Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society

21/05/2026

2 performances you don't want to miss!

- Thursday June 25th, Chicago based guitarist Goran Ivanovic, a longtime friend of MFGS, will be performing in Ann Arbor at Kerrytown Concert House https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dDQIiEy0sjg?feature=share

Goran's music blends Balkan folk roots with contemporary expression—drawing from flamenco, jazz, classical, and beyond. His new album 'Far Away Feeling' is out now and it is fabulous!
https://ivanovicgoran.com/ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1436468671849156&set=p.1436468671849156&type=3&__cft__[0]=AZbUjdlYvN7TxvyigJyn_Ow04DYD1cN7BAuI2g5T8wBsJWal_6AgRAOvgsPbMj4zhHdG1ensR0jYZ30ycs886KP6yfkvVDdlyzLn2GYfIEFyp_ZvJI-WX6Ac86KcLLnaI6eAbMXm1y-b0ehLQaJ1_ezoFxHEnvoIKL_POfsZONSEHA&__cft__[1]=AZbZJVwW3U3ylpFjGUD6h5mJY_HPebMHcIyr11vjvAt3qt3QKvlkvkl6zDihZESwOTWzl3OeJTQnmp9DLWLZz26tw_K692QXhWroxcvlTHrpx94iHCh5Xj65gYLFonLjIW3BVpOs8YGEAYHbHiOXftoP7xwgvwvMzyOG7kSJdkmVKw&__tn__=R]-R

-Thursday July 2, 2026 8:00 pm British guitarist Clive Carrol will be at 20 Front St. We saw Clive Carrol here years back when he toured with International Guitar Night. Clive earned a 1st Class Honours Degree in Composition and Guitar from the famed Trinity College of Music in London. A chance meeting with English guitar legend John Renbourn proved the catalyst for Clive’s debut album, “Sixth Sense”, which Renbourn deemed “a milestone in the journey of the steel-string guitar”. https://calendar.20frontstreet.com/shows/clive-carroll-02-jul

06/05/2026

Our upcoming May workshop with Bear Whitmer is on May 16th. These are great opportunities for all guitarists to play at their levels on one piece of music. Bear works on incorporating everyone into the piece! Thanks to Pursell Lutherie for opening up their space for this!!

One of our favs, Kyran Daniel, is traveling the world and working on his album release. His site has some great video's of his music and there are some CDs available and supporting an artist such as Kyran just keeps the incredible music coming. https://www.kyrandaniel.com/catalogue-kURcZ/p/like-the-night-itself-cd?mc_cid=139e4d378c&mc_eid=63c7e39f25

MFGS friend, Goran Ivanovic has a new CD out and it sounds great! Just ordered a copy! https://goranivanovic.bandcamp.com/track/deadlock

And.....another MFGS friend, Clive Carrol, will be at 20 Front St. in July. We saw Clive Carrol here years back when he toured with International Guitar Night. Clive earned a 1st Class Honours Degree in Composition and Guitar from the famed Trinity College of Music in London. A chance meeting with English guitar legend John Renbourn proved the catalyst for Clive’s debut album, “Sixth Sense”, which Renbourn deemed “a milestone in the journey of the steel-string guitar”. https://calendar.20frontstreet.com/shows/clive-carroll-02-jul

Don't forget our friends at Candyrat Records, Minor 7th and their Spring 2026 edition of reviews along with their 'Short Takes' https://minor7th.com/shorttakes3_26.html and we can't forget Pursell Lutherie for all of your acoustic instrument needs!

07/04/2026

A huge thank you to those who joined us for Hiroya Tsukamoto’s incredible workshop and concert at Pursell Lutherie. Hiroya is truly a unique artist of his own making blending contemporary fingerstyle with jazz, a bit of zen and s**t in the backdrop of beautiful stories.

We would love to see you at our next session! Join us this Saturday, April 11th, with MFGS's own 'artist in residence' Bear Whitmer. This workshop is for both aspiring and experienced fingerstyle guitarists.

