Annual guitar festival begins Sunday in Bigfork

It’s been a summer of music, theater, art and all things warm, happy and creative. Even as we look forward to fall, there’s one last week of inspired performances to help us savor the final moments of the summer season.

The annual Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop and Festival is back, from Aug. 28 through Sept. 3.

The week ahead is “workshop by day, festival by night” at the Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork. This event showcases professional artists in residence who teach during the day and perform at night in six unique, collaborative concerts. The workshops are held throughout the lodge’s campus, and the concerts will be held rain or shine under the big top tent in the meadow at Flathead Lake Lodge.

The artists in residence this year include a diverse mix of established and emerging artists from across all guitar genres. Launching the festival on Sunday, Aug. 28, will be rock songwriter legend Jim Messina, who brings his band to the Crown Festival Stage. Messina has worked as both a musician and recording engineer and producer for such iconic bands as the Buffalo Springfield and Poco. In 1970, Messina collaborated with young songwriter Kenny Loggins, and they became one of the most successful recording duos ever. His musical journey spans four decades, garnering him Grammy awards in a range of styles, from such hits as “Listen To A Country Song” to his more recent “Under a Mojito Moon,” flavored by Spanish and Cuban influences.

New artists to the festival in 2016 include Brent Mason, a Nashville session guitarist who is one of the most recorded guitarists in history; Liz Longley, a rising country star; Punch Brothers guitarist Chris Eldridge; Gypsy Jazz artist Gonzalo Bergara; and SoloDuo, a pair of classical guitarists from Italy.

Returning for his seventh year is Crown favorite, jazz maestro Lee Ritenour. This year he brings along the five winners of his international Six String Theory competition. Also returning to teach and perform during the week will be Grammy-winner Dweezil Zappa, son of Frank Zappa; jazz fusion prodigy Julian Lage; rocker Shane Theriot, music director for the band Hall and Oats and the Grammy-awarded producer of the television music show “Live from Daryl’s House”; and Steely Dan guitarist and music director Jon Herington.

All festival concerts start at 7 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m. Beer, wine and food vendors will be available on festival grounds.

On Saturday, Sept. 3, gates open early at 4 p.m. for additional outdoor music, food, wine and beer.

This year, advance tickets sales have been streamlined to eliminate online service charges — all seats are $40 per night and there is a new youth ticket price of $20 for audience members younger than 18 years old. All tickets will be $5 more at the gate on the day of show (if seats are still available). Sunday’s concert is already sold out, but at press time tickets were still available for all other shows.

A Crown Pass option is also available in advance, providing a ticket to six concerts plus admission to a special meet and greet event with Messina after his concert. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.crownguitarfest.tix.com or by calling 406-471-8757.

Prior to the festival, the Flathead Lake Brewing Co. Pubhouse in Bigfork is hosting a special “Crown Preview” party on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The featured guitarist for the event is Josh Turner, a Crown emerging artist, with additional local performers Halladay Quist, Mike Murray and Kevin Van Dort. The $10 entrance fee is a fundraiser to benefit the Crown Scholarship fund.

In addition to the scholarships awarded by the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation for this year’s workshop (announced last week), the Salish Kootenai College Foundation has also offered full scholarships to four student guitarists. They are Jordan Albert, a singer/songwriter from Ronan who is a second time scholarship recipient; Kelsey Lynn Fowler, a singer and songwriter from Polson who specializes in pop styles; Jorren Geis of Pablo, who is an active performer and guitar luthier who has performed in Hawaii; and Nick Adamson, a singer/songwriter from Pablo who is interested in rock and alternative rock styles.

The workshop scholarships provide an opportunity for recipients to learn from nationally and internationally renowned guitar artists and master teachers in seven guitar genres: jazz, classic rock, blues, classical, singer-songwriter, acoustic and beginner. Each SKCF scholarship is valued at $5,000.

Workshop students will spend seven days immersing themselves in the guitar, learning technique, eating dinner and talking shop with the pros. Then each night will be able to attend the performances on the main stage.

The workshop and festival week will also feature fellowship performers. These up-and-coming guitarists come from across the U.S. and Europe and have caught the attention of the professional musicians who want to help mentor their talent.

The Dweezil and Frank Zappa Fellowship awardee this year is Jacob Deraps, of Quebec. Born into a family of musicians, Deraps was exposed to classic rock from the likes of Van Halen to Guns ‘N’ Roses. He picked up a guitar at age 12 and by his teens had his own YouTube channel. He progressed to performing on TV, radio and eventually met Dweezil Zappa, who was impressed by his talent. He will study with Zappa in the “Excel with the Masters” class and also perform on the main stage during the Guitar Festival.

The Seattle-based Experience Music Project has chosen Cameron Lavi-Jones as its 2016 fellowship winner to attend the Crown Guitar Workshop. Composing music and lyrics since he was three, Lavi-Jones moved on to guitar, bass, drums and cello. Now 18, he heads a Seattle Alternative Rock band, produces music videos and records.

The Guitar Foundation of America awarded Alan (Xu Kun) Liu a classical guitar fellowship. Born in China, he began studying both piano and guitar at age five. The 14-year-old Liu now lives in Canada and has won an extensive list of competitions, ranging from international youth and adult competitions in Italy to Vancouver, and Montreal to Denver and Los Angeles. Recently he was named one of the “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30” by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. At Crown he will study classical guitar with the Italian classical artists, SoloDuo.

