Andy McKee

American acoustic guitarist Andy McKee, born in Topeka (Kansas) in 1979, is part of the contemporary fingerstyle scene with an entirely instrumental repertoire centered on folk guitar in alternate tunings. Spotted in the early 2000s on the competition and festival circuit, he reached a wider audience when his videos for the CandyRat label—especially performances of pieces like “Drifting”—spread widely online, establishing him on stages in North America, Europe and later Asia. His albums Art of Motion (2005), Gates of Gnomeria (2007), Joyland (2010) and the EP Mythmaker (2014) set the foundations for a style in which percussive techniques, tapping and harmonics serve melodic compositions close to folk, acoustic rock and a certain ambient‑leaning writing. In concert McKee favors a solo format and an intimate aesthetic, while also engaging in occasional collaborations with other guitarists and some international pop artists. His music therefore fits a narrative approach to the acoustic guitar, halfway between fingerstyle tradition and contemporary composition.