Clive’s style is finger-pickin’ good

THE Future of Rock Music , The Saviour of Britain s Music Industry , The Greatest Person Ever to do Something Great, Ever (ok, so I made the last one up). But you know the headlines. Each week you grab a music magazine off a shelf and are teased into

THE Future of Rock Music", "The Saviour of Britain's Music Industry", "The Greatest Person Ever to do Something Great, Ever" (ok, so I made the last one up).

But you know the headlines. Each week you grab a music magazine off a shelf and are teased into thinking the state of British music is on the rocks and these four spotty kids from up north can save it, so to speak.

It's a heavy burden placed on young shoulders, a rather obese devil on the back with his legs wrapped tight around the straining chest.

And do you ever hear of these young uns again? Very rarely, unless you're a member of Blockbuster video in Rochdale (it's where they all retire to!).

What I'm trying to say is that proclamations of grandeur and greatness are as common as celebrity divorces these days, but they don't half sell magazines.

That's the rather cynical view I took of Acoustic magazine's statement that Clive Carroll, who plays at The Sun Hotel in Hitchin this week, is the "unofficial leader" of the UK's new generation of acoustic guitarists.

That is until I listened to some of his acoustic guitar playing and I have got to say it is finger-pickin' good.

Well-developed and matured - not surprising since Clive was given his first banjo at the age of two - it would be too much to say he holds the future of acoustic steel-string guitar playing in his two palms but he certainly deserves praise and recognition.

Clive's appearance at Hitchin Folk Club this Sunday will be supported by songwriter and performer Liz Sincock who will be returning to the town for a second time this year.