Michael Berk (Review) at Fox and Hounds Stony Stratford 22nd May 08

I Went to see Michael Berk last night on Thurs 22nd May at the Fox and Hounds Stony Stratford after being recommended by the pubs management. I can see why they recommended me now coz Michael was brilliant. His set started at 8.45pm and finished at 11pm with Michael having a 15 min break in between. Michael played guitar only without any vocal accompaniment. His playing set off a lovely atmosphere and he had the crowd in total silence. He has 3 albums and up-coming gigs in Beford and his home town London. Most of his stuff is original but he does do a few covers (Check out the You Tube vid below.) For me his music was calming, what I'd call 'thin the blood' type music. I've gathered some biograpghy info about the chap for you to read. Enjoy

Bio
For the last 10 years, Michael Berk has been stunning audiences around the UK, performing over 200 shows with little more than a guitar and the occasional percussionist.

London's famous 12 Bar Club calls him " one of the few truly gifted acoustic guitar players around… a true virtuoso".

Born on 23 March 1981, Michael began playing at the age of 6 using his mother's old guitar and a Beatles songbook. By the time he was 11, he was playing professionally with bands.

Since then, Michael has performed in 5 countries, has privately taught over 80 students and is a regular session guitarist for several well known London-based producers.
Yet it has only been over the past 2 years that he has received recognition for his own music, leading one leading promotion company to refer to him as "the greatest exponent of acoustic guitar on the live scene… not for the faint of heart!" (taken from Up All Night magazine last year).

London's former Human Soundwave Club says, "Michael stuns with his intricate compositions".

A recent review from Guitar 9 Records (internet magazine) said:
"London fingerstyle guitarist Michael Berk has already been compared to the likes of Michael Hedges, Adrian Legg and Preston Reed, and the intricate compositions on his debut CD certainly invite comparisons with these masters. Advancing a percussive style on a steel-strung acoustic, album cuts such as 'All Enquiries' and the title track leap from the speakers, displaying technical mastery, a robust, commanding acoustic guitar tone and a passion for the sensitive side of guitar playing. The unpredictability of his compositions is also a strength - the music keeps your attention and offers a sense of fullness of expression."

Michael has recently returned from the United States having performed in New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, New York and competed in the prestigious "National Fingerstyle Guitarist of the Year Competition" held in Winfield, Ks.

Music from Michael's debut album "Organized Chaos", recently appeared on the documentary "Cancer Cures" that aired on the 3rd Feb 2004 on ITV.

From January to June in 2006 Michael performed onstage at The National Theatre, on London's South Bank, in a play called "Burn".

• Check out Michael Berk on Myspace
• Check out the Michael Berk website
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