NEWS
Guitar and Amp Shows
By Liana Prudencio
Summer NAMM and the New York Amp Show
have come and gone. If you’ve missed out on
either show, don’t worry—something similar
is likely coming to a town near you. Below are
some of the upcoming guitar and amp shows
you can catch through September.
July 17-18
Great American Guitar Show
King of Prussia, PA
bee3vintage.com
July 24-25
Kansas City Guitar Show – 3 Amigos Show
Blue Springs, MO
txshows.com
July 31- August 1
Bay Area World Guitar Show
San Rafael, CA
txshows.com
August 7-8
Los Angeles World Guitar Show
Santa Monica, CA
txshows.com
August 21-22
Nashville Amp Expo
Brentwood, TN
nashvilleampexpo.com
August 28-29
Carolina Guitar Show
Charlotte, NC
bee3vintage.com
September 19
19th Annual Seattle Tacoma Guitar Show
Kent, WA
seatacguitarshow.com
September 25-26
Southeastern Guitar and Amp Show
Raleigh, NC
guitarandampshow.com
September 26
Southern Ohio Guitar Show
Chillicothe, OH
southernohioguitarshow.com
Steve Vai Launches
VaiTunes Series
By Rebecca Dirks
Los Angeles, CA – Steve Vai has released
a series of single digital downloads called
Vai Tunes. The original tracks are not found on
any prior releases, and they were developed
from leftovers from sessions, uncompleted
projects, and soundcheck jams. “There are
enough lonely, unreleased notes in my world
to fill an infinity shelf,” explained Vai.
Vai is transforming the fragments into full
songs between other projects. Each download
comes with a PDF booklet containing detailed
notes about the creation of the song, the story
behind the recording, and the gear involved.
Vai plans to offer one track each month via
i Tunes and other download services.
vai.com/vaitunes
Online Guitar Competition
Offers Mark Knopfler
Mentoring Session
London, England – Guitarists are invited
to audition online for the chance to win a
one-on-one mentoring session with Mark
Knopfler. PureSolo.com, an online recording
community, has teamed up with the former
Dire Straits guitarist to launch an online guitar competition that gives guitarists a shot
at a master class with Knopfler at his private
studio in London.
The competition’s unique entry process
asks guitarists to lay down tracks in place of
Knopfler on three original recordings. These
tracks have been specially remastered with
the lead part removed, and entrants are invited to re-record the parts in their own style.
Guitarists without access to recording equipment need not worry, because all the necessary tools are provided at PureSolo.com. The
site boasts an online recording facility that
makes it easy for anyone to record music
using just a microphone and a computer.
After entrants’ songs are submitted, they
will be played and rated by other members
of the PureSolo community. This process will
create a short list from which the winning
recording will be chosen by an expert panel
of judges, including Mark Knopfler.
The competition launched on the June 14 and
will run until August 31. The original backing
tracks required for entry are exclusively available at PureSolo.com and are priced at £ 1. 99
(approximately $3). Once purchased, PureSolo
tracks can be re-recorded an unlimited number of times. The competition prize includes
a return economy flight from anywhere in
the world and two nights in a five-star hotel
in London. There will also be a prize for the
competition’s runner up—a Fender guitar,
courtesy of the National Guitar Museum.
puresolo.com
August Festivals with a Twist
By Jason Shadrick
York, PA – Two very different guitar-based
festivals have been announced to be taking
place this August. While guitar festivals come
in all shapes and sizes, it seems like the most
interesting ones are either in a cool location
or are focused around a niche. Both of these
festivals cover those bases.
Pennsylvania Cigar Box Guitar Festival
The First Annual Pennsylvania Cigar Box
Guitar Festival will take place on August 28th
in York, Pennsylvania, on the grounds of the
York Emporium bookstore. According to its
website, the festival presents rock, folk, and
blues music in a MacGyver setting, with artists who have a DIY philosophy when it comes
to their instruments. Headlining the festival is
Wisconsin duo Purgatory Hill, which features
musician Pat Macdonald, a former member of
’80s group Timbuk 3. Admission is free.
cigarboxguitar.com
Guitar Town
