In fact it is as if the 2nd edition of the Holy Grail Guitar Show (www.holygrailguitarshow.com) was organized especially for me. Indeed, you cannot help but notice that the visual part of this year is very oriented toward the psychedelic sixties which fit perfectly with my legendary floral shirts and my hair (usually) long!
Here I am last year in Berlin interviewing the legendary Ken Parker with... long hair and a flowery shirt on!
Seriously the first edition of this fair organized by luthiers for luthiers was a real challenge that the organizing team has been very successful (see my review in this article) . The Guitar Channel also made the bet to fund the travel and expense to come to Germany to participate in what was a splendid feast of the lutherie. I have not regretted this investment and I am very happy to be back this year.
Two hats for one show
In fact this year I will be present in Berlin with two roles:
- As a guitar journalist to produce all the interviews you enjoyed last year
- As an official speaker to give a keynote about how to use the Internet and the social networks
Who should come to the Holy Grail Guitar Show ?
The target audience for this lutherie show is all the guitar enthousiasts, whether electric or acoustic. For a week-end here's slightly more than one hundred guitar makers selected among the best in the world and invited by the European Guitars Builders Association (www.europeanguitarbuilders.com) who will present their instruments in optimum conditions to discuss with luthiers and try the instruments.
A program of conferences and demonstration concerts complement the event.
It is in the context of the conference that I will come to give a keynote:
I will also make a similar presentation but adapted for luthiers during the Symposium of the EGB held on Friday.
Note that the exhibition entrance is paying (17 € for one day, € 28 for the weekend) which ensures the presence of an audience of enthusiasts of the guitar. Tickets are on sale online on the web sit : www.holygrailguitarshow.com/ticket-shop/
Interview Michael Spal, president of the European Guitar Builders association
To know more about the European Guitars Builders association, here's an interview I did this year with its president Michael Spalt who is a very famous guitar builder.
Why I can't wait to be back
I literally count the days before flying to Germany because I can't wait to discover the fabulous guitars the luthiers have prepared for the occasion. There is indeed a healthy competition between these extraordinary craftsmen who pull all the stops to see who will present the "most beautiful" guitar. I put quotes because everyone will choose what to put in his own conception of the ultimate instrument, the famous Holy Grail which gave its name to this event.
See you at the Berlin Estrel hotel last weekend of October to discuss guitar?
Pierre Journel.
