Acoustic Guitar Phenomenon Tommy Emmanuel returns to Cal Poly’s Performing Arts Center
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Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel, whose five-decade career has garnered hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide, will bring his passionate and infectious solo tour “It’s Never Too Late” to the Performing Arts Center on the Cal Poly campus on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016.
The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m.
One of Australia’s most respected musicians, Emmanuel has been voted “Favorite Acoustic Guitarist” in reader polls in Guitar Player and Acoustic Guitar magazines. He is also a YouTube sensation; his videos have more than 29 million views and have led to sold-out shows in new markets throughout the U.S.
Emmanuel has also been seen across the United States in Public Television pledge specials, “Center Stage” and “Tommy Emmanuel and Friends.”
The critics have raved about the guitarist with the singular style, who turned 60 in May.
“Blessed with impeccable taste and exceptional technique, (Tommy Emmanuel) is able to perform folk, rock, jazz, country and blues with fluid ease and impressive authority,” said the San Diego Union Tribune.
“There aren’t many artists with the ability to hold an audience in a one-man show, but Tommy Emmanuel isn’t an ordinary artist,” opined Guitar International. “This was more than a man and
his instrument in front of an audience; this was a master of his craft sharing an evening with friends … It was difficult to tell who enjoyed the evening more, the guitarist or his audience — and isn’t that really how it should be?”
Emmanuel’s unique “finger style” is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist tickled the ivories: using all 10 fingers. Rather than using a band for melody, rhythm, bass and percussion, Emmanuel plays all that — and more — on one guitar.
Cal Poly Arts presents this one-night-only engagement in support of Emmanuel’s latest album, “It’s Never Too Late,” which contains 14 tracks of original solo music.
The Wisherkeepers will open the show with songs from their debut album. The Nashville, Tenn., duo has quietly built a following through songs featured on a variety of TV shows on NBC, ABC and PBS, as well as the 2014 film “Fort Bliss.”
Student and adult tickets, which range from $24 to $45, may be purchased in advance at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., located on Grand Avenue on the Cal Poly campus.