Steel Guitar Summit at Guitar Fest 2018, Sebastopol CA

[b0b]

First of all, I'm pleased to report that my hearing is almost back to normal, following a ruptured eardrum on New Years Eve. Just in time for this Saturday's show on the big stage at Sebastopol Community Center.

The "Steel Guitar Summit" part of Guitar Fest 2018 is scheduled for 4:30-6:30. It includes Bobby Black, Jon Mitguard, David Zirbel and yours truly, backed by a full band.

Here's the press release:

Time to dance, listen, learn, enjoy, participate! Want to learn to play guitar, write songs, build instruments, have fun?!
Luthier displays, classes, songwriter panels, special segment on steel guitar, day performances and evening concerts! Vendors, food, acoustic & electric displays! This event is NOT just for guitar players, it’s a music festival!!
January 27th at The Sebastopol Community Center in Sebastopol California (about an hour north of San Francisco---wine country)!

Go to seb.org for more info!

Guitar Fest 2018
The Chet Atkins Room [main hall]
12-1:00 The Spin Cats
1- 1:30 tweener: Michael Stadler
1:30 – 2:30 Mary Flower
2:30 – 3:00 tweener: Solid Air
3:00- 4:00 Jim Nichols
4:00- 4:30 tweener: Farallons
4:30 – 6:30 Steel Guitar Summit featuring Dave Zirbel, Jon Mitgaurd,
Bobby Lee, Bobby Black
6:30 – 7:30 tweener: ????

Evening show:
7:30 – 8:10 Kevin Russell & Some Friends featuring Bobby Black
8:30 – 10:00pm Volker Strifler Band

CLASSES in the ANNEX
The Doc Watson Room [music room]
12:30 – 1:45pm Alternate tunings w Megan McLaughlin

2:15 -3:30pm frailed guitar & more w Michael Stadler

4:00 – 5:30pm Getting the Blues Up the Neck w Mary
Flower

The Jerry Reed Room [main room]
12:30 – 1:45pm finger-style guitar w Jim Nichols

2:00 -3:00pm h/t play everything w Chris Gramp

3:30 – 4:45pm bass walk w Chuck Ervin

The Eldon Shamblin Room [big side room]
12:30 -1:30pm Tony Gagarin
Introduction to Bottleneck Slide Guitar in Open D tuning.
Students will learn how to tune to Open D tuning, chords, slide techniques and tricks, glass vs metal slides, vibrato, single string runs and learn two songs Midnight Rider and Amazing Grace. Recording is allowed.

2:00 – 3:15pm Songwriters panel w
Ken Reisling, Jay Gotlieb, Dave Hamilton,
Emily Hamilton, Tom Richardson

3:30 – 5:00pm Songwriters panel w
Allegra Broughton, Robin Eschner
& Dennis Hysom, Megan McLaughlin,
Hugh Schacklett

Ross Shafer will be there all day showing the new Sierra steel guitars, and I might also set up a Steel Guitar Forum table if I'm feeling up to it.

[Ian Worley]

Cool, I'll be there!

Here is the info and ticket link: http://www.seb.org/event/3629840-sebast ... r-festival

I will have to ask about the ruptured ear drum on Sat, that doesn't sound like much fun. And looking forward to seeing some of Ross's handiwork up close and personal too!

[Lee Baucum]

What a wonderful event. Have fun and please post photos.

[b0b]

Dave Zirbel captured part of our last song on video:

https://youtu.be/nODEIBEEmGg

[Dave Zirbel]

Good times!

[Ian Worley]

That was fun! Some really great folks and really great picking by all. There were a few other forumites in attendance. It was really cool to finally meet and hear Bobby Black in person too, a true gentleman and a master of the steel guitar. I want to be just like him when I grow up.

I also got to visit with Ross Shafer and admire some of the new Sierra guitars that he designed and is now producing nearby in Petaluma. There were four including the two in the picture that Dave and b0b are playing. The ingenuity, craftsmanship and level of precision is amazing, and they play and feel as smooth and precise as they look, truly functional works of art. I was really impressed.

Jon also had his new Williams 12 string, another really beautiful instrument, and it sounded great in his hands.

My only suggestion for next time would be fewer 6-string guitar solos, more steel! They were both really good pickers though, as was the entire band. Thanks guys!

Here's a crappy picture from my phone:

[Ross Shafer]

The steel summit last night was big time bitchin'! Great to have such a fun 2 hour steel show. Big thanks to Kevin Russell for this event and for adding in the Steel shindig this year. 4 great steel players together swapping licks 'n smiles....just plain awesome! Super cool to hear Bob and Dave rippin'it up on their Sierra's...needless to say I was smiling a lot too!

I was stoked to meet a number of fellow forumites, always cool to put names and faces together. Thanks to you guys for hanging with me and learning about the new Sierras. I meant it, you're all invited to visit my farm and check out all the hi-jinx that goes on here. That goes for all ya'll who might be in the area and want stop in for a look see.

It was fun to see non-steelers and 6 string folk who'd never looked under the skirt of one of these contraptions....lot's of dropped jaws and wows and WTFs.

Great event....(wasn't that great for my laryngitis though....just call me squeaky!)

[Dave Zirbel]

Here's another 25 seconds of Bobby Black playing Steel Guitar Rag


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7DgnnSjMkQ