Guitarist Shohei Toyoda, from Kyoto, Japan, will swing back through the local area on his annual U.S. tour, performing in Tryon on Thursday.

Toyoda will be joined on a few tunes by local musician and luthier Jay Lichty. The public is invited to the event, which take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Tryon Depot Room.

Refreshments will be served potluck style, so people may bring a drink and snack to share. RSVPs are requested, but not required, to corrie@lichtyguitars.com.  

Toyoda is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. As a professional musician, he has won many awards, including winning first place and best arrangement in Japan’s 2012 National Finger-picking Competition, placement in the top five at the 2011 International Finger-style Championship in Kansas and Grand Champion at the International Thumb Picking Contest in Central City, Kentucky.

He has performed and worked with many professional guitar players, such as Adam Rafferty, Muriel Anderson, Richard Smith, Tommy Emmanuel and more.

Toyoda plays a custom guitar crafted for him in Tryon by Jay Lichty. This guitar has traveled the globe with him on tour.

Lichty Guitars will sponsor  this event.

– Submitted by Corrie Woods