A CARDIGAN business has donated a guitar to help an aspiring local musician from the town.

Jo Jo’s Guitars, based at Parc Teifi and also with a shop at Newcastle Emlyn’s Cawdor Hall, has handed over a Tanglewood Wintersmith guitar to Graham Wood, known as ‘Woody’.

Business owner Nick Sparey, who also runs Eco PC and Mac alongside wife Jo, said: “We go to the regular open mic night on a Thursday at the Cellar Bay in Cardigan and we saw Woody playing there and were really impressed – though we were not so impressed with the quality of his guitar.

“We thought it would be nice to give something back to someone in the community and to inspire him with a decent guitar. It is a pre-owned guitar but has been totally reconditioned and prepared to the best standard possible and it is a kind of recycling.

“It has been a pleasure listening to him play at the Cellar Bar, which gives such fantastic support to local musicians and this is just one way in which we can help a little.

“There’s all sorts of music being played there and never quite know what you are going to get.”

Woody, 31, has been playing for around 15 years and plays a wide repertoire of blues, funk and soul.

“Mt intention is to try to make a living out of playing music,” he said.

“At the moment I am waiting on an answer for a university place to study professional musicianship in London. I listen to most music but especially the blues.

“I especially like Eric Clapton. My old man used to have an old cassette of his in the car and I listened to that all the time.

“I cannot thank Nick enough for the new guitar – it’s a fantastic gesture. My old guitar is well used and has been knocked around a fair bit.”

As well as playing solo, Woody is also a member of a band called Becky the Bullet and the Loose Cannons and they will be staging a free gig at the Cellar Bar on Saturday, June 2 with another local band Red and the Hogweeds.