Hailed by John Renbourn as “the best Celtic guitarist in the world,” Tony McManus has also been listed as one of the 50 transcendental guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. Tony has both extended and transcended the parameters of contemporary Celtic music. Ranked by peers and predecessors alike alongside the guitar world’s all-time greats, his endishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions from the entire Celtic world.
Long applauded for his uncanny ability to transpose the delicate, complex ornamentation characteristic of traditional bagpipe or fiddletunes – even the phrasing of a Gaelic song – onto his own six strings, McManus is being increasingly acknowledged as a pioneeringguru in bridging the realms of Celtic music and other guitar genres. He has performed with the likes of Alasdair Fraser, Kevin Burke, and Natalie MacMaster, among others, at major Celtic festivals such as Celtic Connections.
Tony represents Celtic music in the guitar world, performing with Tommy Emmanuel, Bruce Molsky, and Beppe Gambetta. He has made appearances at guitar special festivals such as the Chet Atkins Festival in Nashville, and the Ellnora Guitar Festival in the Krannert Center in front of thousands with the likes of Pat Metheny, Kaki King, Molly Tuttle, and Steve Dawson. He played at the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in the “All Star Guitar Night” with Béla Fleck and more, headlined by the legendary Les Paul. His ability to reach audiences unfamiliar with traditional music is amazing, even reaching into classical events such as the Dundee and Derry Guitar festivals, appearing six times between the two!
“Tony’s music is beyond beautiful, it’s perfect” – Tommy Emmanuel
“Tony McManus is the best Celtic guitarist in the world.” - the late John Renbourn of Pentangle
”Tony McManus is the Jeff Beck of the acoustic guitar.” - Paul Reed Smith, PRS Guitars
“Maker’s Mark ... a beautiful piece of work that holds up impeccably through multiple plays.”- Leo Kretzner, FolkWorks
YouTube - Road To Drumlemanen - w Julie Toaspern
YouTube - Green Grow the Rushes
This special concert is being held at a private venue owned by one of our members who lives in Black Forest off of Burgess Road about a mile southwest of the Black Forest Community Center where our regular Friday concerts are held. The address is:
6225 Lupine Lane
Colorado Springs, CO 80908
General admission ADVANCE TICKET SALES ONLY. Doors open at 6:30 pm, the concert begins at 7:00pm. $32 general admission, $25 members and students with ID; free for ages 12 and younger (become a member before the show and $tart $aving right away!). About 25 chairs are available, so please BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR. Camping chairs will work just fine.
Tony will also be hosting a workshop before the concert in the same vanue from 4:45-6:15 pm. Discounted admission for attending both the concert and the workshop (see the workshop link for details).
Advance tickets are now available for sale HERE.