Here is a film of Richard performing his arrangement of Albeniz's "Asturias" at the WWF "Earth Hour" gig back in March. The event took place in the beautiful, little church on Shoreham Beach, Sussex (the Church of the Good Shepherd).

And since then another review of Richard latest solo album has been published. The review appeared in Classical Music Magazine who described Richard's recording of Asturias as "drama drenched". They were particularly taken with Gary Hearn's "Richard Durrant Concert Model" (pictured). The sound they described as having "startling luminosity." Anybody who has heard this instrument, let alone played it, will know that this is an understatement. This is the Steinway Grand of the guitar world with unparalled volume, sustain and balance; designed and built by a brave genius.

Richard's current solo tour now extends to the end of June. All dates are on the left of this site, click for more details.

ANNE OF CLEVES PICNIC CONCERT TICKETS

Richard is playing a gig at the Sussex Wine Centre in Alfriston Sussex this Wednesday with the amazing American guitarist Walter Strauss.

Each guitarist will play a solo set with the promise of dueting at some point in the evening.

Walter is being featured on BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris show this week and this special gig has been organised as a word of mouth (and website) only event.

Tickets are limited and are available by phoning Craig on 01323 871577.

Twenty nine years ago this May I played my first concert at the Brigton Festival Fringe. I was a nervous 17 year old pitching up at the Wagner Hall round the back of Churchill Square, my Mum had booked the venue and we'd had a special rubber stamp made by a shop halfway up Elm Grove so we could hand print some tickets.

On the night a good crowd turned up and I plucked my way through Britten's Nocturnal, some Lauro, some early music and a new piece I'd written myself for guitar and two cellos. My buddies Peter Copley and Graham Browne from the Brighton Youth Orchestra performed on this one (and after the gig we had as much curry as a 17 year old can take).

This year I'm returning to the festival once again where I will perform Britten's Nocturnal in a different setting. I've swapped the Wagner Hall for Brighton's awesome St Bartholomew's Church. This building has one of the highest ceilings in Europe and an acoustic to match so I'll be using no amplification at all. The programme will also include Walton's "Five Bagatelles", some Bach and several of my own pieces.

Tickets are available from 01273 709709 or online.

I'm just off up north for gigs in Pickering and Beverley, then back south for a concert in Fleet. I wonder what they'll make of my version of Tubular Bells on banjo, ukes and guitars...?

Also hot news just in: another date with the RPO.  Once again its Rodrigo's beautiful Aranjuez. That's in April 2010 at the Hawth in Crawley.

This Saturday 28th March I'm back in Shoreham to play a charity gig during the WWF's "Earth Hour". No big amps and flashing lights at this one! Its a great cause so if you can't get to the Church of the Good Shepherd on Shoreham Beach you could turn off your lights and pull out the plugs instead! 

Saturday 7th March sees Richard playing his first Guitar Whisperer Show of 2009. This special warm up gig will include his amazing take on Tubular Bells and the usual mix of guitar music and acoustic surprises.

This season is already Richard's busiest ever and new concerts are being booked in all the time - so watch the concert diary over there on the left.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SATURDAY'S CONCERT IS AT THE UNUSUAL TIME OF 7PM.