The North-East is about to play host to some of the world’s best guitarists for a nine-day festival. Viv Hardwick sets the scene

NEXT month’s North East Guitar Festival features internationally famous performers such as Djangologie and Wilko Johnson with support from the young Welsh band Virgil and The Accelerators.

The October 18-26 event at The Sage Gateshead also sees visits from the internationallyrenowned lutenist Nigel North, Grammy-award winning classical guitarist David Russell, Brazilian sensation Badi Assad, flamenco guitarist David Carmona, the Spanish guitarist Javier Garcia Moreno, and the performers Johan Lofving and Daniela Rossi, who are featured in the Young Artist Platform.

The festival opens with Djangologie – James Birkett and Giles Strong (guitars), Emma Fiske (violin) and Mick Shoulder (double bass) – a swinging gypsy jazz ensemble with all the spirit, humour and joy of music that gives irresistible pleasure. This concert will feature classic works from Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s Quintette du Hot Club de France. (Hall Two, Thursday, October 18, 8pm) Wilko Johnson is the legendary former guitarist of Dr Feelgood and Ian Dury and the Blockheads. With his distinctive driving and choppy guitar style – with electrifying, jerky stage moves to boot, Wilko Johnson defined a pre-punk British R&B sound which has earned him cult status. His current band includes Blockhead Norman Watt-Roy on bass, and Dylan Howe behind the drum kit. VIP tickets are £35 and include entry to the sound-check, a book reading, meet and greet and show entry, plus a signed tour poster. (Hall Two, Friday, October 19, 8pm) Internationally-renowned lutenist Nigel North has an unparalleled career as a performer of early music for nearly 30 years. This is a rare opportunity to listen to and study with Nigel North in the UK. His concert features the lute music of Johann Sebastian Bach and Sylvius Leopold Weiss. (Hall Two, Saturday, October 20, 8pm).

Grammy-award winning David Russell is one of the giants of the classical guitar today. His programme includes works by Jose Broca, Sylvius Leopold Weiss, Jorge Morel, Francois Couperin, Sergio Assad, Stephen Goss and a selection of Celtic music. (Hall Two, Monday, October 22, 8pm).

From Granada, Andalusia, flamenco guitarist David Carmona started playing at seven years old and made his first disc, Tratante, at age 12 in 1997.

This is a unique opportunity to hear his UK debut. Javier Garcia Moreno has had a prolific artistic career throughout Europe, the US, South America and Japan, including recitals at Carnegie Hall in New York and the National Auditorium of Music in Madrid. (Hall Two, Tuesday, October 23, 8pm).

A star in her native Brazil, Badi Assad is one of the most innovative, passionate and talented artists active today.

Younger sister of the renowned Assad Brothers guitar duo, Badi transcends traditional styles of her native Brazilian music. (Hall Two, Friday, October 26, 8pm).

The Young Artist Platform features Sweden’s Johan Lofving and Argentinian Daniela Rossi, who are this year’s recipients of this award to help establish young classical guitarists at the start of their careers. (Hall Two, Sunday, October 21, 1pm).

  •  Over the past 17 years the International Guitar Foundation’s commissioning programme has become Europe’s largest, with a list of 70 commissions of new works to date.

The annual North East Guitar Festival seeks to promote the range of guitar culture for everyone.