Strings Attached: The West Australian Guitar Festival

Set in Margaret River—well-known for its wine and fine arts—Strings Attached: The West Australian Guitar Festival is launching this October.

This one-of-a-kind event will attract guitar makers, distributors, players and enthusiasts from around the country to Margaret River to celebrate and learn about guitars, bass guitars, ukuleles, banjos, mandolins and other stringed instruments.

Lovers of live music can expect everything from Blues to Roots, World to Jazz, Metal & Rock, Country, Classical and more, featuring players from around the country showcasing the magic of strings—be it electric or acoustic, bass or mandolin, banjo or ukulele and beyond.

Artist announcements include; Larry Mitchell (USA),Grammy award-winning producer, engineer & performer who has toured the world playing guitar, George Bechlivanoglou (Greece), world-class classical guitarist and founder of MOOV Guitars, Kav Temperley, songwriter and frontman of four times platinum, multi ARIA Award band Eskimo Joe, blues & roots stalwart Ash Grunwald with his new album, powerhouse rocker Abbe May, Grammy Award winner Lucky Oceans, Kimberley singer-songwriter Stephen Pigram, ARIA award winner Glenn Sarangapany (Birds Of Tokyo), world fusion phenomenon Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble, 2018 nominees for WAM best bassist & jazz act plus many more.

Lineup also includes; The Swamp Stompers (NSW) | Graham Greene | Alan Banks | Michael Dunstan | Dave Brewer Band | Harry Jakamarra | Ian Porter (NSW) | Mark De Vattimo | Tracey Barnett | Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse | Dave Brewer Band | Mitch Ballardin | Ragdoll | Sam Lemann (VIC) | Legs Electric | Ben Catley | Manoa (NSW) | Calvin Plays | Kat Wilson Trio | Busselton Ukulele Group | Tom Fisher & The Layabouts | Scyatic | Duende Indalo | The Friendly Folk | Darcy Hay … with plenty more to come!

The Exhibitors line-up includes: Ormsby (largest producer of electric guitars in Australia) | Donmo (SA) | Australian Tonewoods | Simon Rovis-Hermann | Small Island Amps | Deloraine Lutherie | Dog Box Guitars | Ric's Vintage Guitars | Flux Electrick | The Rock Inn | Guitar Repairs South West, who will also be offering a free instrument inspection to all pass holders at the festival, PLUS more exhibitors to be announced.

What sets this state-first event apart is the opportunity it will provide to immerse visitors in the world of strings via workshops, keynote presentations, masterclasses, panel discussions, listening sessions, demos and Q&A’s with artists & luthiers.

The Main Exhibition, set at the Festival Hub - the adequately named new culture & entertainment venue Margaret River HEART (Hub of Entertainment, Arts & Regional Touring)—will host guitar makers from around the country, plus retailers, gear manufacturers & distributors. Additional exhibitions exploring the many faces and impacts of guitars will be on show at other venues throughout the town and wider region for festival-goers to enjoy.