Hayden Pedigo’s fingerpicking guitar style is an absolute joy to behold, particularly live, and – luckily for us – he’s back at The Lubber Fiend in Newcastle in early September.

I note that the Wikipedia entry for Hayden Pedigo casts him as an American avant-garde musician, politician, performance artist and model. That’s some description to live up to. As regards to the avant-garde musician bit, I don’t think his stuff is that avant-garde. Not unless you consider life-affirming and melodic guitar melodies to be on the cutting edge. Maybe they are, and in Pedigo’s hands (or fingers) he really makes a guitar dance to his own tune. His 2023 album ‘The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored’ is thrumming with absolute splendour from beginning to end as is his latest ‘I’ll Be Waving While You Drive Away’ – which came out in June. While there are no vocals, he’s a fellow who can really make a guitar sing and give him a few moments and it won’t be long until you fall under his spell. A little bird tells me (again, Wikipedia) that much of his work has been informed and inspired by his upbringing and residence in the Panhandle of Texas. That’s all well and good, and there’s a definite country twang to his work, but whatever it is that gets him going, I’m all for it. GM

Hayden Pedigo, Saturday 6 September, The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle, 7pm, £15, thelubberfiend.com