Gary is pleased to reveal the new official music video ‘Orchard’.  It can be purchased as an MP3 download in the shop section of this site

Choreography and dance by Ilana Gilovich
Filmed and edited by Dog Kennel Productions
Audio mixed and mastered by John Dines

Tuning: E G# C# F# B D#

Gary is pleased to announce has now signed with Fret Monkey Records

FRETMONKEY RECORDS was formed in late 2015 as an audio and music video production studio by Kevin Blake Goodwin and his family, it was an inspired vision of uniting independent, talented musicians across the globe under one collaborative record label that led to the unique formation of FRETMONKEY RECORDS – the record label. What Goodwin found were 22 other award-winning and notable musicians spanning 10 countries who felt exactly the same way. The concept evolved and their efforts resulted in a one-of-a-kind, innovative artist-ran record label where the artists inform the decision-making and day-to-day operations of the label, and are not bound to traditional label contracts that may prevent them from accepting other opportunities. With the premise that they are collectively stronger as a community of musicians rather than as solo independent artists, their mission is to capitalize on their collective voice to create career-changing opportunities for themselves and to create similar opportunities for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) musicians across the globe.

Along with Gary Litton, the record label represents award winning artists like Don Alder (winner of all top guitar competitions in the world), Adrian Belue, Jake Hertzog (winner of the Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition), Manan Gupta (winner of the prestigious international Lee Ritenour’s Six String Theory Competition), Travis Bowman (winner of the national Ernie Ball Acoustic Prodigy contest), Kevin Blake Goodwin, Justin St- Pierre and Jamie Dupuis (winners of the international Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition), and Ali Deniz Kardelen (Indiana Fingerstyle Guitar champion). The label also represents acclaimed musicians like  Adam Crossman, Aaron Edward, Kyle Horn, Haythem Mohammed, Raf Qu, Oscar Mendez, Geordie Little, Anthony Troy, Joseph Lyle, Dana Merritt, Jacob Quistgaard (aka Quist; lead guitarists for the legendary Brian Ferry), Kris Schulz, and singer-songwriter acoustic pop sensation Tyler Sellers (winner of the junior division of the national Alchemy Singer-Songwriting competition).

From the label’s inception, others have played an instrumental role in the label’s success including Mark Grover who serves at the label’s tablature transcriptionist and merch manager, and Elliot Prestwich (Image Punch Entertainment) whose expertise in artist management and in the entertainment industry have been a guiding force. Along with Kevin Blake Goodwin and his family (Dennis, Alicia, and his wife Brooke) providing the man-power behind the day-to-day operations, the artists engage in daily communication and contribute their time and services to the operation of the label.

Beyond the RECORD Label, FRETMONKEY produces a popular weekly syndicated guitar internet radio show, “Slap Nutz,” that airs in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and the UK and on the 365 Radio Network with a potential audience of up to 1 million monthly listeners! We have also launched a 24/7 live-streaming FRETMONKEY Playlist and have expanded our reach through corporate partnerships in the music industry and by sponsoring such events like the Berlin Acoustic Guitar Night, the national Alchemy Singer-Songwriter competition, and notable guitar competitions like the Canadian, Indiana, and the Arkansas fingerstyle guitar competitions. We have also released the first of a series of quarterly album compilations with companion tablature books highlighting FRETMONKEY artists, and have expanded into film and TV placement. We have secured a top-notch Los Angeles-based co-management team, J2 Music, to help us usher in this new era in the music industry. Our 2017 debut of FRETMONKEY NATION, a social media-driven website platform designed to bring community and similar opportunities to DIY musicians across the globe, forwards our vision to be “the most progressive record label in the guitar world!”

Gary’s tune Slipstream is featured in the first FRETMONKEY RECORDS compilation album, alongside some actual guitar legends (click here)

Track listing:

1.Gary Lutton – Slipstream 03:39
2.Kris Schulz – Ferus Caballus 03:28
3.Aaron Edward – Akasha 05:07
4.Justin St-Pierre – L’ile 04:57
5.Don Alder – The Wall 04:20
6.Joseph Lyle – A Walk With the Leaves 03:54
7.Geordie Little – Eight in One 05:10
8.Kyle Horn – Locomotive 03:10
9.Oscar Mendez – The Mirror 05:05
10.Adrian Bellue – Steppes 04:21
11.Anthony Troy – Melondy 02:56
12.Kevin Blake Goodwin – Alpha 02:42
13.Ali Deniz Kardelen – Phasey 03:27
14.Quist – Science of Traffic 04:46

Gary’s First E.P. – Departure is now available in the shop on this website, released 6th April 2016. It was recorded at Cream Room Sound Productions  in Hertfordshire UK with John Dines. Mixing and Mastering was by Eric Spizer-Marlyin of the Hitbox Alternberg (of Thomas Leeb, U2 and Brian Eno fame).  The EP consists of 2 cover versions arranged by Gary Lutton and 2 Originals. The EP Art work was designed by Jordan Shearer. Production – Chris Thomas 

Track listing:

1. Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac)
2. Slipstream
3. Misty Moses (Rodrigo y Gabriella)
4. Slow Blink

Departure can be purchased as a download or CD from the Web Shop on this Website.

