Tommy Emmanuel, CGP

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Tommy Emmanuel, recognized as one of the best acoustic guitarists worldwide by NPR's World Cafe, began his career at six years old in his family band. As a teenager, he gained a reputation as a sought-after sideman and studio musician. In his twenties, he played on popular hits and performed with bands like Air Supply and Men at Work.



Inspired partly by his hero Chet Atkins, who later became a friend, mentor, and collaborator, Emmanuel launched a solo career in 1979, releasing acclaimed instrumental albums that made him famous in his home country and beyond. Over the following decades, he headlined major venues such as the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall, toured with stars like Eric Clapton and John Denver, and won a Grammy Award for best instrumental arrangement. He also performed on television before two billion viewers during the Sydney Olympics and collaborated with guitar legends including Les Paul, Mark Knopfler, Joe Walsh, Richard Thompson, Jason Isbell, and Billy Strings.



Recorded in just four days, Emmanuel's latest album, Living In The Light, is one of the most daring and rewarding works in his catalog, blending pop, jazz, and classical music with folk and blues roots.



Opening act: Vincent Schmidt

Vincent Schmidt, a fingerstyle guitar virtuoso, has established himself as a key figure in this musical genre with four albums and over 200 concerts in Switzerland and abroad. Self-taught in the "one man band" guitar style, he draws inspiration from artists such as Chris Woods, Jon Gomm, and especially Tommy Emmanuel, his greatest influence. Schmidt has received several awards, including the prestigious Cully Jazz Festival Prize (2024), recognizing his ability to develop ambitious and varied musical projects. He has performed at major festivals such as the main stage of the Cully Jazz Festival opening for John Scofield, Zermatt Unplugged, and the Paléo Festival.



Source: SwissNights