Richard Durrant: Music For Midsummer

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In his celebration of midsummer this maverick virtuoso and natural storyteller performs his own guitar originals, choice moments from the acoustic/classical repertoire and Bach on the ukulele. This wonderful music can be heard in venues the length of the British Isles played by an extraordinary musician carrying his entire show on a bicycle.

Guitar virtuoso and composer Richard Durrant studied at the Royal College of Music, but his unexpected musical choices and the sheer emotional depth of his playing set him apart. Connection with the land is central to Richard’s work including his last three acclaimed albums Stringhenge, Rewilding and The Sleep of a King. His tours and album releases are planned around the Solstices and Equinoxes.

Durrant’s bicycle stands next to him onstage at each concert, its lights illuminating his performance. His idea of “Cycling Music” was motivated by the effect on the environment of a lifetime playing concerts averaging 35,000 carbon heavy miles annually leading up to his first Cycling Music tour in 2014.

Durrant says: “These concerts are not just about the fragile beauty of these instruments, they might also remind people how remarkable a bicycle is. Bicycles save money and promote good health but most importantly they help protect the natural environment. We must all acknowledge that there is a climate crisis.”

“My new favourite guitarist…Richard sits completely outside the accepted genres.” – Tom Robinson BBC6Music

“One is left with the impression of a man who loves music and life in equal measure.” – Gramophone Magazine