G-TARanaki International Music Week

The G-TARanaki 2010 team are proud to announce that Slash, one of the world's most legendary guitarists, will be coming to New Plymouth to headline G-TARanaki International Music Week in August. 

G-TARanaki is New Zealand's only international guitar festival which brings some of the world's best guitarists to Taranaki to entertain, educate and inspire music lovers.  It provides the opportunity to learn from legends who really know their stuff!  This year the event will be held from 11-15 August 2010 in New Plymouth, Taranaki.

PERFORMERS

Slash - The ex-Guns N' Roses axeman needs no introduction.  His legend precedes him.  His new solo album has caused a major sensation and topped the NZ charts upon its release.  Slash will be joined by Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy, bassist Todd Kerns (Sin City Sinners, Static in Stereo, Age of Electric), rhythm guitarist Bobby Schneck (Weezer, Green Day) and drummer Brent Fitz (Alice Cooper, Vince Neil).

Uli Jon Roth - The ex-Scorpions and G3 player (with Joe Satriani and Michael Schenker) was one of the highlights of G-TARanaki 2008.  The classically trained German rock guitarist will be returning in 2010 with his Sky Academy workshops and master classes, as well as leading an all-star jam at the Friday night concert.  Uli's backing band will include drummer Mike Ehré, guitarist/vocalist Niklas Turmann, who both performed with Roth at G-TARanaki 2008; and Elliott Rubinson, owner of American manufacturer Dean Guitars, on bass.

Jennifer Batten - Former lead guitarist for Michael Jackson on three world tours, also renowned for her collaboration with Jeff Beck.  Author of two music books, with three solo albums, Batten's innovative playing crosses genres, from rock, metal, funk and fusion, to world music and electronica.

Vinnie Moore - Discovered via a demo tape he sent to Guitar Player magazine, Vinnie Moore went on to become one of the most influential shredders of the ‘80s.  In addition to his solo career, Moore has toured and recorded with Alice Cooper and is currently a member of UFO, playing on three albums to date and one live DVD.

Hail! - A perpetually evolving Heavy Metal supergroup founded by vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-Judas Priest, Beyond Fear, Yngwie Malmsteen), Hail! has assembled a stellar line-up for their G-TARanaki appearance with Scott Travis of Judas Priest on drums; Scott MacAlpine (formerly of Steve Vai's band) on lead guitar and keyboards and Tony Franklin (formerly of The Firm w/Jimmy Page, Blue Murder and Quiet Riot) on bass.

Leslie West - The legendary guitarist from Mountain, West has recorded or played with a litany of rock icons including Billy Joel, Van Halen, The Who, Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix.  In fact, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Schenker and Richie Sambora have all cited Leslie as an important influence on their own music.

California Guitar Trio - With a whirlwind of instrumental styles fusing classical, rock, blues, jazz, world music, progressive, as well as the quintessential California musical genre surf music, the California Guitar Trio's stunning virtuosity and sly sense of humour have earned them an enthusiastic following.

Tony Levin - Bass virtuoso Tony Levin, who has toured and recorded with Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon, played on John Lennon's Double Fantasy album, has been a member of King Crimson since 1981 and is the world's pre-eminent player of the unique ten-stringed Chapman Stick.  At G-TARanaki, Levin will be performing both solo and with the California Guitar Trio.

Guy Pratt - Best known as the man who took over bass duties with Pink Floyd after Roger Waters' departure, Pratt has also played with countless top artists including Icehouse, Bryan Ferry, Robert Palmer, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Robbie Robertson, Coverdale Page and Gary Moore. In recent years, Pratt's anecdotes from the road have gained him a second career in stand-up comedy. A book of his memoirs, My Bass And Other Animals, was published in 2007.

Oli Brown Band - Britain's latest blues guitar prodigy.  Oli Brown's 2008 debut album Open Road, released when he was just 19, got the attention of Mike Vernon, legendary producer of the John Mayall and Fleetwood Mac albums of the late 60's. Vernon came out of retirement to produce Brown's second album Heads I Win, Tails You Lose.

Desiree Bassett - Singing since the age of two and playing guitar at three, Desiree is a musical prodigy from New Haven, Connecticut.  Voted Talent America's Musician of the Year in 2005 and playing Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" at the Woodstock 40th anniversary festival in 2009, she has released three CDs and performed alongside the likes of Jimmie Vaughan and Sammy Hagar.  And she's still only 17!

The Checks - Formed at school in Takapuna in 2002, The Checks have grown into one of NZ's most talked-about bands.  Relocating to London in 2006, they recorded their debut album Hunting Whales, produced by Ian Broudie and released through Sony.  They returned home last year to make their self-produced and distributed second album Alice By The Moon which garnered great reviews.  Earlier this year they landed the coveted opening slot for AD/DC's NZ shows.

In Dread Response - Auckland metal band In Dread Response have built a strong following from tours with 8 Foot Sativa.  Their debut album From The Oceanic Graves received a five-star review in Rip It Up, who described it as "a moody and very deep album filled with intense songs and brilliant arrangements. With a concise understanding of the art of dramatic melody and sweeping in and out of heaving crescendos, In Dead Response effortlessly build a wicked soundscape of huge proportions here. An outstanding release from a band that's going places."

Shotgun Alley - Whether you call it hard rock, cock rock, melodic rock, pop-metal, glam or sleaze, Shotgun Alley can be named one of New Zealand's hottest rock bands to make their mark in the Kiwi music industry. Formed in January 2009, they have already supported Alice Cooper on his ‘Theatre of Death' tour in Auckland and shared the stage with glam metal band Steel Panther in Los Angeles. Their dynamic sound is heavily influenced by late 80s-early 90s metal, drawing comparisons with Guns ‘N Roses, Mötley Crüe and Van Halen.

The Thomas Oliver Band - The Thomas Oliver Band plays a combination of blues, rock, country and roots music, with inflections of folk and alt-pop. Their fresh instrumentation, including lap-slide guitar, double bass and baritone saxophone, blends with Oliver's compelling writing style to create a sound which is absolutely unique and unequalled in New Zealand.  In the space of four years, The TOB has played hundreds of shows across the country and supported The Black Seeds, The Phoenix Foundation, Pluto, dDub and Little Bushman, among others. As a soloist, Thomas Oliver has supported Eric Clapton, Jimmy Barnes and Tom Jones at the internationally renowned Mission Estate Concerts in Napier, to 30,000 people.

Kara Gordon Trio - Auckland guitarist Kara Gordon performed at G-TARanaki 2008 as part of Glenn Hughes' band.  This year, the man described by Vernon Reid as "Jimi Hendrix reincarnated" returns to G-TARanaki with his own trio to kick off Friday's Midnight Session.

Blue Monkey Racket - One of Taranaki's top blues band have a growing reputation as a dynamic live act, both locally and nationally. Fronted by guitarist-vocalist Nic "Jellylegs" Boheimer, Blue Monkey Racket have performed at the National Jazz & Blues Festival in Tauranga, Parihaka Peace Festival and the Bay of Islands Jazz & Blues Festival. In fact, the latter has asked them back again this year and they'll be heading north straight after their appearance at G-TARanaki's Bell Street Blues Club Night.


Tickets for the concerts and midnight sessions will be on sale from 31 May 2010.