Tom Doughty tour of Spinal Cord Injury Centres

Internationally acclaimed musician Tom Doughty, was spinal cord injured as a result of a road accident in 1974.  Since that time, through years of persistence and hard work he has developed his own unique way of approaching and playing his instrument to make music accessible to all. He’s an acclaimed acoustic lap slide guitarist, performer, songwriter, recording artist and teacher who has toured the UK and internationally.

Tom believes that for SCI people, the skills, fitness and strength required to play a slide guitar can offer a stimulating and motivating rehab tool. “When someone has a spinal injury, it is a time of massive change and upheaval in life, yet it is also an opportunity to have time to learn and re learn new ways to be creative”.

In 2012 he toured all the Spinal Cord Inury Centres in the UK.  At each Centre rehab staff and up to a dozen SCI people participated in a teaching workshop.  Tom also gave a concert and left a guitar with equipment at each hospital to allow the idea to germinate. Lessons provided by Tom were also available through Skype to those participants keen to develop their skills.

Tom is now repeating that tour with funding and support from The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, in partnership with Creative United, The Paraorchestra and friends, Shure, Korg UK, John Hornby Skewes, Diamond Bottlenecks and TSW Engineers Ltd.

Southport was the first stop on this year’s tour and Tom will also be visiting London, Aylesbury, Salisbury, Cardiff, Oswestry, Sheffield, Wakefield, Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Dublin and Belfast, spending a day at each centre and bringing guitars and equipment for up to 10 participants. A second guitar and adaptive equipment will be donated and Tom has recorded several instructional videos which will be permanently accessible through the internet.

If you would like to attend or need more information about Tom’s availability on the day, please contact Kevin Bourke, tel: 07971 824601 or email: [email protected]

The next dates currently are:

• Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre, Salisbury:            Tuesday         30 July
• Welsh Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre, Cardiff:             Wednesday    31 July

Find out more about Tom and his music via his website or on Facebook.