A GUITAR duo who are fast gaining acclaim across the North West for both solo and duo performances are to showcase their talent in Lancaster.

Recent engagements for Edward Billingham and Rory Russell include recitals at the Gallery, Oldham, the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, and the Rosehill theatre in Whitehaven.

Now the pair are to take part in the St John's lunchtime concert series in Lancaster city centre next Thursday, June 10.

Their repertoire for the 12.45pm concert will include Carulli Lauro, Villa Lobos and a variety of Celtic pieces.

Billigham studied the guitar at the London College of Music alongside many leading performers.

In his first year at the college he was chosen to perform Rodrigo's Aranjuez guitar concerto, giving concerts at the Boston Festival.

As an accomplished soloist his recent engagement include performances at the Rye, Boston and Bolivar Hall in London.

Russell started playing the guitar at the age of eight under the direction of Rod Sadler at Dulwich Prep School. After leaving the school he teamed up with Gareth Rees-Roberts, the former winner of the Julian Bream prize.

He became the young musician of the year two years in succession after winning the Hereford and Worcester Young Musicians Showcase.

He also won the Royal Tunbridge Wells Music Festival in 1999 then moved on to studying the International Baccalaureate at the United World College of the Atlantic.