http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/news_archive en-us news@modernguitars.com 2008-05-09T02:53:23-06:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004401.html As much we love big music venues and big name artists, we have a special affection for the smaller music events that take place around the world like the Beaufort Music Festival 2008 (May 9-10, 2008) that offer musicians on local music circuits a chance to perform their work for discriminating music lovers in smaller towns. The seaside resort town of Beaufort, North Carolina, is probably best known as the hometown of the notorious pirate of the 1700s, Edward "Blackbeard" Teach. But, for the locals, Beaufort has gained considerable regional acclaim for its annual music festival that has been staged each year along the waterfront since 1988. More » 4401@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-05-09T02:53:23-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004397.html Organizers of the London International Music Show (LIMS) have announced that the finals of the online guitar competition, Guitar Idol, will be held at this year's LIMS on Saturday, June 14. Guitarists interested in competing can submit an original composition or play over downloadable backing tracks featuring a wide variety of styles. Submissions should be uploaded to www.guitar-idol.co.uk and be kept to approximately three minutes in length. The ten players who receive the largest number of votes from the public and a panel of judges will participate at the London Guitar Show (part of LIMS) on June 14. More » 4397@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-05-08T09:58:09-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004389.html Modern Guitars has ASIA's new CD, Phoenix, the group's first new studio album in 25 years featuring the original lineup, to give away to five lucky readers on July 1, 2008. Phoenix has already reached the #10 spot on Billboard magazine's chart of Top Internet Albums! ASIA's founding members Geoff Downes (keyboardist); Steve Howe (guitar, mandolin); Carl Palmer (drums); and John Wetton (bass) had all been part of rock history with such groups as King Crimson; Yes; Uriah Heep; Roxy Music; Family; The Buggles; UK; and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. ASIA's albums with such memorable hits as, "Heat of the Moment," "Only Time Will Tell," and "Sole Survivor" have helped push their global records sales to 15 million. More » 4389@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-05-07T03:54:46-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004375.html 4375@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-05-01T04:25:26-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004373.html The Daisy Rock Debutante Rock Candy guitar is designed specifically for young girls with a desire to learn to play the guitar. The fact that this particular model comes as part of an affordable and complete package is the icing on the cake to what is actually a very nice instrument. Though it makes sense to not spend too much money on an instrument for a youngster, the good thing about this inexpensive model is that quality hasn’t been substituted for an economical price tag. It’s adequately constructed in every way, and it comes with everything needed to get started. Read » 4373@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-30T04:38:26-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004367.html John 5's latest solo project, Requiem, is set for a June 3 release on the 60 Cycle Hum label. Although known for his guitar work with Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, Rob Halford and Rob Zombie, Requiem is the guitarist's fourth solo album and follows on the heels of 2007's The Devil Knows My Name, which was voted Best Shred Album of the Year in the 2008 Guitar World readers' poll. More » 4367@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-29T04:18:53-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004360.html Tim Huffman, co-founder and CEO/President, and his team at iVideosongs are pushing the guitar lesson envelope in a major way. The company has developed a viable web-based formula for teaching all levels of guitar skills and songs to aspiring and working musicians. Although we’ve all seen artist-developed guitar instructional videos, they run the full length of the quality spectrum. Some are very good, but many are amateurish at best and of little value. Huffman brings his own musical background to the game as a 1983 Grammy-nominated recording artist who has played with members of Kansas, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Atlanta Rhythm Section and other known groups. His hard-won business acumen is drawn from 25 years of building his own set list of successful businesses, as well as producing the 1997 award-winning Blues Guitar Explorer instructional video. More » 4360@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-23T17:07:22-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004348.html Modern Guitars has two-time Grammy award winner Tommy Emmanuel's new 24-track Center Stage double CD to give away to three lucky readers. The 24-track CD includes new tunes and earlier favorites from previous releases like The Mystery and Endless Road. The album also includes "Ruby Eyes," "Jolly Swagman," "Lenny Bro," and "Papa George," that are new Emmanuel tracks. "Papa George" is an Emmanuel tribute to George Harrison. Other cool tracks include a "Beatles Medly," classics "Sukiyaki" and "Georgia On My Mind," and Emmanuel's own remarkable, "Mombasa." More 4348@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-21T07:32:26-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004342.html Organizers confirmed yesterday that the 2008 London Guitar Show (June 12-15) will present the debut live performance of power guitar group C3 comprised of Richie Kotzen, Guthrie Govan and Greg Howe on Saturday, June 14 on the show's main stage at the ExCel London. Also scheduled to appear on the 14th are guitar metal virtuoso Paul Gilbert and bass great Billy Sheehan. Joe Satriani will give a special performance on the show's main stage on Sunday, June 15, the final day of the event. Saturday and Sunday will also see a series of unplugged concerts by acoustic guitarists such as Michael Messer and BJ Cole (performing together) and Steve Fairclough, with more artists to be announced; and a series of shows called Drummer Live featuring a number of top name percussionists. More » 4342@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-18T04:32:10-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004333.html 4333@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-14T04:27:51-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004327.html From Carlos Santana to Paul Allender, PRS artists discuss why they have come to rely on PRS guitars in a video clip posted online this week by PRS Guitars. Many key PRS executives and designers also share their thoughts on what it is like to have a part in creating instruments known the world over for their distinct style and quality. The ten-minute vignette quickly cuts to the chase and conveys the spirit of PRS as experienced by the people that count on PRS guitars to make their living. An additional hour of artist interview footage and candid commentary will be included as part of the full-length DVD to be released this summer. More » 4327@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-11T14:42:05-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004313.html In conjunction with the 2008 24th International Blues Challenge, which saw 159 acts from 36 states, 10 countries and 6 continents compete for a variety of prizes, The Blues Foundation held its annual Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award ceremony at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel in Memphis on February 2, 2008. Twenty-one individuals and organizations were honored with a KBA at this year's event. According to The Blues Foundation: The Keeping the Blues Alive Awards recognize the significant contributions to blues music made by the people behind the scenes. Each is selected on the basis of merit by a select panel of blues professionals. More » 4313@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-10T09:58:24-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004302.html In collaboration with Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Modern Guitars magazine announces a chance for its readers to win the 2007 Experience PRS (XPRS) SE-ONE guitar featured in the Modern Guitars coverage of the event. The Vintage Cherry SE-ONE guitar was autographed by PRS endorsees and PRS executives such as Paul Reed Smith, Mark Tremonti, Johnny Hiland and others who presented seminars and entertained the crowd at the historic first Experience PRS trade show that took place at the PRS facilities in September of 2007. A runner-up essay will also be selected and the contestant will receive one of the 2007 Experience PRS grab bags that were available to visiting PRS fans during the event. More » 4302@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-07T03:48:15-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004299.html Noted jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan will serve as a keynote speaker at the Global Sound Conference, Marina del Rey, California (May 9 – 12, 2008), and shed light on his ideas about the healing powers of sound. Jordan is a graduate student at Arizona State University pursuing a Master degree in music therapy. Known for his two-hand tapping technique, over his career Stanley Jordan has released a number of well-received jazz fusion albums, including Magic Touch (1985); Standards, Vol. 1 (1986); Flying Home (1988); Bolero (1994); and Dreams of Peace (2003). Read » 4299@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-05T05:11:50-06:00 http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004291.html I will admit that when I got the Bass Line instructional DVD for review, my expectations were low. Rev Jones is a great bassist, known for his work with “shredder” bands like the Michael Schenker Group and Paul Gilbert. However, I thought, many great players are either protective of their “secrets” or just not that good at teaching. I prepared myself to be subjected to an onslaught of obscure riffs that would be of little interest to a groove player, and would be difficult, if not downright overwhelming, to a beginning bassist. It turns out I was wrong. More » 4291@http://www.modernguitars.com/ News Archive 2008-04-04T02:37:58-06:00