By: By Carlos Martin Schwab Positive Grid’s Spark Go is a compact and feature-packed guitar 5-Watt Class D amp that aims to provide versatility, portability, and exceptional sound quality for musicians on the go. Designed as a smaller sibling to the popular Spark Amp line, the Spark Go packs a punch with its array of features in a portable size. Design and Build Quality The Spark Go exudes a sleek and modern design, with a compact form factor (125 x 85 x 45 mm and 346 g) that makes it ideal for both home practice and on-the-go jam sessions. Its sturdy construction (rubber finishing and an int ..read more

Press Release Source: SKH Music Andy Timmons has recorded a tribute to his childhood hero, Peter Frampton. To screen the official video featuring both artists. Andy Timmons Timmons shares, “I grew up on ‘70s rock and was very fortunate that my brother John (8 years my elder) was buying all of Peter Frampton’s records from Humble Pie forward. Those LPs, particularly “Frampton” and of course the insanely great “Frampton Comes Alive” are a huge part of my musical foundation. Peter has a singular style and melodic sensibility that flows through his guitar playing, singing and songwriting. Fast f ..read more

Here’s a classic Guitar International interview from March 27, 2013! By: Craig Hunter Ross Eric Gales In the mid-seventies, a four year old boy in Memphis picked up a guitar for the first time.  He was quickly considered child prodigy and was amazing judges and audiences in blues guitar competitions with his untraditional style of playing a right handed guitar upside down with his left hand. That young boy was Eric Gales. By the time he was a teenager; Eric Gales was being hailed as the “Second Coming” of Jimi Hendrix and had signed a contract with Elektra records.  The early 1990s ..read more

Press Release Source: Kari Estrin Mgt/Consulting & Radio Promo While there is no lack of great songs that honor love, acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitarist, Cris Jacobs, offers a heartfelt and unique perspective on marriage and committed relationships on his lively new track “Lifetime To Go,” featuring Lee Ann Womack. The song appears on his first album in five years, One Of These Days that will be released on April 26th on Soundly Music. “Cris Jacobs is an enigma. The question is always ‘why is this guy not more famous?’ Searing guitar, incredible heartfelt songwriting, genre-defying voca ..read more

By: Rick Landers Michelle Swan Capturing the imagination and the spirit of live performing is multi-award winning singer-songwriter, Michelle Swan, whose solo work is impressive and her ability to successfully front classy “pickup” bands in the Washington, D.C. area, and grab the attention of audiences, immersing them in her songs and on-stage charisma. Now, there’s a good lesson for her contemporaries on “how to” entertain a crowd. Coming from a musical family, Michelle grew up listening to her singer-songwriter, father play his own crafted tunes. And as a pre-teen, she acquired her first g ..read more

Press Release Source: Kari Estrin Management Jillian Matundan’s first full-length album bursts forward with an energy and honesty rooted in navigating life’s highs and lows. Singing to the Moon was primarily written during the COVID pandemic, which forced all of us to fully stop for the first time in our lives. Jillian was just returning to writing and performing her own music —after 15 years of putting it on the shelf—and found herself in the same place as everyone else on the planet, with space and time to face herself. Singing to the Moon is a collection of songs that examine hard truths, r ..read more

By: Staff Digit & Tess at Niagara Falls – Image by: John Monger Rick Landers, Guitar International’s publisher has announced the release of his first children’s book in a series called, “The Adventures of Digit & Tess”, now available in print as a paperback, as well as an eBook. The series is about a young Canadian girl named, Grace Hopper, and her companion an AI-robotic cat, Digit. The two have a few challenges, but by the end of the book, and their first adventure to Niagara Falls, they become friends. The books are both set up to be read by a child and a parent, or with an older ..read more

Press Release Source: Jensen Communications Jesse Colin Young Legendary folk singer-songwriter Jesse Colin Young announces the first digital re-release single “Fire on the Water,” off his 1982 solo album The Perfect Stranger. “Fire On The Water” features an epic collaboration with Michael McDonald (The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan). This dynamic collaboration set ablaze the music scene with its soulful melodies and powerful vocals which is now coming to all digital platforms for the first time since the 80’s. “Fire On The Water” is a timeless blend of Young’s signature folk-rock sound and McD ..read more

By: Rick Landers Brian Tarquin A number of words come to mind when reviewing the prolific work of guitarist, Brian Tarquin. Among them are: engineer-producer, author, and composer, but more come to mind like: entrepreneur, collaborator and three-time Emmy awardee. Roll them up together, be assured his success reflects attention to details, a high degree of business acumen and strategic self-discipline. Tarquin’s recent album, Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes, is a quite brilliant instrumental grouping that leverages those musicians talents, as well as their own willingness to support such an outsta ..read more

 By: Carlos Martin Schwab All Photos (c) Carlos Martin Schwab 2024 2024 NAMM – photo credit: Carlos Martin Schwab Despite the absences of some past exhibitors, NAMM 2024 was awesome. The numbers show 62,000 attendees, 33% more than in 2023, but still far from the record 115000 attendees in 2020. The number of exhibitors also increased: 33% more than in 2023. Concerts and education were significant: over 200 artists performed over 5 days on 2 outdoor stages, one arena, and several at nearby hotels. All performances were free. Notable names included Lindsay Stirling, Jon McLaughlin, and C ..read more