Paul Tasker began playing the guitar in Glasgow in the early 1990s eclectically influenced by fingerstyle guitar players Bert Jansch and John Renbourn as well as Gram Parsons, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC and many others.
Paul moved to Aberdeen in the mid 1990s, a town with a strong tradition of fiddle and Scottish music and started accompanying Scottish traditional music. Shortly after, Paul formed his first band “On The Case” consisting of French accordionist Regis Le Chattelier and fiddle player Sandy Tweddle. This lineup was characterised by floating accordion and guitar led tunes and “On the Case” played at many folk clubs and festivals in the north east of Scotland including a performance on Grampian Television. Paul left “On The Case” after about a year to join a new Scots / Irsh traditional music band called “Banish Misfortune” in 2000. “Banish Misfortune” played a high energy take on traditional music and went on to play at most folk clubs and festivals around Scotland including Orkney Folk Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow and tours in the Netherlands and Faroe Islands.
Doghouse Roses were formed in 2005 when Paul moved from Aberdeen back to Glasgow. In addition, Paul also plays the guitar and mandolin for US based alt-country band The Willard Grant Conspiracy after Doghouse Roses were noticed playing at the Merchant City Festival by Willard Grant Conspiracy front man Robert Fisher who was in town recording the “Pilgrim Road” album.
Paul contributed slide guitar to this record and toured with the Willard Grant Conspiracy across europe on a tour that lasted five weeks. Doghouse Roses most recent album “How’ve you been (all this time)?” featuring nine tracks written by Paul Tasker, was released in January to great reviews.
Paul teaches rock and blues electric guitar and all styles of acoustic guitar playing but specialise in fingerstyle guitar, and can teach the fundementals to the little short cuts and tricks that can turn notes into a piece of music.
He has over 10 years experience of playing and teaching including five years playing in international touring bands. Paul is currently a musicworks tutor from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.
Paul Tasker presents Folk Roots, New Routes with Calum Revie, Wednesday nights 10.00pm-12 midnight.
