Tulsa Tuning Up for Inaugural Guitar Show
By D.J. MORROW INGRAM
Executive Editor
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, love rock or twang, the first inaugural Tulsa Guitar and String Show should be a red-letter weekend. Set for May 6 and 7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 E. Second St., music enthusiasts will find more than 10,000 square feet of instruments, amps and other guitar and string related products along with great entertainment and seminars.
“Tulsa is a great musical city with a wealth of talented musicians,” says Scott Hambrick, president of Midwest Shows, Inc., the show’s organizer. “We think this type of event is a natural for the community and anticipate we will have thousands attend.”
The show will blend a guitar and strings show, musicians, fans, collectors and perhaps a few celebrities into one musical extravaganza.
Attendees will be able to buy, sell, trade or just browse among the thousands of new and vintage guitars, basses, amps, banjos, mandolins, straps and strings, music memorabilia and more.
“We will have over 75 exhibit booths, show stages for performers and space for numerous clinics relating to guitars, strings and associate products,” he says. “This show will be a great opportunity for Tulsans to buy, sell or trade their vintage Fender, Gibson, Martin, Marshall or other equipment and get top dollar.”
Appraisers will also be available, he says.
Among the many on-site clinics at the show will be “Getting Started With Guitar” by Dan Crossland of the Guitar Center, “Keys, Chord Theory and Improvisational Resources” taught by Dick Gordon, Jr. and “From Beginners to Masters” with Mark John Sternal.
The show will feature live music throughout the day with Holistix, Burns Theramins, Aaron Squirrel, Horseshoe Road and Dolce.
“Your $8 ticket gets you the show, the seminars and great music,” Hambrick says. “It’s a great value.”
The show will complement the 12th Annual Oklahoma Blues Festival being held the same weekend. The Blues Festival will feature two great jazz legends – B.B. King and Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Tulsa bands will be well represented as well as bands from Texas, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Louisiana. Even the great Taj Mahal will fly in from Hawaii to be part of the festivities.
Among the colorful names will be Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang, Natt Boff and Blue Tantrum, and Tulsa’s own Rev. Jonny Palmer and the Muddy River Revival Band.
“We hope fans will come to the guitar and string show and then walk the two or three blocks for the Blues Festival.”
Sponsors for the show include gbase.com, Urban Tulsa, D’Addario and Southwest Airlines.
Show hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $8. There is no charge for children 12 and under. For more information, go to www.tulsaguitarshow.com or call 918-381-9040.
Updated 04-29-2006
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