G-TARanaki Guitar Festival

infobox music festival
music_festival_name = G-TARanaki
location = New Plymouth, New Zealand
years_active = 2008 – present
founders = Garry Sharpe-Young
dates = July 14 - 19
genre = Rock, Blues, Jazz, Classical
website = [http://www.gtaranaki.co.nz/ www.gtaranaki.co.nz]

GTaranaki also known as G-TARanaki was New Zealand's first international guitar festival held in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand from 14-19 July 2008. The week long festival brought some of worlds best guitarists to Taranaki to perform, educate and inspire Kiwi guitarists and music fans around New Zealand. G-TARanaki featured a celebration of all things guitar with guitarists and bands from a range of genres including Rock, Funk, Classical, Jazz, Blues and Metal. Two main concerts were held at New Plymouth's TSB Stadium which were headlined by Uli Jon Roth and Joe Satriani. The line-up for these events was as follows:

TSB Stadium 18th July 2008:

*Uli Jon Roth
*Gray Bartlett
*Gilby Clarke
*Alex Skolnick Trio
*World War Four

TSB Stadium 19th July 2008:

*Joe Satriani
*Glenn Hughes
*Vernon Reid
*Tim Donahue
*Brian Hatcher Band

The event was launched by an auction to benefit the cancer society. Items auctioned included guitars autographed by Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, AC/DC and U2.

Guitar clinics and discussion forums were held throughout the week. Special midnight sessions included performances from Vernon Reid, from Living Colour, and Gilby Clarke, from Guns n' Roses, who were also joined by major artists on the bill such as Alex Skolnick (Testament / Alex Skolnick Trio) and Uli Jon Roth (Ex-Scorpions). These midnight sessions were held at Puke Ariki. Sky Academy, the music school founded by Uli Jon Roth, offered tuition classes at three Taranaki towns, Waitara, Inglewood and Opunake and included guests Vernon Reid and Gilby Clarke. Classical and Jazz performances were given by the New Zealand School of Music led by Matthew Marshall and Nick Granville.

There were a number of firsts for G-TARanaki. Uli Jon Roth performed songs from his album 'Under A Dark Sky' for the first time live. Glenn Hughes performed with a one off New Zealand band, involving guitarist Kara Gordon plus 8Forty8 band members Simon Koretz and drummer Nathan Koretz. Vernon Reid also played with a unique band comprising Jonathan Crayford on keyboards, Magesh Magesh on drums and Crete Haami on bass.

Paul Martin, DJ for New Zealand's longest standing Metal radio show 'The Axe Attack' performed with his band World War Four and was also MC for much of the G-TARanaki event.

New Zealand artists performing included False Start, Kara Gordon, Swap Gomez, Jamie Anderson, Frank John, Burt Ropiha, Bryce Wastney, Ross Townsend, Stephanie Piqette, Karl Austin, Nathan Annand, Brandon Reihana of Blindspott, Ross Halliday, Diarmuid Cahill, Adrian Whelan, New Plymouth Ukele Orchestra, The Smiles, Dave Ritchie Smith, Craig Radford, Joel Haines, Matt Herrett and Ash & Aiden.

Band Line Ups (as of show):

ee also

*New Zealand music festivals

External links

* [http://www.gtaranaki.co.nz G-TARanaki Official website]
* [http://www.tahniaroberts.com G-TARanaki photography by Tahnia Roberts]
* [http://nzrock.com/modules/myalbum/viewcat.php?cid=28 G-TARanaki photography by Emily McCarvill]