Workshops and Open Stage

The Canadian Guitar Festival Workshops have been consistently one of the most popular events. We have been very fortunate to feature some of the most talented artists in the world and this year is no exception.

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Saturday Jul 31, 10:00 am

Kelly Valleau is a spanish fingerstyle guitarist hailing from the "Great White North", that's Canada if yeah didn't know eh!....the breeding ground for spanish fingerstyle guitarists. A performer, composer, arranger, transcriber, teacher, student and all around good guy. This multi-dimensional guitarist has forged a unique solo guitar style, firmly rooted in classical composition with modern guitar techniques.

"Musica para la Guitarra" is the first solo cd from Kelly Valleau. Nine originals and a couple killer arrangements to tweak your ears. Dark, dissonant, melodic, rhythmic music....HEAVY WOOD!!

Kelly lists his influences in the following charming and novel way:

In the beginning: David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett.

In the middle: Agustin Barrios, Ludwig Van Beethoven , J.K. Mertz, Roland Dyens.

In the end: Family, friends, teachers, students, Us, and them....Me, and you. Black and blue....Up and down. Down and out.....With, without.

Click on Kelly's pic. to go to his web page.

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Saturday Jul 31, 11:00 am

In addition to being one of the busier players in the Kingston music scene, Matthew Woodward is also a highly respected and sought-after guitar instructor. He began teaching music in the early 1980's for Renaissance Music and later co-founded Kingston School Of Music, managing their downtown Kingston location for eight years. Since 1992 he has taught guitar privately from his own studio, where he enjoys coaching beginner to professional level players. Many of his students have gone on to become successful musicians and music instructors.

Thirty-plus years of performing have given him much experience in styles ranging from soft jazz and mellow folk-style fingerpicking to extreme hard rock, funk and gut bucket blues. Matthew is well-known for his skills both as a solid, informed rhythm player and as a passionate, melodically fluid and technically adept lead guitarist.

Recently Matthew joined up with some old friends to form a new band called lovehandles. Click on the pic to go to the bands web page on myspace.com.

Matthew is a founding and current member of K-Rock 107.5 FM's Local Talent Development Board and a regular judge at their annual "Extreme Band Slam" contests. He also served for several years on the board of the Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Lending Library. In addition to his current gig with lovehandles, he maintains a thriving teaching practice while continuing to do a considerable amount of studio work, songwriting and recording.

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Sunday Aug 1, 4:30p - 5:30p

One of today's true innovators of guitar composition and technique, Don Ross is one of the most respected musicians in Canada and one of the top guitarists in the world.

In September 1996, he managed to do what no other player has done: win the prestigious U.S. National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship for the second time (he first won in 1988). The competition, held yearly in Winfield, Kansas, cannot be won only with immaculate technique, but the player's music must also display a high degree of emotion and intensity — hallmarks of Don's style.

Preferring to write original music and develop a personal style, Don's self-taught journey on the instrument has encouraged him to follow his musical intuition. The result is an unclassifiable musical style that borrows from jazz, folk, rock and classical music. When asked, Don usually pigeonholes his music as "Heavy Wood"!

Don currently records with US-based independent label Candyrat Records. His new recording, Any Colour, featuring his long awaited vocals, is slated for release in April 2009. Don is married to profoundly talented Prince Edward Island singer and guitarist Brooke Miller.

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Saturday Jul 31, Noon - 3:00p

Open Mic - Mainstage

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Saturday Jul 31, Noon - 4:00p

Kids camp: arts and crafts

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See you at the lake!