Live Stage
Workshops, talks, demos and performances
Performance
11:15 -11:45am
From the sun-soaked South Coast of the UK to legendary venues nationwide, Thomas Heppell is redefining the blues for a new era. Blending the soul of Blues, the raw energy of Rock & Roll, and the finesse of Jazz, Thomas captivates audiences—whether commanding the stage solo or driving the groove with his powerhouse trio.
Sharing the stage with the greats, Thomas has performed alongside legends like Albert Lee (Buddy Holly, Eric Clapton, The Everly Brothers), Stan Webb (Chicken Shack), Mike Zito, Alastair Greene, Dan Patlansky, The Cinelli Brothers, Elles Bailey, and even Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton du Beke!
Thomas will be performing a short set and then jumping into an interactive acoustic slide guitar workshop.
Cigar Box Guitar Workshop
11:50am -12:50pm
Learn how to play Cigar box guitar with the master himself in this free workshop.
Get hands on and get some golden tips and tricks along the way!
Young rock / fusion guitar prodigy
1-1:30pm
Jenson is a young guitarist from Blackburn Lancashire.
He has been playing guitar since he was 9 years old and at the age of 12 passed Trinity College London – Grade 8 rock and pop guitar with distinction making him one of the youngest in the country to achieve this!
Jenson is a proud endorsee of Karl Longbottom Custom guitars and a featured artist for Flattley Guitar Pedals.
Jenson is actively gigging solo and has played many big stages including King Georges Hall, Burnley Mechanics , Princess Alexandra Auditorium, and Darwen live main stage.
Jenson is a very passionate, dedicated guitarist who is already becoming recognised in the guitar world.
In early 2025 Jenson released his first solo single called “Delayed Reaction” that had an amazing response and can be found on all major streaming platforms.
Tom Dalby
Oxfordshire Music School & Great British Guitar Shows founder
How to Solo the Easy Way!
1:40-2:10pm
Tom is known for his unique teaching style, breaking down complex guitar concepts into small, manageable steps that are easy to understand and apply.
In this session, Tom will explain his approach to improvising guitar solos, share practical techniques, and offer advice on how you can create your own exciting and memorable solos. Whether you're new to lead guitar or looking to improve your confidence, you'll leave with ideas you can start using straight away.
