IF YOU GO* What: Guitarist John Doyle.* When: Workshop 3:30-5:30 p.m.; concert 7 p.m. Sunday.* Where: Folk School of Chattanooga, 250 Forest Ave.* Admission: $35 workshop; $17 concert; $50 both.* Phone: 827-8906.* Website: www.chattanoogafolk.com.WHAT’S NEXTDoyle said he is half through work on a new solo album featuring music inspired by the stories of relatively unknown Irish-Americans. He hopes to see the album released as early as spring.
When it comes to playing traditional Irish guitar, it’s not a good idea to challenge John Doyle to a contest.
Long before he went on to become a member of the Irish-American folk collective Solas and, later, a celebrated solo artist and session musician, Doyle said he started on the six-string as a preteen to settle a bet with a friend as to who could learn a tune first.
“I had the added challenge of it being upside down since I was a left-handed player,” Doyle said, laughing. “I taught myself, and I won the bet.”
Not that Doyle, 39, didn’t have a bit of a leg up in coming from a highly musical Dublin-based family.