Faith Guitars are pleased to welcome 15yr old Billy Watman to their official artist roster. Billy will be using a Venus HiGloss for all steel string performances.
Billy is an award winning 15 year old Anglo-Brazilian classical / flamenco fingerstyle guitarist, inspired by the likes of Rodrigo y Gabriela, Tommy Emmanuel, Paco de Lucia and Sungha Jung. He studies classical guitar and composition at London’s Purcell School of Music.
In 2016 he reached the final of Sky Arts TV show “Guitar Star” and performed live at Latitude Festival, Abbey Road Studios and worked one on one with George Benson, Tony Iommi and Tony Visconti.
Alex Mew, Faith Guitars’ associate director was delighted to confirm the artist agreement at the Birmingham Guitar Show in February 2017.
“I remember first seeing Billy play when he was 11”, begins Mew. “It was obvious at that time that he was one to watch. We’re really happy to have Billy now choosing a Faith Venus HiGloss guitar for his steel string performances.”
Billy’s online videos have have been seen all around the world, with his first classical cover of Bohemian Rhapsody shared by rock legends Queen’s official Facebook page. Altogether his videos have attracted around 30 million views.
He has also had videos shared by Brian May, George Benson and “The Libertines” and had his performances mentioned on the pages of “Guitarist” magazine (UK), and “Revista Guitar Player” (Brazil).
A regular live performer, Billy’s live show presents a genre defying fresh new approach to nylon strings, spanning Classical, Jazz and Pop, through to Electronic Trance and Classic Rock – all on just 1 classical guitar.
Playing since the age of 6, he has graced the Main Stages of Towersey Festival, Thame’s Music in the Park, The Beacon Festival in Oxfordshire and in 2013 was the winner of the Edinburgh Festival national guitar competition.
He is a familiar face on The Royal Mile, where he has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe since the age of just 9, and where in 2016 he was comedian Rory Bremner’s musical guest at 2 sold out Fringe stand up performances.
Billy’s CD “Escape from Reality” recorded in early 2016, is now available to mail order or download from iTunes click here for more details.