Special Events
Michael Gurian
Hosts a Panel of Some of Today's Top Luthiers in an
Open Forum: The Ifs, Ands, & Buts of Lutherie
Saturday, May 12 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Maple Hall / Upstairs
Map - 104 Commercial St. La Conner, WA
Michael Gurian is, quite simply, a living legend in the world of lutherie. A product of the Greenwich Village scene of the 1960s, he started out making and repairing classical guitars, ouds and lutes. As his business grew, Gurian expanded to steel string guitars and eventually created one of the first “boutique” guitar factories of the modern era. To this day, he continues to bridge the old world with the new with his creations. Though Gurian's focus has changed from building to supplying guitar makers with many of the needed components, his instruments continue to be coveted by musicians and collectors. David Lindley, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan are just a few of the famous players who have owned Gurians.
Charles Fox
Getting Started in Lutherie
Sunday, May 13 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Maple Hall / Upstairs
Map - 104 Commercial St. La Conner, WA
Charles Fox has been active in the development of modern American lutherie for 50 years and he enjoys an international reputation as an artisan, designer, consultant and educator. His original design concepts, building techniques and production tools, such as the Universal Side Bender, are widely used by guitar builders and factories all over the world. Charles has been referred to as the dean of educators in the field of guitar making, having founded the first school for guitar makers in North America in 1973 and since then introduced generations of folks to the craft, including many of today's successful luthiers. Today Charles builds guitars and teaches small classes in his Portland, Oregon workshop, imagining that he's retired, for at least twelve hours a day.
Ken Totushek
Hosts a Saturday Night Song Circle
PLUS: a Sunday Morning String Community Gathering
With or without guitars, all are welcome!
Song Circle:
Saturday Night, May 12 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
La Conner Channel Lodge lobby
Map - 205 North 1st St. La Conner, WA
String Community Gathering:
Sunday Morning, May 13 9:30 AM to 10:30
Civic Garden Club
Map - 622 South Second St. La Conner, WA
Ken Totushek is an internationally known singer/songwriter, acoustic instrumentalist and worship leader, with six acclaimed CDs of inspirational work since 1994. He has performed in Japan, Europe, the Middle East, throughout the U.S., and of course in the Ocean State of R.I. Ken defines himself as a musician living and sharing “freedom Songs”. His music is down to earth, inviting, and tends to capture the heart of the listener as he leads one through a calming and hope filled musical journey--aspects of his own life and spiritual pilgrimage. Venues range from concerts and special music, house concerts, hospitals, restaurants and pubs to leading worship at international church services and conferences. In 2013 Ken was awarded Japan’s Kansai Music Conference “Building Bridges Through Music” Award. Ken resides with his wife Kathy in Barrington, RI.
After Hours Cabaret
at Santo Coyote
201 E Morris St - La Conner, WA- Map
Featuring
Doian Michael
Fri. May 11 - 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Dorian Michael started playing guitar as a seven-year old in Los Angeles just as folk music was about to have a renaissance of sorts and earthy acoustic music was his first guitar experience. He has been a working guitarist for four decades and in that time has played plenty of blues and folk, jazz and rock and roll. There has always been a huge variety of playing experience from smokey honky-tonks to theater orchestra pits. At some point along the way he started playing a few solo fingerstyle instrumentals, made a cd and decided he needed to hit the road and see if he could sell all those cds he had. Three solo cds and four ensemble cds later Dorian is still playing throughout the States and Canada. He calls his solo music “contemporary traditional”; original music that reflects his interest in a number of styles of music. These influences come through in his original material, but it is a contemporary music that grows from, rather than mimics, those influences. When he plays someone else’s music or a traditional piece he always manages to add a few surprises. Says Dorian, “Some music makes you feel, some makes you think and some music is just for the fun of it. I try to get to all those places in the space of a performance.”
AND
Giacomo Fiore
Sat. May 12 - 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Italian guitarist Giacomo Fiore has presented eclectic programs to audiences across the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, and Italy. Highlights include appearances at Microfest LA, Thingamajigs 2012, and the Healdsburg, Northwest, South Bay Guitar Society, Sierra Nevada, Sarzana, and Cervo Guitar Festivals; and performing with West Edge Opera and the UCSC Symphony. An ardent advocate of new music, Giacomo has given world and U.S. premieres of works by Larry Polansky, Ron Nagorcka, Agustin Castilla–Ávila, Garry Eister, Lanier Sammons, Fernanda Navarro, Edward Schocker, Matthew Grasso, and Fabrizio Carlone.
