Originating from Wisconsin, Candyrat Records is a record label which has become notorious for showcasing exceptionally talented guitarists covering a wide range of conventional and experimental playing techniques. Formed in 2005, the label has picked up a substantial YouTube following allowing it to grow and to develop into a strong brand for aspiring musicians to follow and to be inspired by.

Their mission statement is made clear on their Facebook page; “The Candyrat Record Label mission is focused on exceptional modern-day composition. We sign and develop extraordinary artists and offer music from independent artists as well as other labels.”

Candyrat Records does an exceptional job of showcasing talent that would otherwise go unnoticed. They are particularly good at picking artists to represent purely on their playing abilities over their popularity and singing their praises to a growing audience. In a music industry where popularity often takes priority over talent, this is a refreshing breath of clean air for those who work hard to master their instruments.

For those who don't play guitar, it can be a little bit confusing at first. The most popular video on their YouTube account is “Drifting” - a composition by former Candyrat musician Andy McKee, which effectively shows a large range of experimental playing techniques from percussive playing on the body of the acoustic guitar, to two handed tapping and mellow harmonics. There is very little conventional strumming, and in some sections Mckee is playing both the bass line and percussion with his left hand and the melody with his right, which can be difficult to comprehend. For guitarists who are looking to expand their playing abilities, this is inspirational, and opens up a whole new world of ideas that allows them to believe that their guitar is more than just a guitar.

Some of the more showcased but unusual playing techniques are percussive playing, double neck guitar playing, alternative tunings, two handed tapping, technical fingerpicking, and even tuning the strings by turning the tuning pegs while playing the open notes. Music is sound after all, and these guitarists love to show that a guitar can be much more than just six strings.

While most of the musicians under the Candyrat Record label are acoustic guitarists, there are a range of different genres and instruments including harp guitars, electric guitars, double bassists and singers. Some of the more famous musicians under the label are Antoine Dufour, Ewan Dobson, Don Ross and Ethan Case as well as lesser known musicians who, thanks to the label, are now gaining excellent exposure.

Their website (candyrat.com) features an excellent page which clearly displays all of the upcoming tour dates of all of the artists under the label, mostly around the US but also touring abroad. The website also features a specialised guitar and music store, especially good for finding rare and unusual items often used in the experimental playing styles, and a store where budding guitarists can download tablature and music of their favourite Candyrat artists so they can teach themselves the music and learn these new and exciting techniques, alongside all upcoming releases, news updates, and information you could possibly need.

Gypsy Jazz is a style of music quickly growing in popularity in the USA. It is high energy, quickly paced technical jazz music, usually played on acoustic instruments and by small chamber groups. The pioneer of the style of music was Django Reinhardt, who's most famous piece “Minor Swing” was featured in the feature film “Chocolat” and has been recreated in many different styles all over the world. The music originally emanated from France, and there is a heavy french influence on the genre as we know it today. Without the ability of two of his fingers, Dajngo still changed the face of Jazz music and created a style that many musicians struggle to learn, even with all their fingers.

The centre of the genre is a strong beat created by the rhythm guitar. This is sometimes referred to as an “oom-pah” beat because of the driving nature. The chords used are very jazzy, incorporating suspended notes and added note chords, rich harmonies, and the evasive diminished seven which is often left out of guitar music. The lead guitar lines are very fast and technical, often using chromatic scales and dissonant notes to add bluesy flavours, and the bass lines are just as technical and rhythmic as the rest of the band. It is not music for the feint-hearted, but the result is worth the effort.

Gypsy Jazz is fantastic music to experience. Extremely fun to play, musicians are always seen dancing and smiling as they slide seamlessly through virtuosic scales, and they radiate their good vibes to audiences who are often seen trying their swing moves and to impress everybody on the dance floor with their vintage moves. The music is very rhythmic, very upbeat, and is sure to bring a smile to everybody's face.

This style of music is gaining popularity and recognition in America, and the ever growing DjangoFest, named after the genres creator, is a fantastic place to witness this. It occurs every September at the Whidbey Island Centre for the Arts. This event brings together Gypsy Jazz musicians from all over the world, some well known as well as some emerging artists, to impress audiences with their talent over a four day event.

Alongside the performances, there are a number of workshops and impromptu jams. The village of Langley (temporarily renamed as “Djangley” by the official event website) comes alive with music and culture. The event is on Whidbey Island, just a short ferry trip from Seattle, and is hosted by the Whidbey Island Centre for the Arts, whose mission is to inspire, nourish and enhance the artisitc, social and economic well-being of the community. It is one of the longest established Gypsy Jazz events in North America, and a fantastic place for newcomers to the style and big fans alike to experience the culture and music of the genre.

In conjunction with the first festival, the guitarist Don Price of the famous Gypsy Jazz tune “Jazz Gitan” also initiated the first American Gypsy Jazz Guitar Group. The festival was established in 2000 and has been growing in popularity ever since.

America is a fantastic destination for nature lovers, but this often gets overlooked by the iconic cities and the culture that attract visitors from all over the world. From the dry, arid desert at Joshua Trees national park to the rich forest covered granite cliff faces of Yosemite, even just California is home to such diverse nature and some truly remarkable natural spots.

