Leading up to the Melbourne Guitar Show, What’s My Scene will be celebrating GUITARISTS. Stay tuned for our exclusive Q&As, Vintage Guitar Scenes, Snap Scene features, and much much more.
Brett Kingman answers our questions:
Band: James Reyne band and Youtube presenter
How long have you been playing guitar? Why did you first start playing guitar?
40+ years. I heard the album “Slade Alive” when I was very young and from that moment on decided that I was going to be a guitar player.
Which guitarist most influenced your playing?
Noddy Holder initially, Jimmy Page and then EVH. Later on it was Johnny Marr and more technical and arty players like Steve Howe and Frank Zappa.
Describe your favourite guitar.
I have many. Right now it’s an Ernie Ball Music Man Albert Lee HH.
How do you prepare for a show?
Two glasses of red wine.
Which artist/band was/is your favourite to play guitar with?
James Reyne, Josh Owen, Phil Ceberano, Ross Wilson… there are many and I’m fortunate because I get to work with them all and often.
How would you describe your sound in food form and why?
A spicy Eurasian dish with a large side of American styled fries and chicken. Not too organised, very organic and able to be rearranged at a moments notice. Sounds about right to me!
Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.
I’m sure that many think that being on the road is a lot of fun and free travel. The truth is not as glamorous, unfortunately. For a typical 75 minute show in Sydney, for instance (I live in Melbourne), which is something I would do at least once a month, I am looking at 4+ hours of travel at least, two flights and two complete days used up when all is said and done. Plus the expense although some of that is offset with the wage. People complain about driving 1-2 hours to and from their normal day jobs but comparibly a musician’s travel and time demands are considerably more severe. In the end it’s the lifestyle choice we make and there’s nothing like eliciting the smiles of the audience. That’s what it’s all about.
What, or who, inspires you?
My wife and daughter. Everything is for them.
Which song do you wish you wrote the riff for?
La Grange.
If you had unlimited money, what would your dream guitar setup be?
I have it already. Fractal Audio gear and Music Man guitars. Unbeatable to me and a luxury that has been worth working for all these years.
What’s next for you?
August/September tour with James Reyne, a month or two off the road, and then the Summer touring season. Hundreds of Youtube commissions, more touring… On it goes.
What is the best thing about the Melbourne Guitar Show this August?
I’ll let you know once it’s done. :)
What’s your Scene?
Mostly, I like to be with Elisabeth and Sadie, my wife and daughter, in any recreational, family and/or creative capacity. Both of them are charming, clever and strong women and they inspire me. I like to write and record ambient guitar music with the Axe-FX II XL+ which I regard as THE most important tool I’ve acquired in my 40-year career. I have a deep interest and love of cooking – I’m the cook at home. I voraciously read medieval and ancient history and I do my best to study and understand astrophysics. Because I’m fortunate enough to be on a major gig most weeks, I rarely attend gigs or concerts unless they involve a close friend or a major 70’s act like Steely Dan or The Eagles. I listen to BBC World News whilst travelling (mostly), just to get away from music and Youtube for a bit. I dislike crowds, queues and loud gatherings intensely (and, I guess, ironically), so I spend as much time in the serenity of my Mornington Peninsula home as possible. I’m a boring old bastard, really! :D
It was big in 2015, huge in 2016, and today the Australian Music Association has announced the 2017 return of the Melbourne Guitar Show to rock Caulfield Racecourse on August 5 and 6 – and this year, it’ll be bigger than ever. Proudly presented by Triple M and Australian Musician, the line-up boasts not only an incredible haul of local guitarists, but also massive international artists – UK’s legendary Steve Hackett (Genesis), Canada’s renowned Nick Johnston and UK superstar Alex Hutchings.
In addition to some killer performances, MGS will also hold a monster exhibition that will feature a gigantic variety of electric and acoustic guitars, effects pedals, amps and more state-of-the-art guitar technology, both home-grown and from around the world. It will continue to be Australia’s biggest guitar pop-up shop…and that’s not all. In addition to this, the Melbourne Guitar Show will host information seminars, demonstrations, and live performances from Australia’s most talented guitarists, including: Lloyd Spiegel, Nick Charles and Bob Spencer with many more to be announced.
