8-year-old flamenco guitarist from Calgary strums his way to centre stage

In many ways, Harry Knight is your average third grader. He likes bike riding and swimming. His favourite Avenger is Thor.

But while many of his peers might spendthis Sundayafternoon tobogganing or playing video games, theboywill headline a 500-seat venue at the University of Calgary, leading his band through a selection of flamenco and classic rock tunes.

At eightyears old,Harry is a young flamenco guitarist with a budding career.

He played his first festival date at the age of fiveand has since performed at several high-profile events in the city, including the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show and the Calgary International Flamenco Festival.

"It feels good and I just love playing guitar,"he says.

"I started when I was 4and I'm never going to stop. I just really like it."

Musical bloodline

The young guitarist comes from a musical bloodline.

His father, Peter Knight himself a flamenco guitarist has recorded with the likes of Grammy winner Dave Pierce.

Under his father's instruction, Harry spends up to 2.5 hours rehearsing on schooldays and up to four hours per day on weekends.

According to his father, Harry was drawn to the guitar at a very early age.

"I would have my guitars over on a bench [in the living room)]and he would be six months old and crawling. He would hear the latches [of my guitar case]open, and come crawling over and try to pull himself up to the guitar case. So I knew at that time it was pretty interesting," Peter Knight said.

"It was his choice to play the guitar, and there were no expectations. He's at the point now where I'm teaching him material that I used to play."

• MORE MUSIC NEWS |Low Canadian dollar hits Calgary's music festivals booking international artists

Peter Knight suffers from dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that leads to sustained muscle contractions, whichhas limited his ability to play guitar.

Harry to study in Madrid and Cordoba

However,thanks to his father's connectionto a pair of renowned Spanish guitarists, Harry will have the chance to enhance his playing and learn new guitar techniques.

He will spend time in Madrid under the tutelage of renowned guitarist Victor (El Tomate)Marquez, and will also travel to Cordoba to study with the guitarist Paco Serrano.

Proceeds from his Jan. 24 concert at the University Theatre at the University of Calgary will help pay for the young guitarist's travels.

"There'll be a lot of old places," said Harry of his upcoming trip.

"I'll be learning on the guitar things that my dad can't teach me. Things that are more advanced."

The "Harry Knight and Friends" concert takes placeSunday,Jan.24, at 3 p.m., University Theatre at the U of C. Find tickets or more information at Eventbrite.