Biography

M Woods Live

Michael Woods is a Fingerpicking, Ragtime, Bottleneck & Blues guitarist who has been performing for about 31 years, inspired by the great country blues guitarists like Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller & Rev. Gary Davis.

His first floor spot was at the Big Jug folk club in Durham, England. He has since guested in clubs across the UK, from Cardiff, Ashington, Gainford, Consett and Cramlington to more high profile appearances,sharing the stage with Dave Peabody & Brendan Power at the Blue Front Blues Room in the Forest of Dean and supporting the internationally renowned Belgian Jazz Guitarist Jacques Stotzem at Cambridge folk Club.

The latter was described, alongside the week featuring Woody Mann and John Renbourn as:

“two nights that will inspire any guitarist” (Guitarist, (Nov2000)


At the Colne Blues Festival (1996), reviews included:
“…sensitive East Coast guitar blues ... The stand out was a haunting Weeping Willow Blues from Blind Boy Fuller. Beautiful, Mike!”
(Acoustic Blues Magazine)

M Woods B&W
In 1998 he released his first CD “By a River”, ten original solo guitar instrumentals incorporating elements of country blues & ragtime. The title track has a more traditional flavour and earned him a place as one of only six finalists in the Acoustic Guitarist of the Year competition (1998), held at the National Music Show, Wembley Exhibition Centre where his performance was described as:

“full of lilting passion”. Guitarist magazine

“sounds like two guitarists” Julia Hankin during a live interview onBBC Radio Newcastle

He has just released his second CD "Fingerpicking Ragtime, Bottleneck and Blues", - 14 solo acoustic blues songs which illustrate another facet of his current live set.

Following a brief spell in a blues duo and later in a bluegrass band, Michael has incorporated more songs into his repertoire. He has been a professional musician for the last 15 years. Recent bookings include The Blue Front Blues Room(Whitecroft), Cramlington Folk Club, The Bridge Hotel(Newcastle),The Black Swan Inn (York) and The Beamish Mary (No Place)

“He is an exceptional guitarist” Folk Roundabout (Iss.136) -Club News (Beamish Mary)