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By Alastair HamiltonSeptember 25th 2014
Alastair Hamilton

Shetland may be best known for fiddle music but, thanks to the world-renowned talent of the late "Peerie Willie" Johnson, it's also a magnet for guitarists.

The Festival, which is dedicated to his memory, takes place in early November, so if you're thinking about a reconnaissance visit, it could be a good time to make the trip. Things kick off on the evening of 5 November with Tommy Emmanuel & Dr Martin Taylor MBE in Conversation, when these two guitar greats will reminisce about their musical careers and collaborations. Tommy, who is one of Australia's most respected musicians and has twice been a Grammy nominee, will play at the opening concert the following night.

On Friday 7 November, Martin Taylor will take the stage. Widely considered to be the world's foremost exponent of solo jazz and finger-style guitar playing, Martin is a multi-award winning guitarist, composer, educator and musical innovator and his inimitable style has earned him global acclaim from fellow musicians, fans and critics alike. He is the curator of the festival and will also be running his Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat in Shetland, though that is already sold out.

The following evening, the festival will draw to a close with a concert by Shetland's own guitar heroes supported by local guitar students and participants in the Guitar Retreat, so it should be an excellent finale for this year's event.

There's more information in the online version of the programme