Getting Excited For The Melbourne Guitar Show
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Getting Excited For The Melbourne Guitar Show

Imagine walking past all your favourite brands, being able to check out their gear, perusing some companies you’ve never seen before, actually playing guitars, pedals, effects and more, being entertained by some of Australia’s best known players and a bunch of select international performers and attending workshops, seminars and Q+A sessions…..well, that’s what the 2017 Melbourne Guitar Show will entail.

 

Billed as ‘Australia’s biggest pop-up guitar shop’ there will be specials, deals on offer, and of course, you’ll get the opportunity to ask questions of the actual experts. Online shopping has changed the landscape for both buyers and retailers alike so the fact that a punter can chat to a brand rep, dealer, endorsee, or indeed the builder or designer is a really great opportunity. For exhibitors, the reverse is true, with the chance to show off and display their wares in a way that isn’t always possible online. Electric, acoustic, guitar, bass, effects, amps, accessories, educational products and tonnes more – it’ll all be there.

 

In terms of Aussie guitarists there’ll be the likes of Diesel, Geoff Achison, Doug De Vries, Michael Dolce, Peter Baylor, Fiona Boyes, Shannon Bourne, Brett Kingman, Marcel Yammouni, Jon Delaney, James Ryan, Bob Spencer and Stevic Mackay. Fronting the international guests are Steve Hackett of Genesis fame, Canadian rock/prog tone machine Nick Johnston and the UK’s nimble fusion/jazz/rock maestro Alex Hutchings. The opportunity to see any of the aforementioned in clinic, performance or in general hanging around the show is a must for guitar fans across a range of genres.

 

I remember attending the Melbourne Guitar Show back in the late ‘90s/early 2000s, and as an impressionable young guitarist it was an amazing experience. The fact that I got to see all these brands in one spot, hear guitarists that I’d seen on TV and magazines play live, actually play some gear myself without feeling like a complete idiot and attend a number of very informative clinics was really valuable. I’m sure there are plenty of others guitar geeks out there with similar experiences too. One of the best thing about the show is that everyone in attendance is into guitars and there to push that very fact. So whether you’re a beginner or pro, veteran basher or young up and comer (or anywhere in between) get down to Caulfield Racecourse, take it all in, try out gear, talk to exhibitors, performers and other punters, check out the clinics and performances and make the most of an event that is most welcome to be back on the Aussie music calendar.  

 

The Melbourne Guitar Show will take place on August 5 & 6, for more information head to australianmusician.com.au/melbourne-guitar-show.