Life on the Fretboard with Michael Watts

With each episode of Life on the Fretboard, British guitarist, filmmaker and writer Michael Watts interviews extraordinary individuals from the world of guitars. Life on the Fretboard is part of the Fretboard Journal podcast network.

Life on the Fretboard with Michael Watts is a music podcast hosted by The Fretboard Journal, with 15 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

The Fretboard Journal hosts Life on the Fretboard with Michael Watts, a music show with 15 episodes published.

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  Episode #15

  Martin Simpson

  Sep 11, 20251h 28mS1

  Martin Simpson is a true icon of the global acoustic music scene. As a guitarist, he has done a huge amount to push the boundaries of the acoustic steel string instrument - showing it can be an expressive and lyrical voice. As a songwriter, he is a masterful storyteller whose poignant lyrics are shared with a disarmingly gentle, no-frills delivery that makes those of us who grew up in the North of England very glad to have done so, and everyone who didn't wish that they had.    Throughout his career, Martin Simpson has been a vocal proponent of luthier-made guitars...

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  Episode #14

  Rob Luft

  Nov 7, 20241h 7mS1

  <p>Rob Luft is a rising star of the European jazz guitar scene whose intricate and lyrical playing melds textures from around the world into a striking musical voice. Rob is an extraordinarily creative person and a bit of a chameleon, home with everything from soulful standards and improvised fusion madness to Balkan time signatures and the joyful lines of Congolese soukous. He has even composed and performed pieces for electric guitar with a full orchestra, which is very cool and unusual, to borrow a phrase from Martin Simpson.</p> <p>We talk about Rob's formative years - growing up...

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  Episode #12

  Claire Tole-Moir: Superstar Guitar Auctioneer

  Sep 16, 202447 minS1

  <p>Claire Tole-Moir is Head of Popular Culture at Bonhams, the world-famous auction house in London.</p> <p>On a daily basis, she is in direct contact with some of the most iconic and culturally impactful works of modern art, sculpture, photography, film and artist memorabilia of the last century. </p> <p>So if you fancy a Man Ray photograph; a golden ticket from the original Charlie and The Chocolate Factory film; if you've got your eye on John Lennon's mosaic swimming pool; or maybe Roger Moore's silver Dupont cigar lighter, Claire and her team can make that happen for y...

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  Episode #11

  Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)

  Jun 17, 20241h 9mS1

  <p>Lord of the Les Paul and Mariscal of the Marshall Stack, Scott Gorham shot to worldwide prominence with the legendary rock band Thin Lizzy. He created what would become known subsequently as "The Twin Guitar Attack" - a harmonised lead guitar style developed alongside players such as Brian Robertson and Gary Moore, driving home the larger-than-life persona of frontman and bass player Phil Lynott.</p> <p>At the height of their powers, Thin Lizzy were a world-straddling colossus of a band - hard rocking for sure but real songwriters, too. And just incredible live!</p> <p>I caught up...

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  Episode #10

  Derek Gripper

  Apr 11, 202457 minS1

  <p>Derek Gripper plays Malian Kora music on a vintage Hermann Hauser classical guitar...and if that doesn't get your attention, nothing will! </p> <p>John Williams himself describes feeling that this was, and, I quote, "absolutely impossible until I heard Derek Gripper do it." So that's pretty cool. </p> <p>We talk about his work translating the music of this beautiful African harp to the nylon string guitar, and the extraordinary instruments he has used in his quest to make the music in his head come to life including 8-string guitars, fanned frets and interchangeable magnetic fretboards. Yes, he ha...

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