Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Finneas
Guitarists “Such an emotive player... so cool": Finneas names his 5 favourite guitarists
Mike Dawes is photographed wearing a white-and-black hooded top, hood up, against a red background, and holds his custom built cutaway acoustic guitar.
Artists Magic Mike Dawes has turned a Sleep Token track into a work of solo acoustic guitar genius
A guitar VST running in Kontakt player on a computer
Plugins Best guitar VSTs 2025: Get the best simulated guitar tones for your next production
A Boss IR-2 amp modeller pedal
Guitar Amps Best amp modellers 2025: High-tech tone solutions for all guitarists
Michael Thompson
Guitarists “Then it’s how you smack it, or zing it or strum it”: Guitar legend Michael Thompson talks clean tone
Spira S-450 TPP
Electric Guitars "Up there as one of the better value for money metal guitars that you can currently buy": Spira S-450 TPP review
Jackson Pro Plus Pure Metal Series: the new limited range strips the Soloist, Rhoads and Kelly down with a single Fishman bridge humbucker, Floyd Rose and black finishes as standard
Guitars Jackson unveils stripped down single-pickup shred classics in ltd edition Pro Plus Pure Metal range
  1. Artists
  2. Guitarists

Total Guitar Reader Awards 2014: best new guitarist

News
By Total Guitar ( Total Guitar ) published 29 December 2014

The ones you watched

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

This year, thanks to an injection of new blood, guitar music put itself back on the agenda - much to chagrin of a music press that had another 52 'guitar music's dead' features ready to roll.

The six-string is back in favour, so - fittingly - we present the six rising players you voted your favourite new guitarists of the year...

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Andrew Watt - California Breed

Andrew Watt - California Breed

Handpicked by rock journeyman Glenn Hughes, Andrew Watt now plays alongside the ex-Deep Purple man, plus Jason Bonham, in cross-generational super trio California Breed.

Despite his heavyweight collaborators, Watt more than holds his own, laying a contemporary, grunge-influenced over his classic-rocking brethrens' rhythm section.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Mark Trotter - Lonely The Brave

Mark Trotter - Lonely The Brave

Mark Trotter's speciality is hugeness. Lonely The Brave craft delay-laden, widescreen rock music and Mark's playing is at the heart of it all.

This year saw the band finally release their debut album The Day's War to near universal acclaim. Listen to the likes of Backroads and you'll understand why.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Jack Bottomley - Marmozets

Jack Bottomley - Marmozets

Signing to Roadrunner Records and crashing into the top 40 with debut album The Weird And Wonderful Marmozets, the Bingley band of brothers (and one sister) have had a landmark year.

Live, Jack Bottomley is the lychpin and pivot point for the whirling dervish that is co-guitarist Sam Macintyre. He's deceptively complex player and his unusual timings and ear-catching tones ably set him apart from the pack.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Dorian Sorriaux - Blues Pills

Dorian Sorriaux - Blues Pills

Just 16 when he joined Sweden's Blues Pills, French teen Dorrian Sorriaux could teach most players in their 50s a thing or two.

Studiously plying his trade in the fast-rising classic rock outfit, he has a touch way beyond the 'kitchen sink' approach of most players his age and a knack for an awe-inspiring bluesy solo.

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Donna Grantis - Prince/3rdEyeGirl

Donna Grantis - Prince/3rdEyeGirl

How do you wind up making an album without realising it? When you're rehearsing with Prince, that's how...

Donna had a reputation in Toronto as a go-to session player for everything from jazz to pop. Then she was ordained by the purple one and entered a whirldwind year accompanying Prince on the Hit And Run tour and making two records, both of which made the top ten.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Nita Strauss - Alice Cooper

Nita Strauss - Alice Cooper

Formerly known as 'Mega Murray' of the Iron Maidens, Strauss was invited to join Alice Cooper in June of this year.

Filling the sizeable boots of Orianthi is no easy task, but Strauss is a formidable shred guitarist and she has quickly built a reputation under her own name. This, we suspect, is just the latest step in a journey to the top.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Categories
Guitars
Total Guitar
Total Guitar
Social Links Navigation

Total Guitar is Europe's best-selling guitar magazine.

Every month we feature interviews with the biggest names and hottest new acts in guitar land, plus Guest Lessons from the stars.

Finally, our Rocked & Rated section is the place to go for reviews, round-ups and help setting up your guitars and gear.

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/totalguitar

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
Finneas
“Such an emotive player... so cool": Finneas names his 5 favourite guitarists
Mike Dawes is photographed wearing a white-and-black hooded top, hood up, against a red background, and holds his custom built cutaway acoustic guitar.
Magic Mike Dawes has turned a Sleep Token track into a work of solo acoustic guitar genius
A guitar VST running in Kontakt player on a computer
Best guitar VSTs 2025: Get the best simulated guitar tones for your next production
A Boss IR-2 amp modeller pedal
Best amp modellers 2025: High-tech tone solutions for all guitarists
Michael Thompson
“Then it’s how you smack it, or zing it or strum it”: Guitar legend Michael Thompson talks clean tone
Spira S-450 TPP
"Up there as one of the better value for money metal guitars that you can currently buy": Spira S-450 TPP review
Latest in Guitarists
Jackson Pro Series Misha Mansoor Juggernaut HT7 and HT7P
Misha Mansoor spills blood as a home shopping TV presenter to unveil new signature Jackson 7-strings
Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes live onstage with the Allman Brothers Band in 1992. Haynes wears a patterned shit and plays his Les Paul Standard.
Warren Haynes on what Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts told him when he joined the Allman Brothers Band
Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy plays his Zemaitis singlecut onstage in 2023.
Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman ruled out for rest of the year as he gets surgery on injured right hand
Vivian Campbell and Ronnie James Dio onstage in 1985 as they tour Campbell's final studio album with Dio, Sacred Heart. Campbell is playing a well-worn Charvel S-style electric guitar.
Vivian Campbell on his relationship with Ronnie James Dio – and what Dio told Ozzy about his playing
Troy Van Leeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age plays a red/orange Gretsch onstage, and is framed by a triangle of yellow-green stagelights.
“It was the most bizarre musical experience”: QOTSA’s Troy Van Leeuwen on playing Paris's Catacombs
[Left] Richie Faulkner plays his custom Les Paul Custom while Rob Halford looks on; [right] Late-stage Ozzy-era Sabbath the first time around, with Ozzy cheering on guitarist Tony Iommi
Judas Priest salute the OG metal gods with a cover of Black Sabbath's War Pigs
Latest in News
Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr names his proudest moment in The Beatles
beyonce album cover
Beyonce takes to a flying golden stallion on her last few Cowboy Carter dates
Billy Joel
Billy Joel reveals the classical music origins of one of his biggest hits
Exodus Gary Holt
"It might have been like 12 people there”: Exodus’ Gary Holt pulls zero punches in his new autobiography
blur and oasis
“I am happy to accept and concede defeat”: Damon Albarn just admitted that Oasis won
Jeff Lynne ELO
"Jeff is devastated": ELO's last ever mega-gig plunged into jeopardy after last-minute cancellation of last night's Manchester show

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...