My Musical Journey:

From Childhood Passion to Wedding Guitarist

2010-2011

Discovering My Passion for Music

At the age of 10, I realised my passion for music. Surrounded by the sound of a piano growing up, I initially thought it was the perfect instrument for me. I loved playing instrumental versions of popular songs, but like many kids, my interest waned quickly. That’s when I thought, “Guitar would be pretty cool!”

In 2011, while moving to Cleadon, we discovered an old, battered Westfield guitar in the attic. My grandad took it upon himself to rebuild this guitar, replacing the back with plywood and repainting the surface. What he accomplished was simply amazing, and I felt obligated to give guitar a try.

The first thing my grandad taught me was to read tablature, a form of music notation designed for guitar. This approach, learning the tools before the songs, worked wonders for me. I have strong but distant memories of being perched up on a bed, surrounded by music sheets, learning “Foot Tapper” by The Shadows note for note.

Shortly after this, I discovered Chet Atkins—a moment that changed my life.

2011-2012

Falling in Love with Fingerpicking Guitar and Chet Atkins

Chet Atkins blew my mind. His ability to play guitar as if he was a whole band enamored me. The first song I saw him perform was “Mr. Sandman,” where he seamlessly incorporated bass, rhythm, harmony, and melody without any loop pedals or effects. It was everything I imagined on piano, but on my new favorite instrument—the guitar!

This discovery sent me down the typical YouTube rabbit hole, finding legends like Tommy Emmanuel, Jerry Reed, Merle Travis, Richard Smith, and Eric Clapton. Desperate for knowledge, I started learning everything I could about this style. My persistent practice sometimes irritated my parents, but after two years of constant playing, I was getting pretty good for my age. Sometimes, I look back and think, “I was better when I was 14!“

Thanks to legends like Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel, I found my calling and was confident about it.

2013-2014

Proving My Dedication

At 13, my parents realised my passion for guitar was not a passing fad. My dad promised me that if I washed his car every week for 40 weeks, he would get me my dream guitar: a Maton EBG808TE (Tommy Emmanuel’s guitar). I went for it, and every week without fail, I cleaned his car, dreaming of the day I would open up the case on a new guitar. This new guitar became a pivotal point in my development, allowing me to play at open mic nights and small local gigs with a really good sound! Performing at open mic nights weekly helped me understand what’s important in a performance, and I’m forever grateful for the thousands of miles my mum likely drove to help me chase my passion. Shortly after, I had the pleasure of meeting my guitar hero, Tommy Emmanuel. He was gracious with his time, and a few years later, I had the pleasure of playing with him at the Glasshouse in Gateshead—an evening I’ll never forget!

2015-2020

The Obsession Years

Between the ages of 15 and 19, I was obsessed with improving my guitar skills. I spent most waking minutes playing, gigging as regularly as possible, and even skipping school classes for precious practice time. I loved it, and I’m so grateful for my parents’ support.

After completing my GCSEs at 16, my mum, who I have everything to thank for, spent her life savings to take me to Nashville. This trip changed my life. Three weeks brought endless opportunities, from playing on TV in Kentucky to performing at the famous Hard Rock Cafe and meeting amazing musicians like Joe Robinson and Anthony Snape. Every moment was one to remember, and little did I know that Nashville would be a place I’d revisit in the future!

Upon returning home, I spent the next few years gigging as much as possible, building my career as a musician, and learning songs for all occasions—from stage performances to weddings. It turns out, I loved doing weddings!

2020-2023

Overcoming Setbacks

The pandemic hit, and I won’t dwell on what that meant for musicians—you can probably guess. Unfortunately, a few months into the start of Covid, I broke my arm. Three surgeries later, I realised I would never play guitar quite like I used to. I now have a missing muscle called the FPL, which controls the thumb, making guitar playing even more difficult. It was a huge, devastating setback.

During this time, I got a full-time job in marketing and worked hard to build a new career while secretly rebuilding my guitar skills with new techniques. In 2023, I played over 40 gigs—a huge accomplishment considering in 2022, I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I started to feel like I was ‘coming back.’

2023-NOW

Focusing on Music Again

After 2020 reset my guitar career, it’s been a long road back, but I’m extremely pleased to say that music is my main focus once again! The last two years have been packed with gigs of all types. If you’re interested in seeing a show, I list them on my primary website: connorthomas.com.

Over the years, I realised I really enjoy weddings—they’re a blast. Nothing beats crafting arrangements of songs and playing them for a couple’s big moment. Music timed to perfection hits differently. I’ve never really marketed the wedding performance side of things; every wedding I’ve performed has come from referrals and word of mouth. Now, I feel it’s time to invest in this side of my music. Frankly, I’d be happy if I were meeting lovely couples and playing at weddings every day of my life!

About me