This year will be extra special as the Melbourne Guitar Show welcomes UK guitar royalty, namely, the original Genesis guitarist and successful solo artist in his own right, Steve Hackett, in a very special premium ticketed event. Hackett will be touring Australia for the very first time with his lavish Genesis Revisited tour, playing classic Genesis prog-rock tunes as well as selected material from his 25 solo albums. For the Melbourne Guitar Show however, in a more eclectic and informal setting, Steve will play an exclusive up close and personal acoustic-based show featuring musical director Roger King on keyboards and woodwind/ brass virtuoso Rob Townshend. This will be the only Australian performance by the Steve Hackett Acoustic Trio. Genesis, only ever made it to Australia once, in 1986 – years after Steve and singer Peter Gabriel left the band, so Steve is making it up to fans by bringing some Genesis magic to our shores. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for long serving Genesis fans and aficionados of 70s prog-rock. Steve will also participate in an onstage Q&A session following his guitar show performance. Excited about the upcoming tour, Steve says, “I’m thrilled to bring my Genesis Revisited tour to Australia. I’ll be playing there for the first time and I’m hugely looking forward to it! It’ll be great to meet fans and friends, and I know it’s an incredibly beautiful country. I can’t wait!”
Another star joining the stacked line-up is the Canadian guitar virtuoso Nick Johnston. Known for his catchy, melody-driven instrumental music Nick has been able to carve out his own unique style within a crowded landscape of instrumental guitarists. Nick’s playing has attracted sponsorship from massive international brands including Friedman Amps, D’Addario and Schecter Guitars. Also on board this year, we welcome world-renowned guitarist Alex Hutchings (UK), a modern fusion guitarist par extraordinaire, lauded by many as one of the finest players in the genre. His international following has exploded in recent years thanks to millions of YouTube views via both his own channel and JamTrackCentral (alongside such contemporaries such as Guthrie Govan, Andy James and Jack Thammerat). Regularly touring around the globe, Alex performs under his own name and as an international demonstrator for BOSS/Roland.
Drawing over 5,500 guitar lovers and enthusiasts to last year’s exhibit, the Melbourne Guitar Show is gearing up for the biggest event yet. The voice of the Australian music products industry, the Australian Music Association (AMA) will be teaming up with Australianmusician.com.au and presenting sponsors Triple M and Aon to present this year’s guitar-centric weekend. “We are looking forward to a show this year that builds steadily based on the merit and popularity of the first two and on the presentation of the best people we can find”, says AMA executive officer and MGS organiser, Rob Walker. Not only will the 2017 MGS provide a hands-on chance to see, hear and play a broad range of the world’s favourite brands, it will also see exhibitors offering great show deals, plus an opportunity to get close to some hand-crafted, locally made instruments and epic guitar and gear collections. Describing the exciting developments, Rob continues, “We will have more exhibitors this year, as well as bigger stand presentations by many brands. We are in discussions with an increasing list of players who want to be a part of it, so we are sure this show will provide great value for guitar enthusiasts once again.”
The first artist line up announcement includes: Steve Hackett (UK), Nick Johnston (Canada), Alex Hutchings (UK), Lloyd Spiegel, Nick Charles, Bob Spencer, Shannon Bourne, Lloyd Spiegel, James Ryan and many more to be announced over the coming weeks.
The Melbourne Guitar Show will be held at Caulfield Racecourse on August 5 and 6.
Tickets are on sale now!
Online ticket prices when pre-ordered:: Adult day pass $20, adult weekend pass $30, family day pass $35, concession day pass $10, concession weekend pass $15, premium ticket** $40
**Premium tickets include admission to Steve Hackett show – limited tickets available
MELBOURNE GUITAR SHOW DETAILS
SATURDAY AUG 5 | CAULFIELD RACECOURSE |10.00am – 6.00pm | TICKETS
SUNDAY AUG 6 | CAULFIELD RACECOURSE | 10.00am – 6.00pm | TICKETS
WEBSITE FACEBOOK
