At the end of March, on a day that didn't know if it was spring or winter, I drove through sun and hail to Turnstone Guitars. I was there to play an After Hours Session. The concept is this: visit the workshop; meet Rosie and Karl Heydenrych and crew; play a short set of songs on one of Rosie's guitars while they film you doing it. I had just a minute or two to acquainted myself with the guitar I was to play - a Select Series TM - before we began filming. First up is Grinning In Your Face. I was desperate not to scrape my plectrum across the immaculate Swiss Moon Spruce top. Have you seen my Atkin guitars? Next is an instrumental arrangement of The Water Is Wide. Again, be careful with that plectrum! I dropped the low string to D (and got rid of the plectrum) for the next song, which is Rising. As I fingerpicked the intro - a few D-minor chords up and down the neck - I could hear the guitar singing back to me slightly differently than on the previous two songs. As it responded so well to drop-D, I threw caution to the wind and detuned the whole guitar to open-G to play Weeping Willow Blues. The top of the guitar resonated with gorgeous choir-like overtones, which were really fun to sing with. While at the same time, when I dug in on the second solo, it growled back at me with a husky, bluesy voice, which was very satisfying. Lastly, just before the light dropped below the horizon, I went back to standard tuning for the ragtime bounce of Trouble In Mind and gave myself permission to solo up and down the neck a couple of times. The TM and I are in full-swing now. A distinct pleasure. All that's left is a quick social media photo with Rosie and then back to the car for the journey home.
Watch Brooks' mini-set at Turnstone Guitars.
BROOKS ON TOUR
A delightful pick ‘n mix of shows: by myself solo…with Aaron Catlow…and a with Laurel Canyon Project. Summer’s looking bright indeed!
May 2026
15th The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant, Hampshire SOLO
16th Private Event, Essex
June 2026
12th Private Event, CA USA
20th Concert At Knox Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, CA USA SOLO
July 2026
4th New Forest Folk Festival, Plainford, Ramsey, Hampshire LAUREL CANYON PROJECT
11th Sharrington Village Hall, Sharrington, Norfolk BROOKS AND AARON
12th Ely Folk Festival, Ely, Cambridgeshire BROOKS AND AARON
18th Winchcombe Live, Winchcombe, Cheltenham BROOKS AND AARON
25th Folk Day, Museum of Technology, Cambridge SOLO
August 2026
1st Cambridge Folk Festival, Cambridge SOLO
7th Milkmaid Folk Club, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk SOLO
13th Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead BROOKS AND AARON
16th Music on the Waits, St Ives , Cambridgeshire
29th Guitar Workshop, West Kirby, Wirral
September 2026
3rd BAA Fest 2026 Assembly Hall, Bellingham, Northumberland BROOKS AND AARON
4th Tin Shed, Flintshire, North Wales BROOKS AND AARON
5th Didmarten Bluegrass Festival, Kemble Airfield, Gloucestershire BROOKS AND AARON
6th Whitstable Sessions, Whitstable, Kent BROOKS AND VERA
10th Old Riverport Jazz & Blues Festival 2026, St Ives, Cambridge BROOKS AND AARON
11th Blues On The Bay, Eaglescliffe, Stockton On Tees BROOKS AND AARON
27th Nettleham Live!, Nettleham Village Hall, Nettleham, Lincoln LAUREL CANYON PROJECT ACOUSTIC
See all the gigs for the rest of 2026 and beyond!
(photo by Cafe Jonny)
GUITAR WORKSHOP
WHEN: Saturday, 29th August 2026
WHERE: Hilbre Room, St Bridget's Centre, West Kirby, Wirral, Merseyside
TIME: 10am - 5pm
COST: £75.00 (includes lunch and refreshments)
DESCRIPTION: Explore the songs, rhythms and riffs of Americana music. Participants will focus on strumming and picking patterns, walking bass lines, and alternate chord shapes up the neck of the guitar. All techniques will be taught through new and classic songs, with lyrics and chord sheets.
Space Is Limited! SIGN-UP HERE!
(photo by Oscar Canier)
BROOKS & SALLY BARKER ON TOUR!
In May 2027 Brooks and Sally Barker are going on tour with their acoustic guitars, songs and harmonies. They last were on tour together nearly a decade ago! Where does the time go? Details of tour dates, videos, recordings and all the rest will show up here.
(design by Leslie Lee)
MY LITTLE SHOP
Get Your Very Own CDs or DOWNLOADS from my little shop.
Brooks' Acoustic
Working In Wood
All the Rest of The Recordings
(photo by Dolly the Cat)
SHORT CUTS
CDs
DOWNLOADS
TOUR DATES
LYRICS AND GUITAR CHORDS
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