The first annual Grand Rapids Guitar Festival will be held this fall, October 16th. This full day of workshops, concerts, and jams promises to help you grow as a guitarist with other players in your Grand Rapids community.
Our instructors offer insightful and practical workshops in order to help you grow in your expressiveness and your enjoyment of the guitar and music in general.
Whether you’re a bedroom noodler or a big stage rockstar, all styles and skill levels are welcome to learn and to jam together.
Born in a sandstone Victorian farmhouse that has been in his family since it was built four generations ago, Andrew Brown is the son of a Motown session musician and grew up listening to the sounds of his dad’s piano as he steeped in musical influences from Duke Ellington to Stevie Wonder. As a young man returning from a trip to New Orleans with a newfound interest in Swing music, he co-founded the eclectic americana group Appleseed Collective, with whom he has toured 150+ dates a year. Traveling all over the continental United States, playing esteemed venues and festivals such as The Ark, Sisters Folk Festival, Wheatland, Cervantes Ballroom, Summercamp Music Festival, Schuba’s, and The Ann Arbor Folk Festival at Hill Auditorium, he cut his teeth as a guitarist, songwriter and band leader. He has shared stages with Bela Fleck, Jacob Jolif Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, Ingrid Michaelson, Neko Case, Greensky Bluegrass and more.
Djangophonique is Andrew’s musical project born out of reverence for the Parisian Jazz Manouche style that was made popular by the legendary Sinti guitarist Django Reinhardt and his Quintette du Hot Club de France. While remaining steeped in the rich and virtuosic tradition, the group brings this music into the present with stunning improv, spontaneity and musical interaction. Hot swing, lush ballads, musette waltzes, jazz standards, boleros, and moody minor pieces are all fused together with theatrical flair and musical humor.
Saturday October 16th will be a day full of workshops, performances, open jams, guitar exhibitors, and good hangs.
In addition to the camaraderie with your fellow guitarists and instructors, all attendees will get online access to view sessions and performances after the festival is over.
Can’t remember the arpeggio technique from that one workshop? Rewatch it online and download the sheet music to practice at home later.
Did you have to miss that funk class because you were in a fingerstyle seminar? Sit in on that class at home when you have the time.
This festival will be a treasury of insights and creativity for any guitarist be it in person the day of or online months later.
Want to get involved as a sponsor?
The Grand Rapids Guitar Festival is being held in collaboration with the Special Olympics of Michigan on their campus on 68th St:
Special Olympics Michigan, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Your ticket will help support music lessons and music therapy with their athletes and special needs children in our community.
