Guitar Player LIVE! September 17, 2010

Sep 17, 8pm - 2am; Sep 18, Noon - 2am

Rock the annual Guitar Player LIVE! weekend festival in downtown Livermore! Guitar legends Montrose & Gary Hoey open the festival Friday night, followed by the 6th annual Guitar Superstar Competition at the Bankhead Theater. On Saturday, relax on the lawn of the Bankhead's open air stage, or at Blacksmith Square, with a refreshing Lagunitas beer or Occasio wine, or rev back up with a cup of Joe and live music at Panama Red Coffee Company. Enjoy free clinics & performances, a showcase of the latest gear from Mesa/Boogie, Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Mackie and more. Stay for the live, late night rock sets at GPL after-parties hosted by the ultra-hip Sapphire Lounge.

On exhibit in the Bankhead theater is a retrospective of posters representing the past 50 years of rock and roll in the San Francisco Bay Area. Presented in cooperation with Wolfgang's Vault, banners and framed original posters will feature historical events with such icons as Jefferson Airplane, Eric Clapton and the Grateful Dead. Posters will be on sale with proceeds benefiting LVPAC.

The centerpiece of Guitar Player LIVE! is Guitar Player magazine's Guitar Superstar Competition. This year, judges include Elliot Easton (Cars), Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie), Scott Henderson, Gary Hoey, George Lynch (Dokken and Lynch Mob) and host Brendon Small (Dethklok), the funniest death-metal guitar icon in the known universe! Nine of the finalists were chosen by Guitar Player magazine's staff and the tenth "popular choice" finalist was chosen in an online voting process. In addition to the Guitar Superstar title, top prizes include a recording contract with Guitar Player Records and gear packages from major manufacturers.

Rock the past with late night screenings of two legendary guitar-inspired films from the 1980s. On Friday night, the Vine Cinema in downtown Livermore will feature "This is Spinal Tap," and on Saturday night, "The Wall."

If you love guitars & music, don't miss this electrifying event!

Official Website: http://guitarplayerlive.fourfour.com/