Guitar fans of all stripes will find something to like when the Island Luthier Guild hosts its annual Guitars by Hand show of fine guitars Saturday, Oct. 17, beginning at 10 a.m. at Errington War Memorial Hall.
For those who prefer their guitars heard rather than seen, the day wraps up with a concert by The Paperboys beginning at 8 p.m.
The Guitars by Hand show will feature dozens of guitars and other hand-crafted musical instruments by regional luthiers, on display from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Island Luthiers Guild is made up of instrument-makers from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands that have a passion for finely crafted guitars, ukeleles, mandolins, banjos, harps, dulcimers and anything else with strings.
“If you like to work with wood, or play a stringed instrument, you’ll see lots of fine craftsmanship and exotic woods, fabulous inlays and amazing finishes, and have a chance to ask the maker — in person — any questions you might have,” said Bob Herbison, local organizer.
At 4 p.m., veteran luthier Michael Dunn, who now lives in Vancouver, will host a guitar-making workshop.
The day wraps up with The Paperboys, a B.C. favourite who blend Celtic folk with bluegrass, Mexican, Eastern European, African, zydeco, soul and country influences. Known for consistently creating songs with melodic hooks, their music has been called versatile, with a wide range of influences, melding diverse musical influences more successfully than some other Irish rock bands have previously.
Founder Tom Landa was born in Mexico to a Canadian mother of Irish ancestry and a Mexican father, and later moved from Mexico City to Vancouver. Initially, Landa discovered Celtic music via the Canadian band Spirit of the West, whose flautist and co-vocalist, Geoffrey Kelly, eventually ended up joining The Paperboys full-time. The band currently consists of Landa, Kalissa Hernandez on fiddle, Brad Gillard on banjo and bass, Kelly on flutes, and Sam Esecson on drums, with a three-piece horn section consisting of Kareem Kandi on saxophone, Nick LaRiviere on trombone, and either Miguelito Valdes or Greg Lyons on trumpet. A quintet from this larger ensemble will play at the Errington Hall.
Admission to the Guitars by Hand show is free. Tickets for Michael Dunn’s workshop are $10 and will be available during the show.
Finally, Paperboys concert tickets are $25, available in advance at Cranky Dog, Heaven on Earth and the Errington General Store. Find out more on this and other events at www.erringtonhall.bc.ca.
— NEWS Staff/Errington Hall submission