Andrew White - Pray for Rain

Andrew White of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, moved to New Zealand when he was 16 and quickly established himself as one of NZ's top guitarists and singer-songwriters. He released his first album, Conversations, in 1984 and was immediately signed by the US label Narada Records. So far, he has recorded nine, including Islands, a collaboration with 1995 Grammy-nominated artist David Arkenstone. Following a live broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland, he was snapped up by Linn Records and recorded Guitarra Celtica, a stunning instrumental album featuring 16 hauntingly beautiful original tracks.

His latest recording and Andrew's first vocal album, Pray For Rain, features such artists as Karen Matheson (Cappercaille), Michael McGoldrick (Afro Celt Sound System), and Brendan Power (Sting, Ray Charles). Released on the independent Scottish label Vertical Records and produced by Capercaillie founder Donald Shaw, it is a skillfull recording with a unique mix of styles, stregthened by Andrew's brilliant guitar playing and soulful vocals. Worldwide, 800,000 copies have been sold of albums including Andrew's own compositions.

Andrew White has toured internationally as a soloist and supporting superstars such as Irish folk rock group Clannad, The Corrs, Michelle Shocked, The Indigo Girls, Taj Mahal and many more. He also toured with Scots folk/MOR outfit Capercaillie and took a 50,000-strong German festival audience by storm in a pairing with Brendan Power, the harmonica sensation from the Riverdance Orchestra.

Andrew's unique sound is difficult to describe. He was inspired in his youth by folk guitar greats Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn but is of a generation even more mind-blowing in its dexterity and inventiveness on the fretboard. While technically brilliant, his guitar work is not just out to impress - it has a pleasing, highly melodic structure. In acoustic circles in Scotland, where he lived until recently, those who have been lucky enough to see him rate him on a par with Tony McManus, but in a different genre.