Every year, there is a certain romance when the leaves turn from green to a more auburn palette, and people travel around the country to watch the colours change in some spectacular locations. Here is a quick breakdown of some fantastic locations to wave goodbye to summer.

Aspen - world renowned as a fantastic skiing resort and village, most visitors come to this corner of Colorado to hit the slopes every winter, however in autumn this is one of the most spectacular places to experience. The town itself is named after a species of tree which is abundant in the area and changes drastically as summer fades, sometimes appearing to shimmer their rich tones in the gentle breeze. Against the dramatic rock faces and the evergreen trees, this is a natural phenomenon which is guaranteed to make all of your instagram followers very jealous.

New York State - the area known as the Catskills is 6000 square miles, home to six river systems and a large number of mountains peaking well above 3500 feet. This area is very famous for hosting the Woodstock Festival, but during fall they become rich in iridescent tones. Small towns and villages in the area make the most of the influx of tourists to see the colours change and set up craft fairs and markets to really enrich the whole experience.

Columbia Gorge - the Columbia river carves it's way through the Cascade Mountains which forms the border between Washington and Oregon. This is an impressive river to visit and to view all year around, but against the fiery reds and yellows of the maple, ash and cottonwoods in fall, it is even more impressive and dramatic in September and October. There are a number of hiking trails, or visitors can kayak and boat down the river, or just simply drive one of the winding roads through the area to admire the nature.

Blue Ridge Parkway - this is a five hundred mile long route that begins in Roanoke in Virginia offers a plethora of stops such as Asheville in North Carolina, a number of small mountain towns hiding in the thick forest, Price Lake and the Blue Ridge Music Centre. The drive will take you through a cultural slice of America that is often considered untouched and very natural.

Denver - For those who don't want to stray too far from the safety of the city, Denver is an excellent location to watch the leaves turn. This is best around October, and you can witness it from several biking and hiking trails (such as the Cherry Creek Trail), and the city hosts a number of different beer festivals around this time for those who want to look at the trees through the bottom of a craft beer glass.

All the Theatre lovers, mark your calendars, as the founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and the Executive Director Phil Santora of

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley

reveals the lineup for the company's 50th season, that is launching this summer in USA. Kelley's 50th and last season as Artistic Director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley incorporates triumphant returns of TheatreWorks' top picks, and intense debuts created at the organization's yearly New Works Festival, and commended works from the country's driving writers. Among the works declared are a World Premiere musical, which is the organization's 70th World Premiere, in addition to a Local Premiere from USA's most well-known writer, the West Coast Premiere of a rollicking melodic revue, the Northern California debut of taking off dramatization around one of the first women. Space traveler learners, a Tony-winning melodic gem, a wild TheatreWorks' top pick, an acclaimed visit de-constrain solo execution, and a peculiar comic dramatization about communication. Kelley will resign at the finish of the period, finishing what is accepted to be the longest current residency of any LORT (League of Resident Theaters) Artistic Director in the country.

TheatreWorks 50th season launches with The Language Archive from July 10- Aug. 4, 2019. This tale is written by Julia Cho, whose Aubergine caught happy applause and different honors. This capricious story pursues a linguist concentrated on reestablishing the dying languages, who neglects to impart his own language. It is produced off-Broadway by Roundabout Theatre Company and received the critics like Passionate, wise yet wonderful, directed by Jeffrey Lo.

It will be pursued intently by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's 2019 New Works Festival happening on Aug 7 till Aug18, 2019.In this play, the story line is created by a group of outstanding writers and composers from all across the country. They will try to engage the audience by handing out books for readings. So they could sing through the new plays and musicals.

Following the New Works Festival, the return of TheatreWorks favorite, “The 39 Steps” is going to be held from Aug 21 till Sep 15, 2019. It is adapted by Patrick Barlow from the book of John Buchan and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. This outrageous comic thriller that turns the Hitchcock classic on its head while in a hilarious spoof heaving full with double crossing agents, and devious murders and stunning beautiful women. It requires four agents to play variety of roles, this stretches the imaginative part of the theatres.

However, in fall, a west coast premiere of Mark Twin, “River of Song” is going to take place on Oct 27, 2019. Developed by creators of “Fire on the Mountain” and “It Ain't Nothin”. It presents musical charts going through a journey down the Mississippi River.

Premier of Pride and Prejudice will play from Dec 4 till Dec 29, 2019. This remarkable story is adapted by Paul Gordon from Jane Austen, leading a romantic comedy which follows an implausible love story of Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy Kelley.

The Pianist of Willesden Lane will be displayed on Jan 15 till Feb 9, 2020. It is adapted and directed by Hershey Felder. The story is based on Children of Willesden Lane. Following with “They Promised Her the Moon” scheduled on March 4 till March 29, 2020. It is a story of true events of Jerrie Cobb, a world record female aviator who started pursing her dream in 1960s. The entire season will disclose with The Book of Will from June 3 till June 28, 2020. The story is about two Shakespeare friends who struggle to publish their Bard's First Folio after his death.

This year and the coming year will be full of exotic surprises for all those theatre lovers in USA.