Peter Holmqvist

Blues • Uppsala, 75243, SE

Videos

About the Artist

I'm a fingerpicking guitarist and composer, mostly playing acoustics. Most of my music is more or less bluesinfluenced. I also play some electric blues solos and I also sing some songs. I'm not big at writing lyrics but I've been praised for some of my english texts, and english is not my first language. I grew up in Stockholm, but have lived most of my life in Uppsala. My first favourite group was The Rolling Stones. While many friends listened to The Beatles, the music of The Stones made a much greater impression on me. Listening to The Buffalo Springfields Retrospective album I was fascinated by Neil Youngs song Mr Soul, still one of my favourite tracks of all times. The music from the " Woodstock era " made a great impression on me. Some years later the music world almost died I think. The Punk Rock came but it didn't bring the music anything real new, it just repeated what groups like The Who had done 10-15 years before. In the middle of this I started to listen to a lot of blues, and I took blues fingerpicking lessons from an american living in my hometown Uppsala. After a year I had learnt all songs he knew and I bought some books and records to go on learning. I also did some electric blues but I still have very much to learn about forming my phrases and the tonecontrol. Then for about 10 years I had lots of problems with aching fingers and I got a tennis elbow on my right arm, this was because of too much practising. The last years I've returned to my playing doing my own songs. Mostly it's acoustic instrumentals but I also sing and play a bit electric blues guitar. I hope I can retire from my regular job within some years and start playing professionally. I did many gigs about 20 years ago, but had to stop because of my finger injuries. I played in blues and folk duos and trios. I even played for a couple of months in a Celtic music group, but just before our first gig the group split up. Some people say I play Chet Atkins style, others mention Leo Kottke when talking about my playing. I'd like to say I'm playing Peter Holmqvist style. John Fahey is a fingerpicker that has had a lot of impact on my playing, but nevertheless I just want to play like myself and nobody else.

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