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Boxstock 2011

Hi everybody..I've been keeping my head down for a while...busy with work, guitar shows etc...but I'm back in the saddle for the run-up to Boxstock.

As you may know, we are back at The Public in West Bromwich this year. I had a tech meet with them this week, and will be finalising the running order shortly. Basically, on Saturday we will be kicking off at 10.00am, and running the morning sessons until 1.00pm The break for lunch will include a couple of 'showcase performances' in the ground floor lobby/cafe area, se we'll be keeping activities rolling all thru' the day. The afternoon will run 2 -5.00 pm, concluding with our first HGMC annual General Meeting don't worry, we'll keep is short and to the point!

The evening gig is underway at 8.00pm. This year we are in the theatre rather than the "Pink Tank" space, so it's a more intimate space for the evening gig, and they have a great PA system too. The bar will be open until midnight, and the building itself closes at 1.00 am. We are aiming to leave ourselves with a bit of time after the main performances to chill-out and jam to wind the evening down.

If you haven't bought a ticket yet, it helps retain what's left of my sanity to know how many people are likely to be arriving on the day. I particular, because we are aiming to repeat some of the players workshops for smaller groups so that you don't need to make a choice of one activity or another, it will really help me programme this. Of course I don't want to get too formal about it, but I do need to do some planning to make sure these activities work as well as we can make them.

OK..bye for now..and hopefully I'll be seeing quite a few of you in a few weeks time.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on September 24, 2011 at 6:14am

We'll always make room for you good sir....so bring down that fiddle.

Yellowbelly Flatt said:

ChickenboneJohn,

I have finally managed to negotiate Friday night as a holiday, so I would love to play at the open mic night at the Bottle if there is still room. I wan to try out my cigar box fiddle????????

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on September 24, 2011 at 6:15am

No problemo..see yo

u there.

Doghouse Dave said:

Hi John

One more for me please, I will pay on the door on Saturday morning

Cheers

Ian

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on September 25, 2011 at 3:37am

BOXSTOCK LATEST - MAKE YOUR OWN GUITAR

Roosterman will be running a guitar building workshop at this years event..and we'll actually be building guitars on the spot!!

We'll be using the kit guitar that I've developed for my school "make and play" days - there will be 30 kits available (first come first served) , and they will be on sale at at just £12.00. The kit is a simple, easy introduction to building a 3 string fretless guitar - it comprises a pre-made pine & hardboard box (same materials as Danelectro use!), softwood neck, tuners, strings, piezo pickup and jack, bridge and all the screws etc to put it all together.

If you haven't got a guitar, or haven't made one before, then here's your opportunity. It will give you the basic ideas and techniques, and you can upgrade it in the future by making your own hardwood neck, fitting a magnetic pickup etc. In the photo the basic model is shown on the left..on the right is one I've tricked-up with some paint, graphics, woodburned fret markers and metal corners. Also if you make one, it will be handy for the players workshops during the day.

Permalink Reply by Chris Tinker on September 25, 2011 at 5:42am

Excellent idea... Really really great!

Permalink Reply by Yellowbelly Flatt on September 25, 2011 at 5:43am

What a fantastic idea. Have you been in touch with ikea?

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on September 25, 2011 at 6:38am

It did cross my mind...just up their street..I can see it in their catalogue "Fnaargelsnot - cigar box guitar kit"

Yellowbelly Flatt said:

What a fantastic idea. Have you been in touch with ikea?

Permalink Reply by Roosterman on September 25, 2011 at 9:13am

I plan to present the workshop in a similair manner to an Ikea instruction pamphlet.

I will use diagrams that do not relate to the item being built, and remove several important items from the kit before we start.

All fixings will be of an obsolete fitting, such as the assymetrical 5 pointed star-drive. No tools will be provided for these fixings.

At strategic points, I will get my Mrs to come in and offer advice, with varying degrees of derision.

That should make it more ineteresting.... :o)

Permalink Reply by Yellowbelly Flatt on September 25, 2011 at 9:53am

This is most excellent. Can we all storm off to the pub halfway through the build, explaining that we have to go to the "hardware" store..

Permalink Reply by smojo on September 26, 2011 at 10:31pm

Hi all

Looks like I'll be directing the show and tell session. So I can get some idea of who/how many want to have a go, can you post here if you're up for it please. Ta

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on September 26, 2011 at 10:43pm

Will bring one or two of my most interesting builds along Smojo, if you count me in! (-:

Permalink Reply by Chillicool on September 26, 2011 at 11:42pm

Attention all the CBG'ers Staying at the Hare & Five Hounds Hotel,

This Hotel is about 5/10 minutes walk from the Public but it's 5 miles from the Barge & Barrel,

I live just down the road from there so anyone who needs cheap transport ( Mini Bus ) for next Friday night to the Barge & Barrel let me know and I'll sort it, just need to know for how many?

Kev.

Permalink Reply by Chris Tinker on September 26, 2011 at 11:49pm

I've got a few charatan boxes (small, medium and large) I can bring along if anyone wants to do swapsies?

I also have loads of hexagonal roses tins, again if anyone's interested (though let me know if you want one of them, otherwise I'll leave the tins behind.)