Clive Melton

Anyone who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks is either a liar or a fool.A few years ago my guitar playing, and therefore all of my music was sent in a totally new direction. After hanging around with a group of young songwriters from Bristol and Bath, I decided to take my music more seriously and therefore, playing the guitar more seriously.So I decided to go out and buy myself a GOOD classical guitar. After spending six months acclimatizing myself to the instrument, having it set up properly and so on, I went out and started having classical guitar lessons. My aim never really was to be a classical guitarist but to find new avenues of expression through my music, as well as finding new ways to open up my song writing. I’ve been playing the guitar, singing and writing since I was 15; that’s nearly 40 years ago. I’ve sung and played rhythm guitar in nearly any style you like to think of, and, so I was told, was pretty good at all of them. (I’ve also played lead during that period very badly. And I know that without being told!) I always tried to add a real dynamism to my rhythm playing, to add interest, colour and heart and could be very expressive with quite limited skills. However I had become bored and even gave up performing. Hence a search for a new direction.Now I try to incorporate the sensibilities of classical guitar playing but retaining those strong rythmic elements I developed over the years. Hence my definition of my work being Acoustic, Classical AND Roots. It's great fun producing Blues and Country style music on the classical guitar! But my music has a more melodic side and I feel my songwriting is better then ever.I'm getting out and gigging again and even though I'm not sure if my music appeals to an audience, I'm not really bothered. I'm enjoying playing as well as performing again. And I'm interested again in something that has always been a massive part of my life.Here are a few of the places I've played recently. (Well, it's fame of a sort I suppose!)More recently I've also developed a cool line in acoustic sound engineering. I've worked with several bands, many of whom are now my 'friends'. Let me know if you need a hand with your amplified acoustic sound.Thanks toTimothy HirstLaurence Parnell (New web site coming)Believe it or not, most of the people below really ARE my friends, or we've met at least. However, even if we haven't met but you live near me, or think we have something musically in common , please, contact me. Thanks, C x