THE latest in a long run of excellent guitarists to play the Iswlyn Acoustic Guitar Club will be Peter Finger from Germany.

He is an acoustic steel-string purist with a varied repertoire which lacks gizmos and gimmics as much as it boasts taste and virtuosity.

With his hands always one step ahead of his ideas, Peter Finger plays with flare without ever letting his instrument dominate the music. Now in his 51st year, he was born in Weimar where he started piano aged six and guitar at 13.

He was spotted in the early 1970s by guitar legend Stefan Grossman, who immediately signed the 19 year old to his new Kicking Mule Records label.

Peter Finger's CV includes tours of Europe, North America, Japan, and Russia, and more than a dozen critically acclaimed albums.

In the late 70s/early 80s he started working for German television penning several well-known theme tunes.

He also teaches and in the 1990s moved into publishing with the successful German magazine, Akustic Gitarre.

Perhaps the teacher will pass on some technique to local aspiring guitar hero, Gareth Pearson, who plays a finger-style in the Tommy Emmanuel mould and will support Peter Finger in The Memo.

Peter Finger and Gareth Pearson will play The Memo in Newbridge on Friday, June 10, at 8pm.

For tickets and info dial 01495 270078.