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Pathways - 2013
The Twelve Pathways is the first solo show by 25-year old Sydney-based acoustic finger-style guitarist Gabe Andrews, based solely on his own compositions.
Gabe’s finger-style compositions push the boundaries of the guitar by combining melody, chords and bass and on the single instrument, at times playing with both hands tapping on the neck, or adding percussion on the body of the instrument. His musical inspirations for this work are American guitarist, Michael Hedges, Tuck Andress and Billy Mclaughlan, and French guitarist Pierre Bensusan.
Gabe has now found his own unique sound founded upon lyrical melodies and harmonic movement. His musical Twelve Pathways are a set of connected solo guitar compositions, each of which seeks to use melody, harmony and sensitive touch on the instrument to express the essence of a specific practical maxim for living a fulfilling peaceful life.
Gabe grew up with a written version of the Twelve Pathways, distilled by his father from Ken Keyes’ book, Handbook to Higher Consciousness (1975), and put up on the back of the bathroom door in the family home!
Inspired by the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, the twelve pathways are an attempt to guide us in our daily lives, psychologically, socially and spiritually by Author Ken Keyes. The first three pathways are about overcoming addictions, taken broadly as any inner programming that triggers painful emotions when the world does not deliver what we demand. The second set of three pathways urge living in the here and now, and always taking personal responsibility for our own state of mind and life condition. The third set of three guide us in interacting with others, by being open, compassionate, and consciously aware. The final three pathways intimate the higher reaches of human experience, in love, peace of mind, and connection with the universal.
Gabe has used the Pathways for himself as a guide throughout his own life. It seems natural then that his first solo compositions use this as the source for his musical inspiration.
While still young in age Gabe has been performing for 20 years culminating in writing his first solo EP “pathways” to be released in 2013.
The show runs for 45 minutes and will take the audience on a journey of sound and spirituality. Look out for it coming to a venue near you!
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Bio
Gabe Andrews is an exceptional guitarist and has been performing from the early age of five. He has received a diverse musical training, firstly from Melbourne guitarist, Keith Stone, and at Melbourne University’s Conservatorium of Music, in jazz, classical and contemporary styles on both acoustic and electric guitar.
Inspired by his teacher at the Conservatorium, Lucas Michailidis, a renowned Australian finger-style player, Gabe fell in love with solo acoustic finger-style guitar. As part of his undergraduate studies he began to perform works by Michael Hedges, Pierre Bensusan, Ralph Towner and Billy Mclaughlan. Each of these composers takes solo acoustic guitar playing to new heights, creating lush ensemble-like sounds with just the one instrument.
After his second year recital Gabe was the first contemporary guitarist in the Melbourne University Conservatorium’s long history to gain entry into the distinguished Performance Stream, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Music (honours) in 2008.
Since graduating, Gabe has been performing professionally in both Melbourne and Sydney. His performance experience has included an eighteen-month contract as lead guitarist in the Cabaret shows “Red Rum” and “Transfusion”, which ran five nights a week at Dracula’s Cabaret Theatre in Melbourne.
Gabe has maintained his passion for finger-style playing and has begun to develop a unique and dynamic sound in his own compositions. He has performed solo shows in both Melbourne and Sydney, and is releasing his first solo EP at the beginning of 2013.
An early highlight of Gabe’s career was playing at Rod Lava Arena in front of 10,000 people with his band Flavus in 2001, where they won the Rock Eisteddfod Battle of the Bands. Also in 2006, at the Apollo Bay Music Festival, he was awarded the young performer of the year playing with The Peny Bohan Trio.
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