In case anyone is interested...Our second day of the convention just ended, another long day.

No workshops yesterday but eleven 45 minute perpformances by some great acoustic fingerstyle players from 1pm through 10pm. Some of the notables:
1. Michael O'Dorn of So. CA - one of the best Travis style fingerpickers I know
2. Stephen Bennet - played an amazing set, some great arrangements of some Beatle songs on his Morris steel string and on harpguitar.
3. Edgar Cruz - closed out the lineup of performers with a handfull of popular songs on his nylon string guitar. He played his own arrangement of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Yes, he played it covering every bit of the song - all by himself. You have to see it to believe it.

Today was even beter. The day started with two different workshops running at the same time (different rooms of course) and two different performances on separate ballrooms/stages, Stage 1 being the large ballroom that probably holds about 800 people. Notables:
1. Michael O'Dorn "Travis Techniques" workshop
2. Jim Nichols "Fingerstyle Jazz" workshop
3. Craig Dobbins small stage performance of hymns, Beatles tunes, etc.
4. Jerome Malaval of France performance including a bunch of lightning fast Jerry Reed tunes.
5. Tommy Emmanuel played an early afternoon (unusual) set in the large ballroom. INCREDIBLE SHOW. The room was Standing Room Only. He had everybody almost jumping out of their seats at one point due to his guitarslinger playing.
6. Guy Van Duser workshop - expert ragtime player here.
After dinner performances were all on the big stage.
1. Pat Kirtley played (he's a former Winfield Fingerstyle Champion).
2. Joscho Stephan Trio played a killer Gypsy Jazz set. If you've never seen one of these, you ought to. This was some of the fastest playing I have ever seen - and it's not just meaningless scales or notes. Joscho played so fast and loud he broke two different strings in one song. Restrung and rejoined the song like nothing happened. The audience was in a daze when they were done playing.
3. The evening ended with a McGill Guitar night which included Muriel Anderson, John Knowles (Chet's old time friend), and John Standeffer (another Winfield Champ).

Tomorrow should be just as exciting, if not better. Friday night performances on the big stage include John Knowles, Richard Smith, Jim Nichols, Guy Van Duser, and Tommy Emmanuel (again!).

That's it for now. So why would a guitar player not even think of attending this event??? It's my 6th year to attend. Very addicting, definitely. Thank you for reading.
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It sounds like a great time! Thanks for the report.

I wish I can be there as Ace! Thanks for the report!

Ace,

Sounds like fun. You've described CAAS perfectly, the workshop, the concerts, and da boom-chick! Joscho Stephan is really amazing. Last year I think his dad played rhythm guitar for him. They are electrifying. Who would ever play electric guitar after watching and feeling the energy they produce. Great time!