This month, we'll explore Green Day's intimate ballad "Wake Me Up When September Ends." This song has been interpreted by a number of contemporary fingerstylists, and our version will draw primarily from Ulli Böger­hausen's celebrated fingerstyle interpretation in Drop D tuning. Discover the song's rich history and emotional arc, and uncover the subtle musical details, textures, and dynamic shifts that make this arrangement so powerful. The session will be divided into three segments catering to different experience levels from new to fingerstyle to advanced.

18/03/2026

Up next is a remarkable performer and friend of MFGS Hiroya Tsukamoto! Hiroya was featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine in January of 2024 and he has continued his travels across the country since then. https://acousticguitar.com/how-guitar-virtuoso-hiroya-tsukamoto-arrived-at-his-unique-acoustic-style/

Hiroya will be performing at Pursell Lutherie on Friday, March 27th. Just prior to the 8pm performance there will be an hour long guitar workshop. Info here https://www.purselllutherie.com/events/hiroya-tsukamoto-master-of-fingerstyle-guitar

Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy some beautiful music and an opportunity for guitarists to learn from a world-renowned guitarist.

We would also like to thank Bear Whitmer & Hannah Harris (The duo -Shannon Lee) for their delightful performance at Pursell Lutherie on the 14th!

07/03/2026

There is a touch of Spring in the air! Time to put a touch of Irish in your step! The duo Shannon Lee consisting of fiddler Hannah Harris and guitarist Bear Whitmer will be performing at Pursell Lutherie in Ferndale on Saturday March 14th from 6:30 PM 8:30 PM! Get tickets here! https://www.purselllutherie.com/events Here is a soulful rendition of an arrangement that Tony McManus and Alasdair Fraser put together of “Bidh Clann Ulaidh” in their 1999 album, Return to Kintail. This video is from their recent performance at Trinity House Theatre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC1J75ONZao&list=PLKQAhJvH2qRsI3UXZ9oG4dX9ZUBfKs7kI&index=6

AND..................at Pursell Lutherie
on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 6:30 pm Hiroya Tsukamoto will be presenting a one hour guitar workshop followed by a performance featuring his new album 'Rainshadow'! More info and tickets available here.https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLDWZW3EA1KZD/checkout/KLJD6EJIZNTK3SSD3YBTACGE?src=embed

Shannon Lee performing Bidh Clann Ulaidh @ The Trinity House Theater on 2-20-2026.We loved the arrangement that Tony McManus and Alasdair Fraser put together...

30/01/2026

Tickets still available for one !the great Bluegrass guitarists. Jake will have a workshop at 6:30 and performance at 8pm He is a must see!

https://www.purselllutherie.com/events/jake-eddy-bluegrass-guitar-concert-workshop

Join us at the shop for an evening with ! Get a chance to pick up a new technique or learn a new style during a 60 minute workshop beginning at 6:30pm on January 31st, where attendees are encouraged to ask questions and even bring a guitar to follow along with Jake's tips. Following the workshop at 8:00pm, Jake will finish the evening with a concert. Don't miss the chance to see this rising star play, he is incredible!
Tickets are available online now at purselllutherie.com (ticket link is also in our Instagram bio). Limited availability, get your tickets soon!

22/01/2026

04/01/2026

MFGS's own Alberto 'Bear' Whitmer and the amazing fiddler, Hannah Harris, form the duo Shannon Lee. They will be appearing at Trinity House Theatre on Friday February 20th.https://www.trinityhousetheatre.org/event/shannon-lee-featuring-featuring-hannah-harris-and-alberto-bear-whitmer-february-20-2026/

01/12/2025

This is an opportunity to see some remarkable music!

The Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society presents Don Ross and Julie Malia – December 4, 2025
@ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
$30.00 see linktree

13/11/2025

The Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society presents Don Ross and Julie Malia – Thursday, December 4, 2025
Don Ross is one of the OGs of fingerstyle guitar, winning the Winfield fingerstyle competition TWICE! Don was also the first artist that MFGS hosted back in Feb. 2002 and (another first!) also the first artist to sign with famed indie record label Candyrat Records, in 2005! Don is now joined by Germany's Julie Malia who is revered in Europe for her approach to this genre. Our last great show of 2025! https://www.trinityhousetheatre.org/event/the-michigan-fingerstyle-guitar-society-presents-don-ross-and-julie-malia-december-4-2025/