What Gary says about the tracks:

Everywhere

Fleetwood Mac have been a favourite of mine for a long time. I wanted to arrange Everywhere since I started playing fingerstyle but just couldn’t work it out fully on the guitar until recently. The tricky part was trying to get the whole thing to flow as a lot of melody sits on the same note. I took a lot of liberties with this one so it’s more of an impression of the original rather than a strict arrangement.  Tuning (DADF#AE)

Slipstream 

I had been listening a lot to a South African singer called Johnny Clegg, when I wrote this one. A lot of the percussive fills are inspired by the percussionists on his records. The main influence though is Van Morrison. I love the way he takes a really simple idea and plays with it – it’s naïve and esoteric at the same time. The title comes from the opening lines of his song Astral Weeks – “If I ventured through the Slipstream, between the viaducts of your dream” . Tuning (DAEF#AE)

Misty Moses 

This one was a Rodrigo Y Gabriela arrangement I did during the heats of Sky Arts Guitar Star. I had Rod and Gab as mentors and was given 6 days to arrange any song from their album, 9 Dead Alive, and perform it at Bush Hall in front of them. Again I took a lot of liberties and it’s played at about half the speed of the original… but there’s only one of me. Tuning (DADGAD)

Slow Blink 

I played about with the main melody for Slow Blink for a long time before it became a finished composition. The idea was to have everything resonating. The main melody is played on harmonics leaving the bottom string free, giving the impression that two melodies are intertwining. Tuning (DADGAD (capo 2))

You can see a short Video of the Recording Session Here

IF YOU WISH TO SEND A REVIEW OF DEPARTURE EP PLEASE ENTER YOUR FEEDBACK IN COMMENTS BELOW:

Gary will be teaching at North Wales Guitar Retreats in Llangollen with Jim Bazley, Skeet Williams and Chris Woods Groove between 12th to 14th May. See www.northwalesguitarretreats.com

Gary is  also pleased to offer online finger style guitar lessons in association with jelly note.com

Purple rain by Prince

Let  it be by the Beatles

Game Of Thrones Theme

Love Yourself by Justin Bieber

Castle On The Hill – Ed Sheeran

TAB

i dont wanna live forever bye zayn and taylor swift

My New Video Orchard, my original composition. Choreography and dance by Ilana Gilovich, filmed and edited by Dog Kennel Productions, audio mixed and mastered by John Dines

This Woman’s Work is an arrangement of Kate Bush’s song  from her album Sensual World. I hope you like it!

I’ve always loved the song. The lyrics are fairly specific (it was written for a particular scene the movie She’s having a baby). Eessentially it takes the listener through the experience of being on edge of loosing something/someone and all the thoughts of regret that flood your mind. I was listening to it recently and could just ‘hear’ it on the guitar. The great thing about arranging music originally for piano is that it forces you to really think about chord voicings. Different chord inversions colour the music in unique ways and can make really subtle but impactful variation. The tendency for guitarists is to play chords in the most comfortable way, not the most musical – we can learn a lot from pianists.

The video was shot by Tommy Keery – Dog Kennel Productions

Gary is excited to contribute to a new app called Percussive Guitar Secrets which is available now on the Apple App Store (click here) and on Google play (click here). If you would like the free lesson only (click here)

The app features an interview with Gary, a video tutorial showing how to play Slipstream, and percussive techniques,  as well as other content from contributors such as Mark Grover from Guitar-Transcriptions.com. If your interested in adding Percussive Fingerstyle Techniques to your repertoire,feel free download it now

May Edition of Acoustic Magazine, features Gary Lutton on the Cover CD (Track 1) and also gives a great review of  his 1st EP Departure  The magazine which is onside from 8th April 2016 is available in news agents and online.

The magazine also features technique lessons from Thomas Leeb, Chris Woods, Clive Carroll and many more, as well as interviews from Zakk Wylde, Donovan, Cam Penner and more.

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On Sunday Gary Lutton, 23 year old Acoustic Guitar Player from Belfast Northern Ireland was awarded the winner of raw 1 Series of Sky Arts Guitar Star. Whist Gary in his own words says playing the guitar is not a competition, its something to be shared and to encourage at all levels, he is grateful for this fantastic journey for the lessons learned from the mentors,  judges and most of all for the wonderful contestants and friends he met along the way.

This is Gary’s home made entry video for the competition

Along the way he had the great privilege to meet his mentors Paco Pēna, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Mike Dawes and Thomas Leeb; The Judges Nitin Sawhney, Huey Morgan, Helen Sanderson, presenter Edith Bowman and had the privilege to record at Abbey Road Studios  with legendary producer Tony Visconti.

You can see Gary’s 1st round Performance in Dublin here

Here Is Gary meeting Rodrigo y Gabriella

In the Final Gary played in front of 30,000 at Latitude festival. You will be able to see clips of his performance on this website coming soon

But for now we will leave you with the tv trailer for the next series

Gary was interviewed last year by Brockton Gates of Modern Fingerstyle Guitar.com

Brockton is one of the producers of the upcoming documentary on Percussive Fingerstyle Guitar called “fingerSTYLE Movie” which will feature Gary as well as some amazing fingerstyle guitarists from around the world

You can hear Gary’s Interview here

In this podcast Gary discusses:

• His experience on SKY TV’s Guitar Star
• Thomas Leeb’s Bootcamp
• Gary’s playing background and influences
• Early practicing and arranging
• Lee Ritenour’s Six String Theory Competition
• Meeting Rodrigo y Gabriella
• Best advice from Paco Peña
• Playing at Latitude Festival in front of thousands of peopleYou can find out more about the Fingerstyle Documentary Here: