Lap slide master to play in Geraldton

Multi-award winning songwriter and lap slide guru Andrew Winton will be rolling into town next month for a special intimate dinner performance.

Touring to launch his latest release, GloryBox Mechanics, the festival favourite will land at the Bootenal Tavern direct from headlining the National Folk Festival in Canberra.

Winton’s sharp humour, musicianship, eclectic influences, vocal shenanigans and award-winning tunes have gained fans locally and internationally over the years.

Geraldton and Midwest music and food lovers will be in for a unique treat when the accomplished local performs a sit-down dinner show.

Bootenal Tavern owner Roxanne Grant came up with the idea after seeing Winton perform in an intimate venue recently at the Fairbridge Festival.

Grant said the gig would be a great opportunity for local music lovers to experience Winton’s incredible musicianship and humorous banter.

“He’s played the Bootenal a few times before and it was always a very raucous and energetic affair,” she said.

“After seeing him in a more intimate setting I thought it would be a great idea to bring that kind of show here to Geraldton for something a little different.

“You don’t really see the full range of his talents until it’s a little more stripped back so we’re really excited to be able to showcase him in that light.”

The 2012 Australian Songwriter of the Year winner is renowned for conjuring up everything from sophisticated blues groans to intricate Celtic-influenced melodies on his 13-stringed, double-neck, Alabama cypress tree root lap-slide.

GloryBox Mechanics is the first release since 2011’s hugely successful album, Happy, which saw Winton tour the United States.

While travelling abroad the singer/songwriter showcased lap guitars for Don’t Fret Instruments in Nashville as wells as a live statewide television appearance in Alabama.

“If you get a chance to see him you’ll realise that he’s one of the country’s best musicians and storytellers,” Grant said.

“We’ll have a two-course meal with some nibbles as well so it should be a great night.”

Andrew Winton plays the Bootenal Tavern on Saturday, July 2.

Tickets are $75 per person available at the venue or by calling 9923 3707.