First Cork performance from world-renowned acoustic guitar virtuoso Andy McKee, celebrating the release of his new EP Symbol.
Andy McKee is among the world’s top acoustic guitarists, known for his dynamic energy, melodic focus, and masterful technique. After nearly a decade without new studio releases, he returns with Symbol, a six-track EP out September 17 on Mythmaker Records and Cruzen Street Records.
“These are my interpretations of tunes that inspired me,” says McKee. The EP reimagines works by major influences like Michael Hedges, Preston Reed, Billy McLaughlin, and Prince. Its lead single, “Ragamuffin,” pays tribute to Hedges, whose ability to write emotionally resonant solo guitar music deeply shaped McKee’s style.
A standout moment is McKee’s haunting take on Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Having toured with Prince in 2012, McKee first arranged the song for the “Welcome 2 Australia” shows. “Prince taught me to keep the music—not the technique—at the forefront,” he recalls.
Other highlights include Preston Reed’s “Chattanooga,” which McKee calls “one of the finest fingerstyle pieces ever written,” and the “Rocky IV Medley,” created with Vince DiCola, whose soundtrack compositions inspired McKee as a child.
Renowned for transforming the steel-string guitar into a one-man orchestra through tapping, altered tunings, and percussive techniques, McKee has earned millions of YouTube views—his song “Drifting” alone surpassing 60 million. He’s been featured on the covers of Acoustic Guitar and Acoustic magazines and hosts his own guitar retreat, Musicarium. His global tours have spanned Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America, sharing stages with icons like Tommy Emmanuel and Dream Theater.
