2004 – Still on Track in Year Four
In its fourth year, the eight-day Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival rocked the city with the passionate power of headliner Melissa Etheridge, who took the stage at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.
The Great Guitar Gig returned to the Erie Basin Marina and featured Randy Bachman, Derek Trucks, Deborah Coleman and a Battle of the Guitar Bands featuring regional performers.
Past Guitar Festival performer Jim Weider and Guitar Competition judge Sid McGinnis gave a Master Class at the WNED studios. At the fourth North American Rock Guitar Competition, California’s Jon Kabbash took the top prize.
Regular Guitar Festival activities continued with a Tralf Series line-up that included Colin James and Richard Thompson, the M&T Plaza Series offered another “Guitar Week,” and Thursday at the Square presented Robert Randolph and the Family Band.
WNED hosted a second Backyard Bash, as well as a Vintage Guitar Show on the first weekend. Area students participated in “Education Amplified: A Day and a Night in the Life of Music,” which exposed them to various aspects of the local music business with visits and presentations by Gibson/Epiphone, The Tralf and others.
