One of the greatest fingerstyle guitarists in the world is touring the British Isles in late September/October – and it’s all thanks to George Formby and the Isle of Man!

Ari Eisinger, from Philadelphia, USA – (not to be confused with the well-known singer of the same name from Foxdale) is known all across the globe for his amazing acoustic blues and ragtime guitar playing.

He is being brought to the British Isles by Manx-based music promotion business Blue John Media.

The singer and guitarist will be performing in the Isle of Man as part of his nine-date tour which also includes dates in England and Scotland.

Ari will be appearing at the Institute, Laxey, on Saturday, October 7 and the Erin Arts Centre on Sunday, October 8. Both shows start at 7.30pm. See below for ticket details.

Blue John Media owner John Gregory, a guitar tutor who is known as Blue John in the music scene, said: “For a decade Ari Eisinger has been one of my very favourite guitar players in the world and it’s a strange story how this tour came about.

“Last year I brought my good friend Dr Phil Ratcliffe – a musician and the biographer of the legendary guitar player Mississippi John Hurt – to the Island for a performance in Laxey. As he was leaving he posted on Facebook about what a good time he had had.

“Ari – whom Dr Phil knows – posted a YouTube clip of George Formby singing the Isle of Man song as a comment on Phil’s post.

“We had both been talking about Ari during Phil’s stay and I said I had really wanted to bring him to the Isle of Man. Within about five minutes this had escalated into a British Isles tour and we have been working hard on it ever since. Anyone who loves the guitar – and even music in general – will love Ari’s playing. He is phenomenal.”

Blue John and Dr Phil will be the special guests at all the concerts and will be joined by Papa Cass (Tim Cass) at the Isle of Man shows.

Ari said: “I am thrilled to be visiting the Isle of Man for two shows as part of my tour of the British Isles and have heard a lot about the two venues from John. The audience will hear me perform music originally written and recorded by the great country blues and ragtime guitarists of the 1920s and 1930s. ”

Ari has previously toured the United States, sharing the bill with some of the great names in the history of fingerpicking guitar – Taj Mahal, Dave Van Ronk (an inspiration for the hit Coen Brothers film Inside Lllewyn Davis) and the legendary Doc Watson. He has also performed on stage with blues hero John Jackson.

He is known for his two superb solo albums You Don’t Understand and That Will Never Happen No More and for a hugely popular series of tuition DVDs for Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop on the playing of blues legends Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, Lonnie Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Ari has also been an expert tutor at music camps on both sides of the Atlantic including Blues Week in the UK.

Tickets for the Isle of Man concerts are ?15 per show and are available from www.etickets.im/bjm Tickets for the EAC show are also available from the box office on 832662 (under 18s tickets for the EAC show are just ?2 and available from the box office only).

John Gregory will be hosting a free fingerpicking guitar workshop in Douglas on the afternoon of Sunday, October 8 for anyone attending either of Ari’s shows in the Isle of Man. Dr Phil will give a free talk about Mississippi John Hurt too and demonstrate the blues legend’s guitar style. Places are limited – contact John at bluejohnmedia@hotmail.co.uk for further details.