Melbourne's only Guitar Festival returns to Frankston for its 4th year!

The award winning Frankston Guitar Festival opens on 14 April through until 16 April and promises to provide entertainment and activities for all guitar lovers and players no matter what age!

This year, not only will many of Australia's finest guitar players be performing, including the recent winner of the Golden Guitar Award - Troy Cassar-Daley, but there will be a distinct international flavor with guitarists from Sweden, Italy, Canada and the UK.

Guitarists including the 1999 Golden Guitar winner - Michael Fix, Broderick Smith, Mike Rudd & Bill Putt (Spectrum), Greg Champion, Matt Walker, Joe Cammilleri and Wayne Burt, Anthony Field, Andy Baylors Cajun Combo, The Mojos, James Keelaghan and so many more, will be performing across the weekend at the Frankston Cultural Centre and local venues including Davey's Bar & Bistro and The Pier Hotel.

One of the most popular drawcards at the Festival is the Guitar Expo which is the largest gathering of Australian guitar makers from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, and guitar retailers selling imported guitars and accessories. You can actually speak to the maker, feel, touch and play the guitars on exhibition. There is a sound resistant room for all the power freaks who want to test their amps as well as quiet areas allowing acoustic guitar freedom. All products are available for sale. There is a small $2 entry fee to the Expo, which allows entry all day. If you're aged under 18, it's free!

Young Guitarist of the Year Award
A major component of the Festival is the annual Young Guitarist of the Year Award, which is open to guitarists aged under 21 as of 28 March 2000. Each guitarist plays up to 2 solo pieces at a maximum of 4 minutes. Judging takes place on 6 April at the George Jenkins Theatre, Monash University. The judging panel assesses originality, technical skill, strength of live performance and delivery, timing and the ability to keep to a tight format.

First prize is a Maton guitar plus $500 cash, second prize is $300, and third prize $200, thanks to Monsu. There are encouragement awards for the other three finalists thanks to Ron Leigh's Music Factory, Highett.

Contact Paul Streefkerk on 0409 860 407 or 9784 1058 or paul.streefkerk@frankston.vic.gov.au for an application form.

The Festival will also include workshops on Saturday and Sunday, specific guitar workshops for "girls' only", free performances, a multimedia section for interactive guitar playing, as well as guitar lessons for people of all ages who have always wanted to learn guitar.

The Frankston Guitar Festival acknowledges the support and sponsorship of Frankston City Council, Arts Victoria, Frankston Cultural Centre, Jeff Wignall Ford, Independent News Group, Monash University, Monsu, Interprint, Millmaine Entertainment, Frankston Town Centre and Davey's Bar & Bistro and The Pier Hotel.

If you would like a Festival program sent, contact the box office on 9784 1060 or email guitar@frankston.vic.gov.au.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
Troy Cassar-Daley
James Keelaghan (Canada)
Anatholi Bulkin (Sweden)
The Mojos
Mike Rudd & Bill Putt
Joe Cammilleri & Wayne Burt
Greg Champion

Workshops
Master Class with Slava Grigoryan
Largest Guitar Expo in Australia
Free Performances
Guitar Lessons
Multimedia Interactivity... and so much more!

Hotline: +61 9 784 1060
Call to receive a Festival Program or purchase tickets.