The biggest, most anticipated and unrivaled guitar event of the year, The London Guitar Show launches on the 11th June to seriously Blow your mind! The four day show will bring, excitement, celebrities, inspiration and transform ExCeL into the coolest hangout in London! We can now announce a truly world class line-up of acts to entertain, inspire and wow the crowds starting with the Master Guitar Virtuoso himself, Steve Vai, who is to bring his Alien Guitar Secrets master class to the show. This is a 3 hour unique experience and once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Steve discuss music theory, guitar techniques, the music business, and most importantly, techniques on how to discover and unlock personal musical identity.
Grammy award winning and undisputed king of country picking guitarist, Albert Lee will be playing London Guitar Show. With his unique sound and style, Albert’s has worked with some of the world’s top artists from Eric Clapton to Bill Wyman.His own solo career with the Hogan’s Heroes, has seen him win countless awards and nominations.
Also confirmed is the critically acclaimed band, Swans in Flight. Their debut album launched in spring 2008 and was recorded exclusively using acoustic guitars, featuring thirteen guests ranging from JamesLoMenzo (Black Label Society/Megadeth), Kip Winger (Alice Cooper/Winger) to Phil Johnston (The Robert Plant Band). The band have already played a range of major festivals and they’ll be bringing their guitar charged rock to the London Guitar Show with special guest bass players Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake) and the King of Metal funk, TM Stevens (James Brown,The Pretenders).
Continuing the tradition of staging a wide variety of killer guitarists, Jan Akkerman will be astounding the audience with high-speed pyrotechnics and distinctive sound. He’s been top of his game for decades playing in Dutch band Focus and then going on to work with everyone from BB King to Ice-T!Truly unmissable will be one of the world’s best players, UK guitar legend Phil Hilborne with his band featuring Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain. They will once again hold court on the main stage on Saturday and Sunday for an amazing concert and Steve Vai will join Phil & Nicko on stage for a couple of tracks of jamming therapy.
It doesn’t stop there as we are proud to be staging the final Guitar Idol, the world’s biggest online talent search to find the hottest undiscovered guitarists on the planet. Following 2008’s spectacular final where the winner flew in from Brazil, this final is the chance to live the dream after many of the finalists from 2008 attracted recording, endorsement and lucrative tour deals. Check out http://www.guitaridol.tv for the latest news and follow the heats on who’s going to have the honour of playing at the London Guitar Show!
New to this years show, will be a chance to have a free guitar lesson in association with the Institute for Contemporary Music Performance and the organisers will be announcing an action packed schedule of seminars, workshops, artist signing sessions, instrument demonstrations and celebrity appearances. Already they can announce an opportunity to meet editors from the UK’s top selling guitar magazines Mick Taylor (Guitarist), Neville Marten and Jason Sidwell ( Guitar Techniques), Stephen Lawson ( Total Guitar ).There will be a new retail section offering the chance to buy the very latest gear, plus an exhibition of over 300 companies of musical equipment, including a New! British Builders section, where you can see some amazing hand build guitars and drums from the UK’s best builders. The London Guitar Show is part of the UK’s Biggest Music exhibition, The London International Music show, which includes Drummer Live, Unplugged and Sound Recording and Technology Show.