In A Burning Room,’ and Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know.’ Dawes says “the energy captured on ‘Shows and Distancing’ is impossible to replicate away from the stage, which is something I miss dearly in these strange times. I didn’t want to release a live record without capturing the live energy of the room, especially at a time where all we have is recorded music. For that reason, I’ve included the crazy audience moments – the clap alongs, the laughs, the singing, the banter, and all the devices I try to employ to reach the reluctant drag along at the back of the room! ‘Shows and Distancing’ is about togetherness.” He continues, “I hope that the moments captured on this record keep the appetites of live music fans satisfied. I feel that so many people are missing their live music fix right now and it is the perfect time to release a live record, even if nothing more than a thank you to the fans for some wonderful shared memories across the USA, and across the world.”

Shows and Distancing’ was recorded in 2019 throughout the United States, with a few extras from the past. The first show was captured just off Central Park in New York City, whilst the second show turned out to be the last concert of the Justin Hayward 2019 US tour before quarantine. The album also features some rare highlights such as Dawes’ duet with Quist on ‘One,’ cut at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Added extras include previously unreleased songs from Mike’s first ever headline concert in the USA.

Dawes’ previous solo album, ‘ERA,’ spawned a viral hit with his arrangement of ‘One’ that has over 4.5 million YouTube views and over 100 million more views on various social media sites. His debut record, What Just Happened?, features a large number of additional video hits with over 12 million YouTube views for two popular versions of ‘Somebody That I Used To Know.’ He is featured on multiple Justin Hayward live releases including ‘Spirits…Live’ which debuted at #2 on the US Billboard Chart. Dawes also has a strong reputation as an educator, acting as a columnist for Guitar World and Acoustic Guitar magazines, as well as teaching multiple guitar workshops all over the world, creating apps, publishing degree level literature, and more.

In addition to touring with Justin Hayward, Dawes has toured with fingerstyle guitarists such as Andy McKee and the legendary Tommy Emmanuel. He has also been a prominent part of several ‘International Guitar Night’ tours throughout North America, most recently hosting the record breaking 20th Anniversary tour in early 2020.

Joscho Stephan

“Joscho will bring his brand of Gypsy-spirited music and art to our Iceland adventure. I’ve known Joscho and his family for a long time and have deep admiration for his abilities and his dedication, his open-minded ways and fun-loving personality. Joscho is a force of nature!”

Like no other, Joscho Stephan shapes modern gypsy swing with his authentic tone, harmonic refinement, and rhythmic flair, but above all with breathtaking solo technique, Stephan has earned an outstanding reputation in the international guitar scene. He knows like no other how to stand out from the multitude of current gypsy swing adaptations by combining gypsy swing with Latin, classic, and rock in addition to the many interpretations of the well-known classics of the genre. This is where Stephan’s strength as a creative visionary shows and that inspires young and old concert audiences alike. Joscho’s YouTube version of “Hey Joe” has now passed the 3 million mark.
His debut “Swinging Strings” was voted CD of the month by the American specialist magazine “Guitar Player” in 1999. The renowned “Acoustic Guitar Magazine” celebrated Joscho Stephan in 2004 as a guarantor for the future of gypsy jazz guitar. In 2015, he was able to win guitar greats such as Biréli Lagrène, Stochelo Rosenberg, and Tommy Emmanuel as guests for the CD “Guitar Heroes.” A total of 4 of Joscho’s albums were nominated for the German Record Critics’ Award. The production “Paris – Berlin” (2018) was recorded as a direct to disc record production in the Hansa Studios Berlin, where many recordings by David Bowie were made. In 2022 he is a guest on the current CDs by Daniel Hope (America.).
Musicians such as Paquito D’Rivera, James Carter, Charlie Mariano, and Grady Tate were enthusiastic after joint performances. On the Australian continent, Joscho Stephan was on a concert tour with Martin Taylor and Tommy Emmanuel. With his own ensembles, he has played at many important festivals throughout Europe. He was also able to inspire enthusiasm in the USA with concerts in Nashville, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, or in the legendary jazz club Birdland and the Lincoln Center in New York.

Björn Thoroddsen

“When I first played in Reykjavik, Björn was the opening artist and we met for the first time. It wasn’t long before we jammed and I got him up to play some duets in my show. He’s a fine player with a good solid style of melodic, jazz-infused music. I look forward to our reunion!”

For several years, Björn Thoroddsen has been one of Iceland’s leading guitarists. He is the recipient of several Icelandic music awards, including “Jazz Performer of the Year,” and has released a number of critically acclaimed albums.

As a young man, Björn grew up playing rock music but focused his attention on jazz during the time he lived in LA in the early 80s. When Björn moved back to Iceland, he was influential in introducing fresh guitar sounds from the west to the Icelandic guitar culture.

Björn’s bands include Guitar Islancio, which had the honor of being the first Icelandic jazz group to have a gold certificate album. Bjorn has also collaborated with musicians such as Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Kazumi Watanabe, Tommy Emmanuel, and Al Di Meola to name a few. In more recent times Björn has progressively been expanding his music from Iceland both to Europe and USA and collaborating with like-minded artists. In 2015 the Icelander met Robben Ford, one of the premier electric, blues-based guitarists of our time and they started collaborating on this project, named after the Icelander; Bjössi.

An acclaimed soloist, Björn dazzles his audiences worldwide with outstanding playing and showmanship. He also runs the international guitar festival, Guitarama; Björn was honored as Hafnarfjordur Town Artist in 2022.

Hafstein