Dave came along recently to the 4th UK gathering of the RMMGA newsgroup regulars in Buxton in Derbyshire. Primarily we wanted him to demo the guitars which we had brought along to show to the assembled guitar players. As it turned out, Dave's light-fingered playing created a bit of a buzz and a large number of people expressed a desire to buy his CD - only to find out that he hasn't recorded one yet!

Watch this space though... there might be one in the pipeline!

His interpretation of Sidh Beag Sidh Mor was one of the highlights of the weekend, as were his tribute to James Taylor and his own composition 'May the Kindness.'

40 or more seasoned guitar players found Dave truly inspirational and would like to thank him for coming along!

Recently Dave has asked us to pass on this message which he wished to be posted to the RMMGA newsgroup. It is reproduced in full here (Without Editing... nb For Hamish read Magnus!)

Hello everybody.... My trips to the library to check my @mails have warmed me, moved me , and motivated me so much in recent weeks...thanks to the marvellous weekend with you all in Derbyshire. Simon has been relaying messages that Michael has been sending to him ,with references to Brook guitars and myself...It means a great deal to me that you find something in my music, enough to talk about !And the weekend has been very much in my thoughts....in a warm glowy sort of way.....pinch me ...it was real wasn't it?? I am really pleased that Simon had the vision to see that it was a great opportunity for me to meet new people ,and of course to be heard with those fab Brook guitars !...my overriding fear seems to be one of being absorbed and analysed too much...so thanks for respecting my space and recognising the emotion(for want of a better word ) that lies somewhere inside my music.. The arrangements I played ranged from 15 years old,(older if I knew what year it is !) to the uncompleted and" spirit of the moment "(isnt that why we all love the guitar ?)..and you made it easy for me to come out of my shell...I really enjoyed just talking to new people..sittin around , sharing a joke (?..point taken !)..or two, and just "being in the moment", which is where I have found it difficult to be in recent times...My work (part time in a special needs project,) and as a Dad,and main carer most of the week for my two younger sons,plus trying to get my music out there with some great musicians in my band Rifiki, as well as being really disorganised and having too many ideas for my own good, has taken its toll on my energies....but my aim is to place a bit more trust in my music, and to see where it leads.On that note,I am hoping to send my tune for J.T into the ether....snail mail actually...(thanks Shirl for coaxing that one out), and my (then) new song ,"May the kindness".,which I first performed in public to you guys, on a birdswing to the Emerald Isle..but dont hold your breath...these things take time, and i'm waiting for a following wind (favourable, rather than economy beans inspired which Niall and Rory reckon I should avoid) It was great to hear the variety of places you guys(an gals) were coming from, and to get a sense of the importance that music ,and guitars in particular have to us..the variety of styles and songs and tunes was of course again a surprise (why?)..with just one guitar we all would have sounded distinctly ourselves(I have passed a guitar around at the workshops I used to do at folk festivals, and its true...but add good taste and fine luthery skills and ...well ........ The presentations were great,and given in a generous spirit.....you wont be surprised to know I have a half finished OM style guitar gathering dust somewhere....but I think Ive passed the bracing stage !, and the home recording W/shop has made me think seriousely about eventually doing recording at home (my cassette 4 track has been WONDERFUL for writing songs and layering ideas,but I haven't progressed past the "sketch pad" stage...the guys in Rifiki are so fast, and talented that a new song is often up and running in a matter of minutes (I have been known to do a new song unrehearsed!).... the lineup is Saxes/flute (one at a time), keyboards,bass,percussion,drums an myself on gtr/voc ........again if we ever record Ill let you know.... Wizz inspired me ..wasn't he great....his performance was very moving, and I'd like to express something of that in a song sometime (I started, but didn't finish...I wish I could paint....I did start to sketch an Image of him playing....But..did I say I am easily distracted? Anyway...keep in touch via the Brook guitars site...I am available to do a few solo gigs when asked (thanks John C...for starting that particular ball rolling).......I hope to start gathering recordings ,perhaps a track at a time until a product looks possible...then Ill certainly let you all know !!Because I have so much on my plate, I am being a little reclusive./elusive....nothing personal...do keep any suggestions flowing...and thanks (Hamish ? for the inspiration on your lovely Armstrong...the new tune I started on it has inspired me to look again at DADGAD..and I've rediscovered some more tunes I had forgotten all about and hope to finish (my filing system(head)has the odd glitch...)...I recon grey hair is caused by grey matter leaking out !If any of you venture down this way look out for RIFIKI...and let Simon know you are coming...I wish my memory was better...Im gonna scan the photos on your site to try to put names to faces, but I think you know how much I enjoyed meeting you individually, and sharing meals, tunes ,guitars an beer...It wasnt all about music you know..about being ourselves, and alive !..so hello Scotland ,Ireland, Germany,England and Texas, in no particular order, and THANKS to all of you for being yourselves......till next time..cheers Dave Wood