Sept 11 - 13

A Weekend Celebration of music, gear and guitars

Join us at the Livermore Valley Performing Art Center’s and Guitar Player Magazine’s first annual Guitar Player LIVE!, bringing players, guitar legends, and manufacturers together for a weekend long celebration of all things guitar—live performances, artist clinics and the latest gear. Take the rare opportunity to get up-close and personal with world-class guitarists as they share their techniques and talents, in Livermore’s historic downtown. Enjoy free live performances on four outdoor stages, three performances in the Bankhead Theater, clinics, exhibits, and great food and wine. To cap off the festival evenings, several local live music taverns will also host local band performances and guitar virtuosos.

Guitar Superstar Competition

Ten competing finalists
Sept 12 at 8pm

BUY TICKETS

The centerpiece of Guitar Player LIVE! is the magazine’s annual Guitar Superstar Competition. Now in its 5th year, Guitar Superstar pits ten finalists against one another, each vying to impress a group of judges with their technique, tone, melodic sense, and innovation. Selected by the GP staff to represent all that is holy about guitar, it is their artistry and guts that powers the show, provides the drama and thrills, and evangelizes the everlasting brilliance of the guitar. Prepare to be astounded by some transcendent performances!

Judges:
Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck)
Elliot Easton (The Cars)
Greg Hampton (Alice Cooper)
Steve Lukather (Toto)
Earl Slick (David Bowie)

Host:
Brendon Small, perhaps the funniest death-metal guitar icon in the known universe.

Finalists:
Dave Benziger - Naperville, Illinois
Hercules Castro – Colorado Springs, Colorado
Brodie Cumming - Santa Rosa, California
Brian Davidson - Nashville, Tennessee
Danny Jones - Pinole, California
Steve Langemo - Dayton, Ohio
Steve Senes - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Krisz Simonfalvi - Dallas, Texas (Originally from Budapest, Hungary)
Doug Towle - Vancouver, British Columbia
Jeff Zampillo - Valparaiso, Indiana

The Band:
Thud Factor is lead by Guitar Superstar Musical Director and Bass Player Editor Jonathan Herrera on bass. The group also includes GP Los Angeles Editor (and GIT director) Jude Gold on guitar, and Russ Gold on drums. Jonathan is responsible for charting out the arrangements requested by the finalists, directing the sound checks, producing all the musical interludes, and making sure the rafters rattle all night long.