Melbourne Guitar Show 2023 Artists
In alphabetical order. Next artist announcement Tuesday January 24.
BLUES ROULETTE
WHAT: Blues Roulette present the MGS Jam WHEN: Sunday March 5 at 2.20pm WHERE: Whammy Bar Level 2 Musician, promoter and booking agent Ben Wicks has spent the last 15
CHRIS BIENIEK FUSION
WHAT: Chris Bieniek Fusion performs feat Gerry Pantazis (drums) and Gavin Pearce (bass) WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 11.30am WHERE: Whammy Bar Level 2 The catalyst was hearing a young
COREY LEGGE
WHAT: Corey Legge performs WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 12.30pm WHERE: 1876 Bar Level 2 Corey Legge plays heartfelt alt-country, rock and blues, drawing influence from growing up amongst the
ERIC BIBB (USA)
WHAT: Eric Bibb in Conversation and Song WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 11.00am WHERE: Marsh Mezzanine Stage Level 1 One of the world’s leading bluesmen of our time, two-time Grammy
HUSSY HICKS
WHAT: Hussy Hicks performs WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 12.45pm and Sunday March 5 at 1.00pm WHERE: Marsh Mezzanine Stage Level 1 Straddling the line between Folk, Blues, Country, and
JOSHUA BATTEN
WHAT: Joshua Batten performs WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 2.45pm WHERE: 1876 Bar Level 2 Joshua Batten is a modern-day troubadour, using music as his language to connect with his
JOYCE PRESCHER
WHAT: Joyce Prescher performs WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 1.45pm WHERE: 1876 Bar Level 2 Joyce Prescher is a Melbourne based singer songwriter originally from the Netherlands. Slowly but steadily, Joyce has been
KATHLEEN HALLORAN
WHAT: Kathleen Halloran Band performs WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 23.15pm WHERE: Whammy Bar Level 2 Kathleen Halloran is a multifaceted freelance guitarist based in Melbourne and has quickly cemented
KING CANYON
WHAT: King Canyon performs WHEN: Sunday March 5 at 1.00pm WHERE: Whammy Bar Level 2 Melbourne guitarist James Ryan and singer Jimmy Cupples formed King Canyon in March 2020. With
KYRAN DANIEL
WHAT: Kyran Daniel performs WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 12.00pm. Sunday Mach 5 at 11.00am WHERE: Marsh Mezzanine Stage Level 1 Australian Guitarist, Songwriter and Producer, Kyran Daniel began his
LLOYD SPIEGEL
WHAT: Lloyd Spiegel Trio performs WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 2.15pm WHERE: Whammy Bar Level 2 WHAT: Lloyd Spiegel Cole Clark Guitars Clinic WHEN: Sunday March 5 at 1.30pm WHERE:
LUKE BAILEY
WHAT: Luke Bailey performs WHEN: Sunday March 5 at 2.15pm WHERE: 1876 Bar Level 2 Luke Bailey is a 17-year-old, up-and-coming modern fingerstyle guitarist from Melbourne. He provides a fresh,
MONICA WEIGHTMAN
WHAT: Monica Weightman performs WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 1.00pm WHERE: Marsh Mezzanine Stage Level 1 Monica Weightman grew up in Townsville, influenced by her Islander father Ray but with
NICK CHARLES
WHAT: Nick Charles hosts Guitar Show WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 3.00pm WHERE: Marsh Mezzanine Stage Level 1 WHAT: Nick Charles performs with Phil Manning WHEN: Sunday March 5 at
NICK JOHNSTON (Canada)
WHAT: Nick Johnston performs WHEN: Sunday March 5 at 12.00pm WHERE: Whammy Bar Level 2 WHAT: Nick Johnston Schecter Guitars Clinic WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 1.30pm WHERE: Winners Circle
OPAL OCEAN
WHAT: Opal Ocean perform WHEN: Sunday March 5 at 2pm WHERE: Marsh Mezzanine Stage Level 1 After tantalising listeners with a taste of what they were capable of in 2015
PHIL MANNING
WHAT: Phil Manning performs with Nick Charles WHEN: Sunday March 5 at 12.00pm WHERE: Marsh Mezzanine Stage Level 1 One of Australia’s best known guitarists, Phil has a single handedly
