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Concert And Guitar Workshop At Coolwater

AHWAHNEE – The new season of top-flight concerts at the Coolwater Ranch kicks off with Grammy-winning guitarist Mike Dowling on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m.

Dowling draws inspiration from American roots guitar. Bottleneck blues, vintage swing and ragtime are just a few of the styles in which he is fluent. With his self-deprecating wit and elegant interpretations of an arsenal of vintage music, Mike has firmly secured his place among the musical masters of his generation. He will make you an instant fan.

When the late, great Vassar Clements heard Mike Dowling play guitar back in 1975 he did the sensible thing. He hired him. Mike was the guitarist in Vassar’s first touring band and Clements called him simply “One of the finest guitarsts there is, anywhere.”

Before embarking on a solo career, Mike also worked and recorded with mandolinist Jethro Burns and jazz violin great Joe Venuti. But in 1995 after years in various ensembles and a successful stint as a Nashville songwriter, Mike packed up his guitars and his fishing gear and moved from Nashville, Tennessee, to a little mountain town in northwest Wyoming where he and his wife opened Wind River Guitar, a unique residency school for private master instruction.

Mike continues to write and record from his Wyoming retreat and maintains a busy tour schedule performing and teaching throughout the world. He’s released eight critically-acclaimed albums on his Wind River Guitar label and shares a Grammy for his contribution to a Henry Mancinni compilation recording called Pink Guitar.

The Coolwater Concerts are a labor of love, made possible through the dedication and hard work of ranch owner Robin Ralston. It is her pleasure and her passion to bring the very best music to the mountain area, and Dowling is one of many world-class guitarists who will be performing this season in her spacious home.

As an added bonus to this event, Mike will be hosting a guitar workshop before the concert on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the ranch. Please contact Robin at 559-760-1134 or email info@coolwaterconcerts.com for more information.

Reservations or passes are a must for these concerts as space is limited. Admission is free, however, the suggested donation to cover the artist’s expenses is $25.

The ranch is located in Ahwahnee, just ten minutes from Oakhurst at 45680 Forest Ridge Drive.

To read an in-depth article about Robin and the Coolwater Ranch concerts, click here.

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