The Melbourne Guitar Show will bring together an array of world-class artists, alongside the brands you know and love. UK guitar legend Albert Lee will be in attendance, alongside Sydney punk-pop band RACKETT, The Baby Animals lead guitarist Dave Leslie, and Australian fingerstyle guitarist Van Larkins. There’s a lot to take in, so we’re giving you a sweet taster to get you started.
2018’s Melbourne Guitar Show is stacked with talent from across the globe, including legendary UK export, Albert Lee. Known for his unusual playing technique – a hybrid fingerstyle picking movement – Lee has worked alongside the likes of Eric Clapton, Jow Cocker, Emmylou Harris, and The Everly Brothers. There’s nothing quite as hardcore as seeing a 74-year-old shred an electric with ease, so let one of the world’s leading guitarists show you how it’s done.
AON Whammy Bar, Saturday August 4
Aussie multi-instrumentalist Ben Kelly leads the charge when it comes to producing a sound that can’t be confined to a genre. With the intention of creating music for change, Kelly brings forth the sounds of Latin America, Spanish guitar, African-inspired rhythms, and eastern-inspired melodies. Usually found travelling and meditating, Kelly will bring his internationally-inspired music to the stage.
Exclusively Acoustic Stage, Saturday August 4
Songs And Strings
One of MGS’ biggest collaborative events this year, a powerhouse collection of five singers, songwriters and exponents of acoustic guitar will perform their songs in a round robin-style concert. Alison Ferrier, Cat Canteri, Fiona Boyes, Zevon Hiltz, and Abbey Stone are all Melbourne-based country musicians, and this will be a tutorial in technical proficiency as well as a chance to check out the jamming skills of five industry professionals.
AON Mezzanine Stage, Saturday August 4
Vox Showcase
One of the MGS specialities is creating a junction between the biggest brands in the guitar business and the musicians who use them. The VOX showcase will see James Ryan – Men At Work, Jon Stevens, Kate Ceberano – test out the newest amps released by VOX, from the pocket-sized MV50s to the monstrous AC30S1 in real time. It’s an invaluable lesson in what to look for when purchasing equipment, provided by an artist-slash-industry professional.
Winners Circle Workshop Room, Saturday August 4
Fiona Boyes has been performing and recording for over 25 years – touring the world and marking her name as a festival favourite in the blues genre. Simultaneously described as “Australia’s first lady of Blues” and “Bonnie Raitt’s evil twin,” Boyes switches between electric and acoustic with ease; try to pick out each influence and technical lick (the Delta-slide is a favourite).
AON Whammy Bar, Sunday August 5
When folk meets country meets indie-rock meets the inherent grit of art made in Melbourne, you get Cat Canteri’s catalogue; 2014’s While We Were Young, 2016’s Late At Night and 2018’s Inner North. Canteri’s music flows slow and deep, with an unmistakable realism that pairs cleanly with her latest release’s exploration of life spent growing and learning in Melbourne’s inner-northern suburbs. Canteri’s intimate and emotional country-meets-folk ballads shouldn’t be missed.
AON Mezzanine Stage, Sunday August 5
Internationally-renowned ten-string guitarist Matthew Fagan, guitarist Bernardo Soler, and bassist Dean Gaudion will unite to bring the groove and spirit of Spain. Having toured internationally, with particular interest in exploring the origins of Latin guitar techniques, Fagan will combine his love for Latin music with the talents of Soler and Gaudion to create a collaborative rendition of his new album, el Vito.
AON Mezzanine Stage, Sunday August 5
Triple M Finale Jam
Always a highlight of the MGS program, this year’s Triple M Finale Jam is set to be huge. An exciting, overwhelming, noisy, guitar-laden shred sesh, the Whammy Bar will bring some of the festival’s best together for a final hurrah. The lineup includes Jack Jones, Brett Garsed, James Ryan, Shannon Bourne, and Charlie Bedford. Get excited, it’ll be shred central.
AON Whammy Bar, Sunday 5 August.
Previously the lead guitarist for Baby Animals – the Sydney-born rock’n’roll staple founded almost three decades ago – Dave Leslie was responsible for the infectious licks and riffs of ‘90s hits such as ‘Rush You’ and ‘One Word’. After breaking up in 1996 and regrouping in 2007, Baby Animals have been touring ever since. Leslie will discuss guitars and his life in a high-profile band during an Up Close & Personal Session.
Up Close & Personal, Sunday August 5
