Chanos International Steel Guitar Festival

Hello Everyone

Just a little note to let you know that I organise an annual steel guitar festival, in September, in Chanos Curson, Drome, France. The main ethic behind the festival is to encourage the playing of the steel guitar by actually playing it - not just listening or attending master classes. Every steel player attending will be allocated a time to play regardless of standard - you can be an old professional or a new beginner - everyone is treated equally. Only the love of the music is important.

We also get many backing players - guitar ukulele, banjo so we can offer live accompaniament.

The first festival last year was a great success, this year will be even better - Hawaiian, Country, Blues, Jazz. If you play steel or ukulele - be there.

Click on: http://www.chanos-isgf.org for more details - the site is in English and French

For a broader view of the european steel guitar scene go to the European Steel Guiatr Forum: http://www.chanos-isgf.org/ESGForum

The Chanos International Steel Guitar Festival 2009 will run from Friday 18 Sept to Sunday 20 Sept.

The festival will open with a steel guitar concert "Steel Guitar SHOWCASE" on Friday evening. Seating is limited to 200 only and tickets are now on sale via the the CISGF website. I suspect these tickets will sell very quickly so the advice is book early and avoid disappointment.

The Saturday and Sunday will be taken up with the CONVENTION. All attendees will be expected to play on stage regardless of standard. This is a convention which encourages making music with your guitar. Tickets can be booked on the website along with lunch and dinner - there is a vegetarian option available as well. Since we all play together it's a good thing to all eat together and it saves wandering around searching for a meal.

http://www.chanos-isgf.org



If you play ukulele hawaiian style or want to learn hawaiian style be sure to visit Chanos in September.

Thanks for the info, Digby.
I'm afraid that it's a bit late to book, as I saw this advertisment for weeks on other forums.
Btw, is this open to pedal steel guitarists?

Cheers
J-M

BIEN SUR , JEAN MARIE, c'est aussi ouvert à la PSG ...
j'y étais l'an dernier pour la première, l'occasion de découvrir nos nouveaux amis anglais et l'ambiance était très très sympa et les styles aussi variés...

no souci pour t'inscrire via le site de Chanos (digby et chantal s'en occupe) et pas mal de solutions logement aux abords.

cadre local charmant et nectars locaux ! chanos-curson est coincé entre le St Joseph et Tain l'Ermitage, crozes-ermitage....

Hi J-M

I've only just picked up your querie - but Bernard says it all.

All steel guitars are a welcome and there will be more PSGs than Lap/Console.

This is an international convention and we already have a booking from the US.

Also, which will be of interest to this forum, there will be ukulele players attending as well. By that I mean musicians who play ukulele and not vaudeville performers like the unfortunate Roy Smeck videos posted here.

Digby

Le programme de la soirée d'ouverture (18 sept 09)

There are 5 players for the Steel Guitar Concert - Ron Kew (UK) who specialises in playing backings on pedal steel; Hula Blues (FR) three guys (Loic, Jack and Marc) who play Hawaiian music with French paroles using lap steel and resonator steel guitar. Really great and amusing act; Rod and Rosemary King (UK) Rod was a top professional PSG player and backed many famous Country performers. Now retired he plays an amazing console steel tuned to A6; Bernard Glorian (FR) Possibly the most famous steel guitarist on this forum. He'll be doing his thing; Basil and Pat Henriques (UK) Basil has been a top steel guitarist for over 30 years, has produced records and still performs live.

The bad news is that I will be backing Ron, Rod and Bernard - but that's the best we can afford. The good news is that Chantal (ma femme) will be singing with them.

On Sunday 20th September, during the CISGF Convention, Ron will be giving a presentation on playing backing on the steel guitar and Basil will give anoter presentation on the technique of playing Hawaiian music on the pedal steel. Both presentations will be free of charge and Ron tells me he has prepared documents and a CD to give to attendees.

On Saturday 19th September, at the Convention, we will be making the presentations of the first INDUCTEES into the European Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.

Actually the details of the performers were available in my previous post, if you had clicked booked here, but thanks for giving me the opportunity to get in this plug for CISGF.

Si qqn a des problèmes, je peux lui traduire

J-M

CISGF 2009 is in the final stages of preparation. If you intend to come please reserve your places as soon as possible because it helps us plan the event. Last minute attendees are welcome of course but registering early helps us to help you.

This year CISGF has 3 major events in 2 parts:

Part 1 - Friday 18 Sept. STEEL GUITAR CONCERT featuring Ron Kew (UK), Hula Blues (FR), Rod & Rosemary King (UK), Bernard Glorian (FR), Basil & Pat Henriques (UK), Chantal Hardy (FR) vocals, Digby Hardy (UK) backing guitar & vocals. There are only 200 tickets available for this event. Book early to avoid disappointment.




Part 2 - Saturday & Sunday 19 - 20 Sept. STEEL GUITAR CONVENTION - all players attending will be expected to play on stage for two 20 minute sessions. You can bring backing tracks if you prefer but there will be backing musicians availabe for you to play "live" music. Lunch and dinner are also available.




Saturday 19 Sept. after dinner there will be the inductions into the EUROPEAN STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAME We expect to induct around 9 people. This event will only be open to people who attend the CONVENTION.



Accomodation

Thanks Digby, hopefully Belgium is not always forgotten.
I just regret that no Belgian has been involved for the "jury" of the Hall of Fame.
Cheers
J-M

Hi Jean-Marie

Firstly I must apologise for not answering your question - I forgot to tick the "Notify" box, so I have only just seen it.

This year the indiuctees will be nominated by a selection committee of experts. The inductees for next year will be selected by a wider group which will include the founder members of the European Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. There are already 2 founder members from Belgium and I'm sure they will give us the benefit of their knowledge, but more Belgian members would be a very welcome addition.

To become a founder member all you have to do is buy a brick in the Founders Wall - just 12.50 euros, the money is to fund the manufacture and production of the ESGHoF medal for the inductees. The current founder members are from all over Europe and also the USA and will commence the 2010 selection process from October.

All the best as always.

Digby