Acclaimed Australian guitarist will come to Cache Valley on Friday night
An acclaimed Australian guitarist will be sharing his talent and unique style with Cache Valley this Friday evening, and the instruments he will use have been crafted and built by a local Logan guitarist, Ryan Thorell.
The concert will be held at 8 p.m. at WhySound in Logan. Adam Miller, the Australian native, has performed throughout Europe, England, New Zealand, Australia and Afghanistan. This Friday will be his first time playing in Utah.
“I really am excited to play in Utah for the first time,” Miller said. “I’ve only been in Utah overnight once on a cancelled flight – I’m looking forward to checking out the beautiful and unique terrain.”
Thorell started playing the guitar when he was 10 years old. At age 14, he built his first guitar and started heavily researching guitar repair.
“After about eight years of guitar apprenticeships, I opened my shop in Logan in 2003,” Thorell said. “I just recently moved my guitar building and repair shop back into downtown Logan.”
Miller and Thorell crossed paths at an international guitar exhibit in Healdsburg, Calif. in August. Miller said he had heard a lot about Thorell’s guitars and couldn’t wait for the opportunity to play them.
“He was a fan of my guitars and I had been a fan of his playing,” Thorell said. “To top it off, he is an absolutely great person. When we met we hit it off, and after some begging, I talked him into coming to Logan and performing.”
Megan Simper, a USU graduate of the guitar performance major, will be attending the event on Friday.
“I’m a local musician currently recording at WhySound venue,” Simper said. “Ryan told me about Adam’s prowess as well as his studies with Tommy Emmanuel – a fingerstyle guitarist whose performances not only inspired me to pursue music in the first place, but have greatly influenced my own musical style.”
Simper said she is excited to experience the unique style Miller will be bringing to Utah on Friday. She hopes it will refresh her passion for guitar.
“Knowing that Adam Miller has studied with one of my heroes and takes much of his own style from him is very exciting, especially because I’m in a place of such intense creative output,” Simper said. “I very much look forward to taking part in an event that I hope to be motivating and rejuvenating.”
Miller lives in Australia and travels often for performances. Exploring the world and meeting new people is a bonus to his choice of career.
“This is my sixth international trip this year, so I do travel quite a bit,” Miller said. “I really enjoy it at the moment though as it’s fantastic to see the world while doing something you love. I’ve met so many fantastic people along the way, and so many help spread the word about my music.”
Concerts and performances put on by Miller have their own vibe. Miller said he tries to put on a unique show for all his fans.
“I’d like to think my music is really fun and groovy – it’ll get your foot, if not you’re whole body, moving,” Miller said. “It is certainly not your average guitar concert, and I certainly like to push the limits of my skills and my instrument while doing my best to make sure everyone in the audience has a really fun time.”
Miller writes his own music based off of life experiences and people who have been influential in his life.
“I mix up instrumental arrangements of some of my favorite tunes with my own compositions,” Miller said. “My songs are inspired by my life experiences from fun times with family, people I meet, incredible locations and even just my desire for a new guitar.”
Miller said he hopes to bring something new to Cache Valley and really impact the younger generation.
“Whoever comes is going to see some of the world’s best acoustic guitar playing, no hype,” Thorell said. “Adam is truly spectacular and plays in a style all of his own.”