Guitarfest 2006:

You wanted the best? You GOT the best!

Guitarfest 2006 celebrates its 3rd Birthday on September 24th, and boasts a most stunning lineup ( thats if last years wasnt good enough!)- from the finest in Acoustic playing, via Soul and Funk Bass, to out-and-out Electric Guitar Rock: Each player being able to showcase their abilities, and maybe explain how they do what they do, and give a little bit of their 'history', in a 900-seat venue - where the audience have a chance to get more 'up-close and personal' than in a usual gig environment.

Plus there'll be plenty of Guitars and guitar-related products available at special event-only prices, on the day, in the 'Retail village'.

Michael Schenker - His extremely fluent style, his combination of fiery rock licks, power riffs and classical quotations has made him an icon for a whole generation. In 1970, Michael, who despite his youth had already established himself as an outstanding guitarist, joined his brother Rudolf in SCORPIONS. After 3 years and an album, He joined UFO who released 5 consecutive rock classics with Mr Schenker, giving rise to such songs as Doctor Doctor, Shoot, Shoot, & Rock Bottom. In 1979, Michael left to form MSG (Michael Schenker Group), and released 12 albums between 1980 & 2003, 4 of them being live albums, including the essential One night at Budokan. In his illustrious career, Hes even been approached to join Aerosmith, and Ozzy Osbournes band; but whether as a member of the Scorpions, UFO, Contraband, and with his own band MSG; Hes one of the most well-known, and respected Guitarists in the history of rock being cited by members of Metallica (among many others) as being a considerable influence.

Jennifer Batten - A graduate from the Los Angeles Guitar Institute of Technology, Jennifer started playing when She was 8 yrs old inspired by her elder sister, and bands such as the Beatles and The Monkees. A major turning point came in 1987 when she was selected to play in Michael Jackson's band, touring the world for one and a half years, and playing for over 4.5 million people in support of his 'Bad' album. Shortly after Her debut solo release 'Above, Below, and Beyond' in the spring of '92, she was asked again to join Michael Jackson for his 'Dangerous' Tour, and also joined Jackson to partake in Superbowl XXVII's half-time entertainment - airing to 1.5 billion people in 80 nations! In 1997, She again joined Jackson for his HIStory tour, and then in 1998 joined Jeff Becks band for a 3 year stint of recording and touring. Jennifer has recently offered a recording of the song 'Hes calling' for the Frank Marino tribute album 'Secondhand Smoke', and has a 3rd solo Release in the pipeline.

Bernie Marsden (& Friends) - Bernie Marsden, who has recently been touring with M3, and Company of Snakes, is known for putting Whitesnake on the world map, by providing the bite with his superb bluesy lead guitar work. Prior to that, He was in Hammer with Cozy Powell, and in an early incarnation of UFO, before suggesting that Michael Schenker be the guitarist instead! Joining Bernie are Neil Murray: bass player with Whitesnake during the late 70s and again in the mid 80s and has also played alongside Brian May, Gary Moore, Cozy Powell, John Sykes, Ian Paice, Peter Green, & Bill Bruford; Mark Stanway, a keyboardist whose band involvements include Magnum, and Grand Slam (Phil Lynotts post-Thin Lizzy band); and drummer Jimmy Copley who has worked with Tony Iommi & Glenn Hughes; Tears for Fears, Go West, and Magnum.

Doug Wimbish - Doug has spent 20 years playing, recording, and producing with some of the best-known names in the music world: Mick Jagger, and with the Rolling Stones; Annie Lennox, Al Green, Nitzer Ebb, Madonna, Depeche Mode, James Brown, and Joe Satriani; and along with bandmates Will Calhoun, Vernon Reid, and Corey Glover, Doug has made Living Colour arguably the most well-known name in the Funk-Rock genre in the early to mid 90s, and again in the new Millennium as a result of their reformation in Dec 99 touring the US & Europe, and recording the album Collidescope in 2003. Since then, Doug has worked with Mos Def, and with Will Calhoun in their drum n Bass project Head>>fake, from which a CD will be released this year.

Marco Mendoza - seen recently with Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, and Ted Nugent, Marco isnt simply a straight-ahead Rock Bass player: less known is his work with a lot of other types of musicians such as Al Jarreau, Michael Ruff, Edgar Winter, Scott Hendersson, Tower of Power and the Cranberries. Marco really is a quite superb bassist, and if youre ever in Studio City, LA on a Tuesday nite, youll most probably find Him at La Ve Lee Jazz Club, with his trio 'Mendoza, Heredia, Neto'. When he´s not touring, that is!

Derrin Nauendorf - Dropping almost everything in his Homeland of Australia to make a name for himself in the UK and Europe, Derrin has wowed everyone hes played to, in venues as diverse as The Borderline in London, Parisian Castles, & WW2 German Bunkers in the 5 years since, with his own mix of Blues, country, folk, & rock- indeed, rave reviews in Blues Matters Magazine, Forte Magazine (Australia), Classic Rock, and NetRhythms demonstrates that perfectly. Derrins new album, The Rattling Wheel is his fifth release. To use his own words, his new material sounds like A kind of post-modern Steve Earle type thing - more energetic, with a rougher feel.exploring bigger sounds and arrangements. Derrin appeared at the very 1st Guitarfest, and although only allowed a short set due to the amount of artists crammed into the day, He made a very lasting impression He returns to delight us all again this year.

Roadstar (acoustic set) - Rich and Rob from Roadstar will perform an acoustic set, something which fans of Roadstar will seldom, if ever, get to see. Roadstar opened the Monsters of Rock festival this year, and are fast becoming the rising stars of British Rock, with them receiving rave reviews in the Rock press both at home, and in Japan .

Quireboys - formed in London in late 1985/86 by vocalist Spike, and Guy Bailey; and after starting out life being called The Choirboys, Quireboys played polished, yet sleazy Rock n Roll; touring with Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Motorhead, and Aerosmith; and released 3 albums and a number of singles, including 7 Oclock and Hey You both being Rock nite floor-fillers up and down the country - before their premature split in 1993. Reforming in 2000, and releasing 3 more albums the latest being Well Oiled (2004) - theyve recently been touring again in their own right, and supporting Whitesnake, Dave Lee Roth, and UFO, in a welcome return to form.

and opening the event:

DRESSED TO KILL - THE KISS tribute band - their 2 founder members discussed putting the band together over a game of KISS pinball, back in December 1990; and since their debut in October 1991, theyve played in more countries, and had more current & ex- members of KISS join them onstage than any other KISS tribute band in the world. And you can also find them on episode 3 of the 1st series of Channel 4s ROCK SCHOOL after having been personally requested to appear and play in front of a theatre full of the Schools pupils by KISS main-man Gene Simmons himself.

Guitarfest 2006 schedule:

Michael Schenker

Jennifer Batten

Bernie Marsden (& friends)

Doug Wimbish

Marco Mendoza

Derrin Nauendorf

Roadstar - acoustic set (with Rob & Rich)

Quireboys

DRESSED TO KILL

Guitarfest 2006 will be held at:

The Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre,

Alcester Road South , Kings Heath, Birmingham , B14 6ER U.K.

Tel No: (0121) 464 1996

Admission: £10 Adults, £5 under 12s

Tickets available from www.guitarfest.net

or by calling the following branches of Professional Music Technology-

PMT Birmingham : +44 (0)121 359 5056

PMT Northampton : +44 (0)1604 230433

PMT Oxford : +44 (0)1865 725221

PMT Romford: +44 (0)1708 746082

PMT Southend: +44 (0)1702 436501