If you go
› Where: Songbirds Guitar Museum, 35 Station St. (South), 41 Station St. (North)› For more information: 423-531-2473MURIEL ANDERSON: VISUAL SHOW› When: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 (N)› Admission: $20:ROCK THE ’90s USA› When: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 (S)› Admission: $12 in advance, $15 day of showAN EVENING WITH BJ BARHAM› When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 (N)› Admission: $15JERRY GARCIA COVER BAND WITH WINSTON RAMBLE› When: 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 (S)› Admission: $10 in advance, $12 day of showMARTIN SEXTON› When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 (N)› Admission: $25 in advance, $30 day of showPIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG WITH MUNGION› When: 8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12 (S)› Admission: $18 in advance, $20 day of show
Harp-guitarist Muriel Anderson says that as a small child she wanted to become an inventor. She later learned to love flamenco guitar playing and stringed instruments in general.
The harp-guitar combines both loves.
"There is a sense of freedom," she says.
Praise for Muriel Anderson
“Muriel Anderson is a good friend and a great guitarist. She deserves national recognition.”— Chet Atkins“What I like is the touch that Muriel has on the guitar, the way she plays it like we all wish to play.” — Les Paul
"There really is, in my art and in the way I travel and perform. I have friends all over the world, so there is that sense of freedom; but in my playing, I can play The Beatles followed by a Spanish flamenco or Sousa march or bluegrass."
Recently she decided to add a visual element to her shows and started working with photo artist/cinematographer Bryan Allen. He created a backdrop that plays behind her while she performs, and in the process of creating the work, the two fell in love, she says.
"He is a brilliant pastel artist, among other things," she says.
Anderson is the first woman to have won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. Her CD "Nightlight Daylight," was chosen as one of the Top 10 CDs of the Decade by Guitar Player Magazine and her "Heartstrings" recording accompanied the astronauts on space shuttle Discovery.
Guitar World Magazine named her as one of its eight most amazing female acoustic players. She has performed or recorded with Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Victor Wooten, Tommy Emmanuel and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
Her current show was inspired by watching a recent eclipse. She says that it is a very structured show that is timed to the visuals created by Allen.
"I like the structured approach," she says.
"It brings the audience on a tour around the world. It is very unified, and I like seeing an entire audience with big wide smiles."
Anderson performs at Songbirds North on Friday at 7 p.m.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.