“One of the best Guitarists I've ever seen, Iain combines an astonishing talent with a huge range of musical tastes - and a refreshing lack of self-importance”
The Buteman - Bute live Festival
“Iain Forbes opened with a breathtaking display of guitar playing, delivered smoothly and confidently with introductions to the pieces littered with his gently, self-deprecating humorous anecdotes”
The Glasgow Fringe Festival
"Possibly one of the best guitar players of our generation"
HosstheBoss.com
"I first discovered Iain at a jazz festival in June 2009 and was absolutely transfixed by his astounding guitar technique, wonderful arrangements of established songs and his welcoming, easy going personality. To see Iain playing is a fantastic opportunity to be entertained and educated into the mysteries of artifical harmonics, finger tapping, walking bass lines and flat picking. A concert experience not to be missed if you appreciate artistry in action"
Professor Peter Lovell, Macro 2010.
"He's a skilful and stylish player, but his style and skill are a means to an end rather than the end itself".
George Geddes, Pipeline Guitar fanzine
Daydreamer CD review, published in 'Pipeline' magazine April 2008, written by George Geddes.
- Blue Eyed BAM/ Winter on Honeybog Hill/ Mr Bisto/ This Masquerade-Close to you/ Daydreamer/ Hop Along Midnight/ The Derry Aire/ Who are you/ On the side of the Angels/ The Rainstorm/ Spirit of Rick/ Ta Ta Bella/ Moonlight Serenade/ You and I
- Iain gets proceedings underway on this, his third CD, with some nimble finger picking on the jaunty opener, dedicated to his partner Barbara. Like the majority of the tracks, this is self-penned.
- Winter….. Is a lovely rhythmic piece which keeps moving and builds steadily. Mr Bisto is Iain's dog and has inspired a nice little number which brings to mind Jerry Reed and yes, the dog himself makes an appearance.
- There's a delightful harmonic-laden introduction to the Carpenters medley with an introspective reading of This Masquerade leading to the more familiar Close to you.
- The title track sees Iain painting a musical picture with little melodic fragments gradually coming together as the daydreaming becomes more intense before ending in a more relaxed manner.
- Hop Along Midnight is a driving, percussive piece and shows that Iain, long a Chet and Jerry fan, has absorbed some Tommy Emmanuel influences into his playing. Iain has already tackled Danny boy on a previous CD, but for this new arrangement he has given the old song a jazzy feel while still laying the thumb in.
- Outstanding is the only way to describe the next track; a solo acoustic version of the Who's Who are you seems unlikely but here it is, rhythmic, melodic and percussive - an absolute knockout track.
- In contrast, On the Side of the Angels starts as a quieter piece but still has a rhythmic pulse which builds to some frenetic strumming before briefly returning to the softer phrases.
- The Rainstorm is an atmospheric little number which relies heavily on some fine tremolo picking to paint a picture.
- Spirit of Rick, on the other hand, alternates rhythmic passages with more reflective sections. In another contrast
- Ta Ta Bella starts off as a bluesy piece before Iain brings in other elements, harmonics and a bit of guitar-slapping in Tommy E style as the number builds.
- Apparently Iain's granny doesn't like his version of the Glenn Miller classic. I hate to disagree with anyone's granny, but I think it's great and works very well as a finger-picked piece.
- The CD closes as it starts with a composition dedicated to Barbara, this one more gently and introspective. On this album Iain really begins to explore his own style and techniques.
