ANTONIO FORCIONE - BIOGRAPHY

"One of the great acoustic guitarists" (THE GUARDIAN)

Hailed as the 'Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar', award-winning Forcione is considered one of the most charismatic and inventive performers to come out of Europe in recent years. He breaks the mould of most conventional, popular guitar sounds be it in the field of jazz, Spanish, African, Brazilian or improvised music. International tours have brought high critical acclaim from as far as Australia and Hong Kong to Russia, the Caribbean, USA and all over Europe.

His 13 albums have variously hit the top of UK and international jazz charts and he has shared the stage worldwide with some of the world's most accomplished musicians (see below), double-billing with artists such as John McLaughlin, John Schoffield and Leo Kotke.

Born in Italy in a small village along the Adriatic coast, Antonio first drew public attention at 13 when he toured with his own band throughout Italy as a guitarist, mandolinist and drummer. He got a diploma in art and sculpture from the Art Institute in Ancona, and studied music in Rome (as well as mime) before moving to London in 1983 in search of greater inspiration. 

"A performer of world class status ... forceful and with an enviable technique, he takes the guitar to new levels of expression combining its melodic powers with dramatic percussive effects. Forcione boldly goes where no guitarist has gone before and the results are quite spectacular ... miss him at your peril". THE STAGE

Unable to speak English, he initially resorted to busking in the streets of London's Covent Garden, and within 2 months he had won an award which led to a BBC television appearance before being whisked off to open for the pop group Barclay James Harvest on a major European tour for over a total of 300,000, people culminating in a concert at Wembley Arena. He never looked back.

He has performed in festivals and theatres from as far as Australia and Indonesia to the USA, Canada, Caribbean, Turkey, Lebanon and all over Europe, especially in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the UK. His festival appearances include Womad, Glastonbury, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Koln, Verona, Granada, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Singapore Arts Festival and the Machoire d'Or in Montreux amongst others, as well as most major International Guitar festivals.

"Forcione plays unstringed parts of the guitar other players can't hope to reach" (The Independent)

Antonio's constantly innovative approach to life have also led him to explore the realm of music comedy performance resulting in invitations to perform at comedy festivals throughout the world. He has performed with other comedians such as Boothby Graffoe, Django Edwards, Stephen Frost, Tanderika and Ursus & Nadeschkin, acted as musical director and performer for the award winning trio Ole, and formed the duo 'Acoustik Maniaks' with guitarist Neil Stacey, as well as appearing in variety shows as a Solo comedy artist. 

In 2001 he won the 'Best Spirit of the Fringe Award' at the Edinburgh Festival with a resulting tour of Australia, doing both straight music and music-comedy. "After 100 years of guitar playing is there anything left to do? Forcione proves that there is. Not content to be just a guitar genius, he injects his playing with physical comedy of unparalleled ferocity. This renowned musical performer has changed the way we look at the humble acoustic guitar". (Three weeks)

Artistic, intense, and formidably inventive, Antonio is a performer of genuine distinction. Ever unpredictable, his is a celebration of the unexpected elements in life, a music of rare delicacy, humour and, not least, passion.

QUOTES:

"You have a beautiful touch" (Paul McCartney)

"One of the great acoustic guitarists" (THE GUARDIAN)

"Thrilling voyage round the world … passion, grace and fire" (THE TIMES)

"A one-off musical sensation. Unmissable" (THE SCOTSMAN)

"Forcione plays unstringed parts of the guitar other players can't hope to reach"(THE INDEPENDENT)

"brings more sounds from an acoustic guitar than you've ever dreamed of … superb" DAILY MAIL: 

"Unique, unpredictable" (SUNDAY TIMES)

"Impressive" SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY

"Take all your preconceptions about the acoustic guitars and chuck'em out the window. If you don't, Antonio Forcione will probably do it for you" THE LIST

"One of the world's most highly regarded guitarists .. this is John Martyn for a new generation who, when he isn't using his guitar as a percussive instrument is literally reinventing it. The guy is brilliant." (EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS)

"A major international guitar virtuoso .. one of those very few entertainers who can cast a spell on almost any audience ... remarkable personal magnetism" JAZZ FM

"A performer of world class status ... forceful and with an enviable technique, he takes the guitar to new levels of expression combining its melodic powers with dramatic percussive effects. Forcione boldly goes where no guitarist has gone before and the results are quite spectacular ... miss him at your peril". THE STAGE

"An unforgettable experience" GUITAR TECHNIQUES

"One of the most charismatic and inventive - not to mention unconventional - guitarists at large in the musical world today - a mould-breaking champion of the acoustic guitar" NEW INSIGHT

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Critics & Awards

Antonio Forcione was awarded the Covent Garden Entertainer of the Year in 1983 when he first arrived in England which led straight to a BBC TV appearance. Since then the Arts Council of Great Britain have granted him project awards

In 2001 at the Edinburgh Festival he won the 'Best Spirit of the Fringe 2001' Award

In 2002 he won the ‘Award for Excellence’ at Adelaide Festival 2002 and the summer saw him performing with Ronu Majumdar at WOMAD Reading, Croydon Mela, Rhythm Sticks Festival-Queen Elizabeth Hall and Sfinks Festival-Belgium.

He has received high critical acclaim around the world with programmes dedicated to him such as Australia’s ABC National Radio and the UK’s Jazz FM; a 7-page feature in Guitarist, a 4-page feature in Guitar Techniques plus a BBC Open University interview about his custom-made fretless “Ouddan”. Antonio has appeared on magazine covers AQ and Il Punto, as well as in Il Suono and many others. TV appearances around the world and interviews have ensured this charismatic performer is widely heard. 

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