Springtime in the Texas Hill country, 45 minutes from San Antonio, 60 minutes from Austin, bluebonnets in full bloom, authentic BBQ, wineries, distilleries, The Riverwalk, The Alamo, Austin's 6th street, guitars, music, friends old and new, entertainment, workshop, and lessons. What more could you ask for?
Well, how about some of the best luthiers in the country, if not the world. Bruce Sexauer, Jason Kostal, Stephen Kinnaird and Ryan Middlebrook, Ben Wilborn, Stephen Sheriff from Edwinson Guitars, and bright new star Joel Teel from Two Hands Guitar Co. all in an intimate home setting. You will have the opportunity to meet and talk to these talented builders, sample their guitars in a true quiet room and really get to know these folks by name. We are also excited to have Gerry Humphrey from Humphrey Acoustic Amps. Gerry hand builds beautifully made custom amps designed to give the perfect acoustic sound and I know have been purchased by the likes of Bruce Sexauer and Jason Kostal!
http://www.humphreyamps.com
WAIT, there is more! How about Michael Watts all the way from England. Michael will be there for all to meet as well as giving a 1 1/2 hour workshop for those who sign up and 30 minute private lessons at an extremely fair price.
https://www.michaelwattsguitar.com
Still not sure? Come gather on our quiet patio beneath the trees and big blue Texas sky as we welcome fellow AGF member Paul Nichols and his wife Cindy for an afternoon concert. Paul is a singer songwriter/retro one man band who plays over 200 gigs a year on one of his many John Kinnaird guitars. Cindy is a long time member of the San Diego Master Chorale who regularly sings with the San Diego Opera and the San Diego Symphony.
How about an evening concert with Frog and Toad aka Ben Wilborn and Brad Jones. Ben is a wonderful guitarist who of course builds world class guitars while Brad is an amazing fingerstylist who provides the class to the group! Check out
https://www.frogandtoadmusic.com/music or their new song called "Soon..."
https://www.facebook.com/WilbornGuit...0556248511532/.
Michael Watts will also be playing for an hour in the evening for us! Michael as most of you know is truly a world class fingerstylist. He plays his Kostals with such feeling and nuance, it is hard to believe an instrument can sound so magical.
https://www.michaelwattsguitar.com
Two more program updates: Sunday a seminar by Bruce Sexauer on guitar building philosophies, concepts, and methods included with the charge of admission. Also, John Thomas of Kalamazoo Gal fame and vintage Gibson expert will be giving a talk regarding vintage Gibsons and will have his went to war and back Gibson there and will allow us to play it as well! This guitar is the focus of a documentary film and will have been played by the likes of Mark O’Connor, John Sebastian, Ruthie Foster, John Jorgenson, Muriel Anderson, Clive Carroll, Mary Flower, Jamie Stillway, Derek Trucks, and Jeff Beck with more as well! You can play it also!
B'sox International Guitarapolooza (B.I.G. 2019) will be held at our home in the Texas Hill Country, March 30-31st, 2019-perhaps the best time of year to be in Texas. People come from around the world just to see the bluebonnets and we are throwing in guitars, entertainment, BBQ, and drinks to boot. The BBQ is locally made so bring your Texas sized appetite. If your significant others are not into guitars, have them drop you off for the day while they visit historic Gruene for lunch and shopping or perhaps head to the Alamo or Austin. We invite them back at night for the concert and friendship. We will sell tickets to the concert separately as requested.
Saturday runs from 10 AM until 8 PM. Concerts and workshops will be scattered throughout the day with the main evening concert at 6 to 8 PM. Sunday which will be even more intimate, will be 10 AM to 3 PM and will give y'all the chance to make those final guitar and amp purchases or commissions. You know, the ones haunting you all Saturday evening! Come early, stay late, enjoy the food, friendship, guitars, and music. We encourage folks to bring some of your own guitars to let others play and break off into jam sessions. Of course you will need them for the workshop as well. We will provide a safe spot to keep them for you when not in use. Security will be present on site, in person and via cameras.
Tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis. When they are gone they are gone.
Saturday: $45.00, $70 per couple including food, drink tickets, concerts.
Sunday brunch: $20.00 per person, $35 per couple and includes mimosas.
Saturday concert only: $15.00 (two hour show)
Michael Watts 1 1/2 hour workshop: $35.00
Michael Watts 30 minute private sessions: $25.00
Texas hospitality and bluebonnets: N/C
Travel and lodging: 20 minutes from the house, Hampton Inn and Suites: We have reserved a limited number of rooms at a special rate for the event. Info will be provided on this and flights in email if interested in attending.
Thank you and we hope many of you can attend! Kathy and I will do our best to make this successful and fun for everyone and we expect B.I.G. to become an annual gathering.
To reserve your spot, please email me at
[email protected]. Personal checks are preferred, but if you need to use a card, we can make that work. Since attendance is limited we will need your payment by February 15th, 2019 so we can put all the final touches in place. Refunds will be granted up until March 1st. A confirmation email will be sent once payment is processed which will provide all pertinent information. This email receipt will also serve as your ticket so print it out or save it on your phone. Once the attendance limit has been reached, we will happily put your name on a waiting list in case anyone cancels.
We look forward to meeting y'all at the B'sox International Guitarapolooza (B.I.G. 2019).
Tom and Kathy.