SAMMY VINCENT
WHAT: Sammy V presents clinic for Laney Amplification WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 3.30pm WHERE: Winners Circle Workshop Room Level 1 Hailing from small country town Mildura Victoria Australia,
SIMON HOSFORD PLAYS YNGWIE MALMSTEEN’S TRILOGY
WHAT: Simon Hosford Band Plays Yngwie Malmsteen’s ‘Trilogy’ WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 4.30pm WHERE: Whammy Bar Level 2 Simon Hosford is a an Australian guitarist/producer/songwriter that started playing Classical
STEPH STRINGS
WHAT: Meet Steph Strings Up Close & Personal WHEN: Saturday March 4 at midday WHERE: Winners Circle Workshop Stage Level 1 Presented by Boss WHAT: Steph Strings performs WHEN: Saturday March
Melbourne Guitar Show – A Performer History
For five consecutive years from 2015-2019 at the Caulfield Racecourse, The Melbourne Guitar Show thrilled guitar-loving audiences before the dreaded pandemic hit, stunting our momentum. Finally the Australian Music Association, in conjunction with Australian Musician magazine have great pleasure in announcing the return of Australia’s favourite fretted instrument event, the Melbourne Guitar Show at it’s spiritual home in Caulfield on March 4-5, 2022. Those who have attended the show in the past will know that apart from seeing the biggest pop-up guitar shop in the country, you’ll also get to see the cream of Australia’s and some of the world’s finest exponents of the guitar, in session or performance or both. Let’s take a walk down memory lane!
At our last show, pre-covid in 2019 we presented Ash Grunwald, Sarah McCleod, Lloyd Spiegel, James Norbert Ivanyi, Dennis Jones (USA), Keith Merrow (USA), Dave Leslie, Phil Manning, Shannon Bourne, Anna Scionti, Brett Kingman, Jimi Hocking, and many more. The final day Triple M Superjam featured Mal Eastick, Dennis Jones, James Ryan, Pete Robinson, Kathleen Halloran, Charlie Bedford, Michael Spiby and more. And who could forget Simon Hosford’s Fair Warning, performing Van Halen’s debut album in full.
In 2018 we welcomed British guitar legend Albert Lee to the Melbourne Guitar Show stage, who played to a full house in our famous Whammy Bar. Also joining Albert in the 2018 lineup were: Jeff Lang, Brett Garsed, Bob Spencer, Daniel Champagne, Fiona Boyes, Alison Ferrier, Nick Charles, Rohan Stevenson, Nat Allison, Cat Canteri and the exciting all-female band Rackett.
The 2017 show gave us Steve Hackett from iconic British band Genesis, who played a stunning stripped back show on the Mezzanine Stage. Others entertaining the crowds included Nick Johnston (Canada), Alex Hutchings (UK), Shannon Bourne, Kirk Lorange, Matty T Wall, The Omnific, Sergio Ercole, Adam Miller, The Mercy Kills, Diesel, Stephen Taranto, Simon Gardner, Opal Ocean, Marcel Yammouni, Matthew Fagan, Micahgel Dolce and more.
The year 2016 gave us Kevin Borich, Dean Ray, Dean Wells’ Teramaze, I Built The Sky, Dallas Frasca, Sarah Carroll, Pete Fidler, and a Triple M SuperJam featuring James Ryan, Simon Hosford, Phil Ceberano, Shannon Bourne, Brett Kingman and Bob Spencer.
2015 saw the return of the Melbourne Guitar Show, after we hadn’t seen one for well over a decade. A new modern day Melbourne Guitar Show was established, with the local music community fully embracing it. Racer Axe, the Paul Gilbert tribute band featuring James Ryan and Simon Hosford was a hit, as was the debut performance of I Built The Sky’s Rohan Stevenson. These were the cold-old days before the show became a totally indoor event. Despite some cold fingers, great Australian guitarists such as Jeff Lang, Nat Allison, and Lloyd Spiegel performed amazing sets that warmed up the then outdoor crowd.