I’ve been making things out of wood for as long as I can remember. I started making electric guitars in high school, and made my first archtop in 1996 after taking Tom Ribbecke’s class. Upon graduating from CalArts with a BFA in jazz bass in 1999, I moved back to the Bay Area and took…
Guitarist, improviser, and composer Elden Kelly is an inspired hybrid musician whose playing blends classical and flamenco traditions with jazz, blues, and global fingerstyle music. Originally from northwestern Vermont and currently living in Boulder, CO, his unique technique and expressive sonic innovation on both fretted and fretless guitars have engaged audiences across diverse musical settings. His distinctive…
Sunday 9/20 6:00 – 9:00 at The Hilton Garden Inn Olde Town Arvada This extraordinary evening features two distinct, world-class acoustic performances on a single stage. Opening the night is Austrian jazz luminary and ECM recording artist Wolfgang Muthspiel. Known for his sophisticated, contemporary jazz sensibilities, fluid improvisation, and ethereal tone, Muthspiel will set an…
SATURDAY 9/19 6:30 – 7:30 at The Olde Town Pickin Parlor. Renowned jazz guitarist Bruce Forman presents “The Red Guitar,” a truly unique and deeply personal performance that transcends the traditional concert format. Blending virtuosic jazz guitar playing with captivating theatrical storytelling, Forman takes the audience on a journey through the life of a gigging…
Friday 9/18 8:00 – 9:30 at the Olde Town Pickin’ Parlor. Step into a world of breathtaking jazz with the Frank Vignola Trio, joined by extraordinary special guests Pasquale Grasso and Vinny Raniolo. Frank Vignola, one of the most accomplished and entertaining guitarists of his generation, leads a masterclass in swing, bebop, and musical camaraderie….
In 1997 Martin builds his first guitar, in the context of the socio-cultural extracurricular program at Edouard-Montpetit College. He continues to cultivate this growing passion in parallel with studying Jazz guitar, after which he decides to complete the luthier professional college program in the very workshop that saw him evolved for a total of five…
Alan Kwan is recognized across the world as a multi-talented guitarist and composer withinnate virtuosic musicality. Having garnered numerous international awards and nominations,these accolades are a testament to Kwan’s dedicated musicianship. Under Kwan’s leadership,the band Invisible Architecture, which debuted in 2021 with the album Between Now andNever, won the prestigious Golden Melody Awards (GMA) for…
I moved from Japan to Colorado in 2022. I love the low humidity here and the mild weather makes for a very comfortable lifestyle. Colorado has high-quality breweries and distilleries, which I like to frequent. After graduating from high school, I spent two years at the ESP Musical Academy in Tokyo. I learned guitar making…
For 25 years, I have crafted classical concert guitars, each instrument a quest for the perfect resonance. Alongside this, I had perfected the construction of high-end archtops. Two different musical worlds that rarely met. Until now. Designing it took over six gruelling months. It required combining every ounce of my design talent, merging the delicate…
The Festival Grounds & Luthier Showcase Pass Price: $30 (Valid All Weekend) Welcome to the ultimate archtop guitar hang. The Festival Grounds Pass is your all-weekend key to the beating heart of the festival: the main exhibition hall and the daytime concert showcase. Whether you are a player, a collector, or just love incredible music and world-class craftsmanship,…