Oregon-based guitarist Mary Flower visited Grand Marais with Mountain Stage in September 2011. She is returning for the 2nd annual Fingerstyle Guitar Masters Weekend at Bluefin Bay April 13 – 14.
Concerts from Behind the Taconite Curtain is hosting the 2nd annual Fingerstyle Guitar Masters Weekend at Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte on April 13 and 14. The event features Portland, Oregon-based guitarist Mary Flower, who performed at the Mountain Stage Grand Marais show in September 2011.
Mary has been a finalist at the National Fingerstyle Championship numerous times, and is a Handy Award winner for her interpretations of classic early urban and rural American music. She teaches privately, has released many instructional videos and has led countless workshops.
The event kicks off Friday night with North Shore favorite Gordon Thorne playing a few sets of blues and hillbilly music in the Bluefin downstairs pub.
Workshops begin Saturday at 10 a.m. with Thorne’s introduction to basic fingerpicking techniques and movable chord shapes. Mary will then take over with a seminar focusing on some of the early rural blues players and their distinct approaches on how to get around on the guitar. After a short lunch break, Mary will finish up with a lesson guiding students to employ techniques in creating and arranging rags for the guitar.
Workshops are open to all (even for nonguitarists, learning about these techniques offers interesting insights into an American art form) and are $30 each or $50 for all three. All profits from the event will be donated to WTIP North Shore Community Radio. Pre-registration is requested by contacting Gordon Thorne at 218-353-7308 or email oman4@live.com
The Saturday evening concert features Mary Flower at 7:30 p.m. in the upstairs dining area, which will be transformed into an intimate concert setting. The concert will begin with a short front set by Gordon Thorne followed by a full set by Mary Flower, then a few duets featuring both artists.
For more details or to reserve a workshop spot, contact Gordon Thorne @ 218- 353-7308 or email oman4@live.com.
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