Chris Woods topped September’s Radio Free South West people’s chart. We caught up with the guitarist to find out more about his style, the Exmouth festival and Blue Onion Music

Explain a little about your style.

I think my style is best described as acoustic contemporary instrumental. It’s a real blend of stuff but has a degree of continuity because of the instrument it’s played on. In a way it kind of demonstrates how the guitar seems to have a role in all genres.

What are your influences, and musically, how have you arrived where you are?

Influences are as wide as you can go. I obviously take influence from other acoustic instrumental guitarists, but it has been a really mixed journey. I tend to approach things as a composer and not so much as a guitarist. By doing this you tend to have to push your technique any way to be able to achieve the desired effect. E.g. ‘I want this to sound like a funk bass line, thus, best learn to play slap guitar!’

You’re one of the people behind Blue Onion Music. Can you explain what Blue Onion Music is all about?

BOM is a hub for all things music. It has functioned well as a means to get acts for the festival and BOM nights, as well as to meet other promoters and services needed to run events. Essentially, it’s a point of contact for all music lovers.

You also organise the Exmouth festival. What’s involved with that, and does it help to have an experienced performer putting a festival together?

Running the Exmouth Festival is hard work. The festival is a community festval, so it goes beyond just booking and promoting and involves a lot of working towards developing cultural activity in the town. This makes it a challenging role but also really exciting and rewarding. I think being an experienced performer helps me have an understanding of arts and festivals on a broader level, meaning the festival is very much a ‘real’ and ‘honest’ event.

At the moment, you’re performing, composing and teaching guitar, as well as your work with the Exmouth Fesival and BlueOnionMusic? Which is the most fulfilling and how do you see your career developing?

WOW! All these jobs feed each other, I think being a teacher, organiser/promoter and musician benefits each position.

For example, teaching is a two-way thing. I find I become a better musician the more I teach. It also helps me to understand the way people think about music. Promoting or organising helps me understand how hard it is to get people out to gigs! Playing and composing gives me more to teach and helps me meet other musicians who I might book, so it’s all symbiotic, as a result each roll is kinda fulfilling because of the other.

Being a musician is not just about playing or composing, it’s also about community and people.

The music career is certainly on the move, I have just started working with Log-jam music as an endorsee of their stomp box, and with them we have plans for a nationwide tour and some dates abroad! So things are getting really exciting! It’s just great to see people enjoy your music.

Chris Woods, thank you

This article first appeared on the People’s Republic of South Devon