GearFest is Sweetwater’s annual gear and artist extravaganza — an unbelievable experience that brings together artists, manufacturers, producers, engineers, and thousands of Sweetwater’s loyal and passionate customers. Nowhere else can you rub shoulders with your favorite players, witness astounding concerts, and get your hands on gear so new that it hasn’t even made it to the shelves yet.
In its 17th year, GearFest 2018 hosted over 15,000 attendees from all over the globe, including guests from Australia, Germany, India, Brazil, Japan, and more. As we pack up the gear and the tents come down, we take time to reflect on some of the amazing experiences and memorable moments. From seeing performances by A-list artists to checking out brand-new gear releases and hearing about techniques and insights during over 200 workshops — many hosted by the industry’s finest producers and engineers — it was a truly unforgettable event.
We’ve put together this collection of some of our favorite moments from the GearFest 2018 weekend. If you were here, you can enjoy the experience all over again. If you couldn’t make the trip this year, here’s a bit of what you missed. Check out the videos (linked here) that we live streamed if you couldn’t join us. We can’t wait to see you at GearFest 2019!
Nita Strauss
The greatest thing about getting hundreds of musicians in the same place is the spontaneous eruption of music and performances, both planned and unplanned. One of the most memorable moments from this year’s GearFest was spawned by unexpected and heartbreaking news on the first day of the show, the shocking passing of Pantera/Damageplan drummer, Vinnie Paul. When Nita “The Hurricane” Strauss took the stage for her seminar, she and Nick Bowcott launched into a heartfelt impromptu performance of “Walk” as a tribute to Vinnie, who had passed away the day before.
According to Bowcott, “We met and decided to do ‘Walk,’ so we quickly recruited Sweetwater’s very own Mike Stanley on pipes and Mike Orrigo from Ibanez on bass. We all frantically relearned the song and extended the end so Josh Villalta (Nita’s boyfriend and phenomenal drummer) could throw in some of Vinnie’s patented power grooves. While the band (with no soundcheck, let alone rehearsal!) walked onstage, Nita graciously asked me to say a few words as a tribute…which I somehow managed to do without my voice cracking as my eyes welled with tears. Then, after I said ‘Van Halen’ (the last words that Vinnie and Dime said to each other — their code for having a great show), we hit ‘Walk.’ The whole band crushed, and the audience’s reaction and vocal participation were goose-bump inducing as we loudly celebrated an amazing life…”
Steve Ferrone
You never know what will happen when you bring together an incredible list of the top musicians, engineers, and producers in the world at GearFest! Just one example: when drummer Steve Ferrone, well-known for laying down his one-of-a-kind groove for Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Duran Duran, and the Saturday Night Live band, learned that his old friend and bandmate, keyboardist/arranger/sideman/music director Greg Phillinganes (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, and countless others), was also at GearFest, the two quickly connected, jumped onstage, and delighted the audience with a spontaneous — and smokin’ — rendition of Clapton’s “Pretending” with Sweetwater’s own Don Carr on guitar and Dave Martin on bass. It was a once-in-a-lifetime performance!
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156643265823746/
Misha Mansoor
When it comes to attaining mammoth guitar tones at home, no one knows more than Periphery’s Misha Mansoor. Here he leads a workshop imparting that wisdom to our lucky GearFest guests.
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156646227118746/
Peter Erskine and John Scofield
No matter what style or genre of music you play, a defining factor is its groove. GearFest 2018 featured a unique workshop/discussion/performance by multifaceted masters of groove, legendary drummer Peter Erskine (right) and guitarist John Scofield (left), ably assisted by bassist Dennis Carroll (center). The trio demonstrated and dissected the intricacies of groove, laying it down and explaining it live in front of a rapt audience.
Craig Anderton
A hot topic for all recording musicians and engineers/producers is mastering — how to deliver the best possible sound quality. One of the most popular workshops at GearFest featured respected journalist/author/audio guru Craig Anderton leading a capacity crowd through a series of DAW tips and tricks designed to immediately improve the sound of their productions.
Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes, consummate session musician, sideman, and music director, shared his nearly 50 years of experience at the top with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson/the Jacksons, Eric Clapton, and hundreds more in his GearFest seminar for keyboardists and musicians seeking a career in the studio or on the road.
