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Rhodri Huw

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Gethin Scourfield

When Rock Goes Acoustic

Documentaries

Music: Classic Pop & Rock

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

02/09/2011

BBC Four - When Rock Goes Acoustic

Documentary taking a look at the love affair between rock and the acoustic guitar.

Documentary taking an insightful, irreverent look at the love affair between rock and the acoustic guitar. Contributors include Johnny Marr, Keith Richards and Ray Davies.

The cliche of classic rock guitar is one of riffs, solos and noise. But write a list of great guitarists and their finest moments and a quieter, more intense playing comes to the fore. The acoustic guitar is the secret weapon in the armoury of the guitar hero, when paradoxically they get more attention by playing quietly than being loud. 

This documentary takes an insightful and occasionally irreverent look at the love affair between rock and the humble acoustic guitar. Exploring a much less celebrated, yet crucial part of the rock musician's arsenal, contributors including Johnny Marr, Keith Richards, Ray Davies, James Dean Bradfield, Biffy Clyro, Joan Armatrading, Donovan and Roger McGuinn discuss why an instrument favoured by medieval minstrels and singing nuns is as important to rock 'n' roll as the drums, bass and its noisy sister, the electric guitar.

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