Also joining the SoloDuo classical workshop will be Jeremy Avalos, recipient of the James Stroud Fellowship. In 2015 he was a finalist in the James Stroud All-Ohio Guitar Competition in Akron, Ohio, followed by Southern Guitar Festival in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2016 he won the Tuesday Musical Scholarship at the University of Akron. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music theory and creative writing from Florida State University and a master’s degree of music in string performance from the University of Akron.

The Yamaha Foundation Fellowship winner this year is Brooks Robertson. An expert finger-style guitarist, Robertson will study in the “Acoustic Americana” workshop with Doug Smith and Chris Eldridge. He began guitar at age 11 and was mentored by Buster B. Jones. As his talent soared he began playing high profile gigs, eventually appearing on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” after winning a youth competition. As a 2014 winner of Lee Ritenour’s Six String Theory competition, Robertson was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Berklee College of Music. He draws inspiration from Chet Adkins and Merle Travis and he has been compared to finger-style artists Lenny Breau and Earl Klugh.

This year a special National Scholarship has been awarded to Andrew Scotchie. At only 23 years old, Scotchie is the director/producer of his own music festival, Asheville BARNaroo, that books bands from around the country and partners with and supports the Ashville Music School. He began playing guitar at 12, influenced by his father’s love of Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones and others. After his father’s tragic death when he was 15, Scotchie devoted himself to music, making it his spiritual outlet. Leading his band Andrew Scotchie and the River Rats has kept him on a nearly year-round touring schedule.

In 2010, Ritenour developed the Six String Theory Competition as a worldwide search for new guitar talent and a way for young guitarists to gain recognition in the highly competitive music world. Over the years Ritenour has expanded the program adding piano, bass and drum categories to the international guitar competition. Winners in each category are offered scholarships to attend music colleges and the Crown Workshop and Festival. They are encouraged to sit in on classes during the day and will showcase their talents as a rhythm section at several festival performances during the week.

Winners attending the Crown this year include Isaias Elpes, a bass player from Brazil; Nicolas Hetko, piano artist from New York City; and Raphael Pannier, a drummer from France. Two guitarists tied for first place in the 2016 competition, Roland Balogh, jazz artist from Hungary, and Carter Low, blues master, from Vancouver.

The 2015 Chairman’s Scholarship student, Josh Turner, will be returning to Crown for the 2016 season as an emerging artist in residence. Turner was first discovered and invited to Crown by founder David Feffer, after his YouTube channel gained national attention. In 2014, Turner was featured on “Good Morning America” for his cover of Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” These days he finds himself collaborating with the Indianapolis Symphony and celebrating 10 million views on his YouTube channel.

The nonprofit Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation, founded in 2009, celebrates the love of the guitar and the magical splendor of Montana. The Foundation provides scholarships and collaborates with other nonprofit organizations in the Flathead Valley. The workshop is a perfect opportunity for drawing inspiration, perfecting technique and deepening one’s passion for the guitar and music.

For more information about the Crown Foundation, Workshop or Festival, visit www.crownguitarfest.org or call 855-855-5900.

Crown Guitar Festival Concert Lineup

Sunday, Aug. 28 — Jim Messina and his band offer a sparkling show of some of his best loved music and songs that made Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and Loggins and Messina iconic American groups. Emerging artist Josh Turner opens the show exhibiting the chops that have garnered him millions of views on YouTube. (Editor’s note: This concert is sold out.)

Monday, Aug. 29 — Jazz artist Julian Lage performs with Punch Brothers guitarist Chris Eldridge. This duo has been collaborating recently on a fresh melding of jazz, country and bluegrass styles. Adding Django spice to the concert will be gypsy jazz artists Gonzalo Bergara. The Argentine-born Bergara is internationally renowned for his progressive approach to Django Reinhardt’s jazz style.

Wednesday, Aug. 31 — Nashville recording great, Brent Mason takes center stage. Mason has won the Guitar Player of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music 14 times and can be heard on a high proportion of the country Top 10 songs, countless TV commercials, film sound tracks and television scores. He’ll be joined onstage by an All-Star rhythm section led by Shane Theriot. Country singer/songwriter Liz Longley a rising country music star who’s taken home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country will open the show. And finally Jon Herrington will jump onstage for some of his signature Steely Dan licks for this show.

Thursday, Sept. 1 — Lee Ritenour with bassist, Melvin Davis will bring his familiar jazz style and showcase the five winners of the 2016 Six String Theory competition. Joining them will be Dweezil Zappa, Brent Mason, Jon Herington and Shane Theriot. SoloDuo, the Italian classical duo of Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli, will open the show offering a repertoire of classic, romantic and modern music and Italian baroque music.

Friday, Sept. 2 — Student and Faculty night. Don’t miss this chance to hear some of the best and brightest new and accomplished guitarists who have sharpened their skills during the workshop week. (Free concert).

Saturday, Sept. 3 — Supergroup Grand Finale and Special Tribute. This incredible gathering of guitar superstars will come together in a once-in-a-lifetime show. The lineup includes Steely Dan’s Jon Herington, the infamous Dweezil Zappa, Nashville session king, Brent Mason along with several surprise special guests and the amazing house band and faculty musicians.