Gordon Giltrap & John Etheridge Talk ‘2 Parts Guitar’ 2025 UK Tour
Words by Glenn Sargeant
Feature Image Photo Credit: Rob Jewel (2025)
Two of the world’s greatest guitar players, Gordon Giltrap & John Etheridge, have announced they are to team up to play an extensive 2 Parts Guitar UK tour this autumn. The pair very kindly chatted to us all about the tour and more:
GORDON
What is your earliest musical memory?
Listening to Paul Anka singing Diana
You will be embarking on the ‘2 Parts Guitar’ October 2025 UK tour. When did the two of you first meet and how are you feeling about the tour?
My first major tour in years but looking forward to it. I met John Etheridge way back in 1973.
Do any of the venues/cities on the UK tour hold any personal significance to you?
The Stables Milton Keynes has always been a favourite. Great acoustics and friendly volunteers
Will you have a band with you for the tour? If so, who will be in the band and what do they play?
This is purely a duo tour.
Given your extensive back catalogues, is it difficult picking a setlist? Do you have a song selection process?
I like to include new stuff but Heartsong is always a favourite and continues to be a joy to play.
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
Worcestershire is a beautiful county.
How do you look after your voices?
Neither of us sing
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
My Helix pedal and Fylde guitars
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
The Magic Cottage by the late James Herbert – the story of a session guitarist buying a house in the country with his girlfriend. James was a friend.
What two pieces of advice do you have for a novice guitarist?
Follow your dream. Exploit your limitations.
What makes Gordon Giltrap and John Etheridge happy and what makes you unhappy?
Being in good health. Not being in good health.
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JOHN
What is your earliest musical memory?
My earliest musical memory is my father playing boogie-woogie on the piano ( I was about 5 years old), but my major guitar memory is seeing Hank Marvin in the film The Young Ones when I was 12… Blew me away and on to the guitar !
You will be embarking on the ‘2 Parts Guitar’ October 2025 UK tour. When did the two of you first meet and how are you feeling about the tour?
I first met Gordon in 1973! We have played together in various combos since 2005. I really like the duo tours. We are exactly the same age, so have the same points of reference. It’ll be relaxed and enjoyable.
Do any of the venues/cities on the UK tour hold any personal significance to you?
It’ll be great to do the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London as this is somewhere I play very regularly, but have not been there with Gordon.
Will you have a band with you for the tour? If so, who will be in the band and what do they play?
No band – just our two selves. Guitars only!
Given your extensive back catalogues, is it difficult picking a setlist? Do you have a song selection process?
I have a solo set which is fairly comprehensive and then I will join Gordon and play on the tunes of his that he wants me. I add some lines to his tunes and hopefully enhance them !
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
My hometown is Woking in Surrey… A good place to come FROM as they say.
How do you look after your voices?
I only use my voice for announcements, so I try to make it as gravelly as possible – I sandpaper my larynx ! (That’s a joke by the way)
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
My guitar is a Martyn Booth custom – great instrument. My favourite pedal is a Marshall Bluesbreaker overdrive (original model) – really organic natural sound.
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
I could write a score for DemonCopperhead by Barbara Kingsolver – lots of scope for angry electric guitar in various genres, from hillbilly to nasty funk
What two pieces of advice do you have for a novice guitarist?
Play all the time and listen to the people who really move you — don’t bother with stuff that doesn’t turn you on as you won’t absorb it. Don’t be intimidated by the 10min virtuoso wonders on YouTube… Play great rhythm and everyone will want you.
What makes Gordon Giltrap and John Etheridge happy and what makes you unhappy?
By and large guitar playing now makes me happy ( or years it frustrated me!!). The last 10 years of ludicrous and lethal politics makes me unhappy
Feature Image Photo Credit: Rob Jewel (2025)
Tickets for the duo’s newly-announced October 2025 UK shows are on-sale now via both artists’ official websites – Gordon Giltrap and John Etheridge
4 October South Petherton – The David Hall
5 October Cardiff Acapela
8 October Hastings White Rock Studios
10 October Bristol Beacon
11 October Chidham – The Old Malthouse
12 October Hampton Hub
14 October York NCEM
15 October Sheffield – The Greystones
16 October Lichfield – The Hub at St Mary’s
17 October Otley Courthouse
18 October Leek Foxlowe Arts Centre
19 October Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room
22 October Deal Astor Theatre
23 October Colchester Arts Centre
24 October Wokingham Whitty Theatre
25 October Milton Keynes – The Stables
26 October Chelmsford Civic Theatre
28 October London Pizza Express Dean Street
29 October London Pizza Express Dean Street
