Name: Brian Viggars

Track entered: The Torrent

Current main guitar: Taylor 414CE

As a multi-instrumentalist and teacher, Brian's journey to the Acoustic Guitarist Of The Year final has been an all-encompassing one. "At the age of eight, with The Beatles and The Shadows in the Hit Parade, I picked up the guitar and haven't put it down for almost 50 years," he says.

Inspired by "anything with lush chords and moving internal harmonies", Brian is excited by the opportunity of performing in the final. "Having been inspired by so many great guitarists, it would be a privilege to share my music, techniques and arrangements with others," he says, "promoting the acoustic guitar as an instrument capable of playing melody, bass and harmony at the same time."

Random fact: Brian’s entry was was inspired by a Welsh river cascading down a hillside, no less.