Fans of six-strings will find nirvana at Sunday’s guitar show at Brookdale Community College. (Click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
It might be getting hard to tell anymore whether you’re at a daylong music festival with a ton of guitars on display, or a guitar festival with a ton of live music on display.
It’s the latter, but having a mix of live tunes alongside hundreds of axes is what makes the Brookdale Guitar Show one of those increasingly-popular exclusive events without making people feel excluded, the college’s public radio director Tom Brennan said.
“It’s not just about buying strings, buying guitars and buying amps,” he said. “It’s all about performances, too.”
Now in year 14, the radio station’s largest fundraiser to keep its audience’s ears pleased and its DJ’s fed, plugs in this Sunday
“It behooves us to make it best as it can be,” Brennan said.
This year, to accommodate the show’s growing audience and expanded lineup of musical acts, Brookdale is taking parts of this gig outside. As usual, the army of guitars will be on display in the Donald D. Warner Student Life Center, along with small performances and clinics. A day full of music including 11-year-old shredder “Little Jimmy” Lawroski will take place outside at the “Stone Pony” stage.
With the help of some favorable weather, Brennan anticipates the show to draw at least a couple thousand, from six-string aficionados to those looking to make their first strums.
Last year, Brennan said his cousin brought along his daughter, who was curious about playing guitar, and they walked away with a used one for $50.
“It goes from my cousin’s daughter to that one guy who’s got to have that one in 400 (edition) guitar,” he said.
Entry to the guitar show, from 10a to 5p, is $15, and $10 for students with I.D., anyone with a 90.5 The Night card, an instrument to sell or trade and anyone between five and 12 years old. Anyone under 5 is free. Proceeds go to 90.5 The Night, Brookdale’s public radio station.
