Are you familiar with the music of Michael Messer? Few people in the UK have made such an impact on the blues music scene, and I'm delighted to be co-running the first UK Slide Guitar Festival with Michael in November.
As we prepare for a weekend of slide guitar shenanigans, I thought I'd share a little about Michael for those who haven't already discovered his impressive skills!
Messer's Musical Journey
Michael Messer was born in Middlesex, England, in 1956, and began playing rock music with his brothers before he discovered the American traditions of country and blues. He was influenced by music icons in these genres, including Johnny Cash and Hank Snow, and he taught himself the delta blues style slide guitar.
Michael performed with The Michael Messer Band, and became an award winning artist in the British blues scene. His style is characterised by his desire to push the boundaries and his albums share tracks that tell a beautiful story incorporating reggae, Hawaiian slide, jazz and West African rhythms. His global approach has won him fans from all over the world and recently, he has developed Michael Messer's Mitra, a groundbreaking project blending rural blues with Indian classical music.
Decades of Slide
Michael has also appeared on the BBC show ZingZillas, which aims to introduce children to blues music, and designs and produces excellent resonator guitars, strings and pickups, which are well loved by musicians worldwide.
In a career that spans decades, Michael Messer has inspired people all over the world to pick up slide guitar, and we're all in for a treat in November!
If you’re inspired to learn slide guitar, give me a shout and we’ll get your free one to one session booked in: Book your free session: https://calendly.com/philliphenrymusic/slide-success-discovery-call