Wonders of Wood & Wire

Event information

Local musician / composer / performer / instrument designer and teacher, Jon Pickard offers a rare glimpse into the wonderful world of ‘Harp-Guitars’. Like guitars but with added banks of strings to extend the range and textures, HarpGuitars represent the pinnacle of plucked strings evolution.

“For thousands of years (probably since the invention of the bow and arrow) every culture on earth has coloured their cultures and told their stories with music from plucked stringed instruments – evolving through countless instrument forms through to modern guitars, lutes, harps etc.” ‘HarpGuitars’ have been around for 3-400 years across the globe and continue their evolution today, offering fresh new design possibilities and soundscapes, limited only by the imagination.

The sound of these instruments is stunning, whether playing arrangements of known classics, or original music written specifically for HarpGuitar:

“Pickard’s ability to teleport the listener from the woody oaks of a forest in Ireland to the deserted dunes of Egypt is breath-taking. When played by Pickard, the Harp-Guitar transforms into a tool of spirituality and nature.” BritishTheatre.com
"If one stands out from the rest it has to be Jon Pickard…Weaves a flying carpet on the strings...Almost unbelievable, technically, stylistically..." Akustik Guitarre Magazine

“I have been involved with music all of my life and have never seen nor heard anything to match this. The harp guitar is simply staggering.” The Old Theatre Royal, Bath

Jon will be playing music by Bach, Debussy, Dire Straits, and original music. A feast of great music!

Jon designed his 2 harp guitars right here in Bruton, and has performed in international festivals across the UK, and in France and the USA. He has recorded and released 3 HarpGuitar albums and has been included on 2 compilation albums from Europe and the USA. He teaches piano and guitar in local schools and privately.