La Conner Guitar Festival 2022 RECAP!

[Dustinfurlow]

To say it was an incredible weekend and a fantastic show would be a huge understatement! Brent McElroy and his team put together a real gem and everything I'd heard about this show was true, through and through. Please feel free to add photos to the thread below!

Firstly, it was great to have sound-proofed rooms which Brent and co. had made a few years back. There was also a couple other small rooms you could go in, so plenty of options for anyone interested in seriously checking out the guitars. There was also great restaurants and cafes in almost every direction within walking distance of the exhibit hall and a more slow-paced feel to the surrounding town. All the locals and restaurant staff seemed to be pleasantly aware of the show's annual happening, as well, which felt super welcoming.

Here's a photo dump for anyone interested. I had the great pleasure of demoing the guitars of Rebecca Urlacher, Gage Halland, and Gijs de Wit as well as hosting a modern-fingerstyle workshop, playing an evening concert with Matt Thomas and sitting on the board of luthiers/players for Maegan Well's Sunday discussion about commissioning a handbuilt guitar. I included some random scenic photos as well. Was such a fantastic experience that I can't recommend enough!

Welcome to La Conner.

Welcome to the exhibit!

The work of Rebecca Urlacher from Bend, OR! My personal guitar is the little Cedar bird on the right.

Gage Halland from Montana, crazy good guitars, one of which is going to AGF's own DiamondDave.

Wilborn Guitars, the Redwood/Cocobolo Nautilus was in my personal top 3 at the show.

Michel Pellerin!

Loic Bertot, another French-Canadian who's guitars blew me away.

Crazy-good Redwood baritone.

Won't hesitate to say this was my favorite at the show, and was only his "bare-bones" Bristlecone. Well done, Mark!

Mr. Tellier! Cool guy with killer guitars,

Michel Aboudib, the next Somogyi apprentice.
Larry Pattis popping up out of nowhere! Another pro who shares the love for Rebecca Urlacher's guitars.

Amazing...

Matt Thomas and yours truly at the Friday evening concert.

[Dustinfurlow]

Was great to share the stage with Tim Farrell!

Talking about Halland guitars.

This build made for DiamondDave was absolutely mind-blowing.

James Dion Maple beauty had a clean sound with great, fat tone.

My new buddy and master luthier from the Netherlands Gigs de Wit would likely agree, wholeheartedly.

Frog and Toad's originals are like none other. Such great music.

A few more scenes, glad I brought the good lenses for this trip!








And lastly, R.I.P to Brent's late wife Shirley, who was the original founder and lead organizer of this festival. I wish I would've had the opportunity to meet her.

[Guitars44me]

Thanks for sharing all this Guitar Beauty!

Looks like a splendid time was enjoyed by all

Paul

[Nemoman]

Awesome pics, Dustin--thanks for sharing the adventure with us!

[Glennwillow]

Great photos, Dustin!

- Glenn

[doodahdoug]

Dustin, it was great visiting with and hearing you and Matt play at the La Conner Show. It is such a beautiful setting for a guitar event, near Skagit Bay and an easy walk to excellent dining and musical showcases.

I will add some pictures from luthiers and performers not previously included in your excellent photos.


Mike Baranik's Guitars and Chris playing his new Baranik Super Meridian




Maegen Wells Archtops and her and Bryan Galloup catching up.





Enjoying an impromptu performance by Larry Pattis with Rebecca Urlacher
outside Maple Hall; Rebeca's Guitars:

]


Matt Thomas playing my Michel Aboudib MA-D Sapiens I:

[doodahdoug]

Benoit Lavoie and Paul Woolson's beautiful guitars:




Jamie Findlay in a lunchtime performance at the Waterfront Cafe and Paul Asbell Mini-Concert Demo in Maple Hall:




Dustin Furlow demo performance for Halland Guitars and Tim Farrell demo for Dion Guitars:




Maple Hall Exhibit Sunday and Irvin Guitars:




Thank you to Brent McElroy for putting together this excellent event which he dedicated to the memory of his late wife and founder of this festival, Shirley Makela.

[Nemoman]

Thanks for the additional pics, Doug!

It's good to see Mike Baranik back in the acoustic world--that super Meridian looks killer!

[Bill Kraus]

Nice photos, thanks.

[SMan]

Great photos and thanks for posting. Sorry I missed it as I am not far away from La Conner. Guess I'm slipping a bit. lol

[nacluth]

Thanks Dustin for posting the memorial to Shirley. She will be missed.

[dcn]

Thanks guys for the recap and photos, seems like it was quite the show!

[Mandobart]

Thanks everyone. I live on the other side of the mountains. I've never been to the La Conner festival, but I do a lot of bluegrass fests.

A big thing I love about bluegrass festivals is the camping and campground jams. Is there a picking/jamming/camping scene at La Conner?

[doodahdoug]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

Thanks everyone. I live on the other side of the mountains. I've never been to the La Conner festival, but I do a lot of bluegrass fests.

A big thing I love about bluegrass festivals is the camping and campground jams. Is there a picking/jamming/camping scene at La Conner?

There were evening concerts and a Saturday Night Song Circle event at La Conner Channel Lodge and well as Sunday Morning String Community Gathering hosted by Ken Totusheck. I don't believe camping was the chosen option for most attendees. There was no doubt some after hours small jam sessions going on among participants and luthiers who had access to guitars but not on the scale as you might expect at a bluegrass campground in the evenings.

[WayneJohnson]

Originally Posted by doodahdoug

Benoit Lavoie and Paul Woolson's beautiful guitars:




Jamie Findlay in a lunchtime performance at the Waterfront Cafe and Paul Asbell Mini-Concert Demo in Maple Hall:




Dustin Furlow demo performance for Halland Guitars and Tim Farrell demo for Dion Guitars:




Maple Hall Exhibit Sunday and Irvin Guitars:




Thank you to Brent McElroy for putting together this excellent event which he dedicated to the memory of his late wife and founder of this festival, Shirley Makela.

thanks so much for posting. This was my 3rd La Conner show, all have been fabulous for me but this one seemed to be a few notches up due to the many wonderful attendees. The whole vibe and energy was amazing. I was so busy I had to really work at getting away just to fill my water bottle! Huge thanks to Brent and his staff. Wow! such a well run show - never a dull moment. A beautiful tribute to Shirley. Outstanding music with the likes of Dustin Furlow, Matt Thomas, the famous 'Frog and Toad', and the many others, wow, what a line up Brent put together. The highlight for me, as it is every year is to reconnect with many of my great luthier friends as well as making new friends with some of the first time exhibitors. Its a community I am so grateful to be a part of. The generosity of kindness is second to none. Thanks to all those who attended. Let's do it again next year!!