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This year was the 21st convention held in the name
of late great guitarist Chet Atkins. I have attended the last five
conventions and can recommend it to anyone who loves acoustic
fingerstyle guitar music. You can hear a huge variety of acoustic
guitar styles, classical, jazz, gypsy jazz, blues, ragtime, swing and
of course lots of thumb and finger picking.You can rub shoulders with
great performers, attend workshops, perform at open mic sessions,
attend close up concerts, sit and jam with like minded people, attend
great concerts each night, buy books, videos, cds, guitars and
accessories. You will also find, for sale, the best collections of
vinyls by Chet Atkins and many other guitarists.
The format was the same as previous years, why change a winning
formula! Most of the performers were the same and probably most of the
attendees like myself had been before making it like a big annual
family get-together.
There were about eight Brits there in 2005 which is average but I
would love more to attend.
So who was there? I cannot mention every guitarist I watched or spoke
to but I will comment on a few :-
Tommy Emmanuel
Without a doubt Tommy is the main attraction and seems to have taken
up Chet's mantle. It is a big act to follow but Tommy will do it in
his own inimitable style. He is such a busy man these days and whilst
I know he enjoys CAAS, it must be a tiring four days as everyone wants
some of his time. Fortunately for us fans his concerts, formal or
otherwise, are always immaculate and he regularly introduces new
material to keep us coming back for more.
Buster B Jones
Buster was in residence in the hotel lobby for much of the four days
although he did move to the stage a few times for concerts. He seems
to be pretty well recovered from his illness now and his guitar
playing is as good as ever. He was surrounded by the "young lions"
of the guitar, Brooksie and Co who are his students. Buster has done a
great job as Brooksie won the 12-20 section of the national Prairie
Home Companion fingerstyle guitar competition later in the year.
Thom Bresh
Thom puts on a great show and when he gets together with Buster B
they fairly burn up the fret boards. Thom was in the UK with Tommy
Emmanuel earlier in the year and I believe he hopes to make a return
visit in 2006. Well worth a ticket if you get the chance.
John Goldie
Scotlands premier fingerstyle guitarist John Goldie was there by
invitation for the second year. He is a great performer playing mostly
in the jazz style. John has made a couple of CDs and has performed
with Martin Taylor. His talents deserve a wider audience than they
currently get in the UK. A most gregarious and amusing character.
Gareth Pearson
The new kid on the block! 15 year old Gareth from Wales took the
convention by storm with his prodigious talent. He was discovered by
Tommy Emmanuel who graciously invited Gareth to attend the Convention
to expose him to some of the best performers and teachers he is likely
to meet. It was the first time I had met Gareth and his Dad Graham who
was his chaperon. I don't think Gareth slept or ate for four days but
he certainly enjoyed himself. He soaked up the atmosphere and I know
he learned a great deal in four days. He was given stage time and
played to a full house where he was ably supported by his new and
immensely talented friends Matt Thomas and Gary Dawson
from Virginia. The three of them had never met until the convention
but performed together with great ease and amazing flair. Three names
to watch out for in the future.
So who wants to go this year? The dates are Wednesday 12th to
Saturday 15th July 2006. The venue as always is the Sheraton Music
City, Nashville, Tennessee.
I am prepared to help anyone interested in making the trip. I have
done some estimates of cost based on last years event. If you want to
start saving up you need to be thinking in terms of £1,200 - £1,400
each if you stay five nights at The Sheraton Music City which is the
Convention venue also. This includes flights, transfers,
accommodation, convention fees, meals, local taxes and gratuities but
excludes insurance and the transport of guitars. If you take your
partner or share with your mate then the cost would drop to about £900
- £1,100 each. You could stay in cheaper accommodation nearby and
eat more cheaply elsewhere but you would miss a lot of the atmosphere
of the event. I dare say you could get the cost down to £800 each
minimum. You could of course take a weeks holiday and see many of the
attractions of Nashville and the surrounding area which would probably
add only £200 each to the cost. If you want to take partners who
are not interested in the music, trips can be arranged to local places
of interest of which there are many. There is, of course, always the
outdoor pool at the hotel.
David Whyte
Tel/Fax 0115 933 6713
e-mail david.n.whyte@btinternet.com
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