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156643096873746/
Chuck Surack
One of the great pleasures of putting on GearFest is the opportunity to meet so many of our wonderful friends and customers in person — we love having you as our guests in our home for the weekend! Sweetwater’s Founder and CEO Chuck Surack always takes up his favorite position right at the front door, meeting as many GearFest attendees as possible — shaking hands, snapping pictures, and getting to know our terrific and valued customers.
Getting Great Electric Guitar Tone
Though they work in disparate genres and with an incredible range of artists, these five studio wizards share a common love for authentic guitar tones dripping with soul. In their lively — and packed — panel discussion, Butch Walker (Avril Lavigne, Sevendust, Taylor Swift, Panic! at the Disco, Pink), Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks), Tim Pierce (Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Toy Matinee, Michael Jackson), Lyle Workman (Bourgeois Tagg, Todd Rundgren, numerous film scores), and panel moderator and Nashville session star Corey Congilio dug deep into capturing electric guitar tones and demonstrated the versatility and power of Universal Audio’s OX.
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156645412118746/
Russ Kunkel
What does it take to earn the drummer’s throne and producer’s seat on albums by such massive artists as James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and Bob Dylan (among countless others)? Attendees at GearFest were treated to the groove, wisdom, and experience of one of the greats from both sides of the studio glass, Russ Kunkel.
Producers’ Panel
One of the perennial favorites at GearFest, the annual Producers’ Panel is always a fun and lively discussion of what it takes to be a producer, how to help artists perform their best, what makes a great song, and insights into a huge array of legendary recordings. This year’s stellar cast had incredible credits — U2, Peter Gabriel, Prince, Tool, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Nicki Minaj, TLC, Rush, Aerosmith, Mick Jagger, Sugarland, and hundreds more — and included (left to right) Sylvia Massy, Neal Pogue, Kevin Killen, Fab Dupont, Chris Lord-Alge, and Rich Chycki, with Sweetwater’s own Mitch Gallagher moderating the panel. There’s nowhere else on earth where you’ll see such a high-powered gathering of the best in the business generously sharing their wisdom and experiences!
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156645859393746/
Carlitos Del Puerto
Carlitos Del Puerto shared his passion for music and bass during his workshop, demonstrating passages and techniques on his signature Fodera bass. From his beginnings in Cuba to session work in LA, albums and tours with Chick Corea, Steve Gadd, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Jennifer Lopez, and more, Del Puerto imparted to his audience what it takes to be a first-call musician in a variety of genres.
Using YouTube to Get Discovered
It’s no secret that the world has been changed by YouTube. It’s changed how music is distributed and marketed and how artists connect with their fans, and it has opened up new avenues for artists to achieve success. One of the most popular and well-attended discussion panels at GearFest 2018 brought together four artists who have taken different approaches but all realized amazing success using YouTube as a platform for their careers. With hundreds of thousands of subscribers and hundreds of millions of views as their credentials, (left to right) Luke Holland, Casey Cooper, Anna Sentina, and Tim Pierce provided inspiration, education, technical advice, and guidelines for those looking to get into YouTube or to up their video presence.
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156646204173746/
Chris Broderick
Jaw-dropping technique blew our minds as Chris Broderick (Act of Defiance, Megadeth) explained why purposeful practice is the most valuable tool a musician can harness. See the stream here.
Sweetwater All Stars
Day 1 came to a close with the Sweetwater All Stars hosting a monumental jam that included the fretboard fireworks of Doyle Bramhall II, the deep drum pocket of Steve Ferrone, and many more mind-blowing performances.
Mark Holcomb
Periphery’s Mark Holcomb put his fingerboard pyrotechnics on display as he performed with his signature PRS and answered questions from the crowd.
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156642574718746/
Greg Koch
Taking the stage early on Day 1, the inimitable Greg Koch and his trio performed live in the Sweetwater Pavilion, kicking off the weekend with a great concert featuring Greg’s trademark Tele virtuosity and spotlighting the stellar tones he conjures from his signature Fishman Fluence pickups.
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156642309343746/
Larry Carlton
Perhaps best known for his work with Steely Dan (his solo on “Kid Charlemagne” has been voted one of the best of all time), you’ve heard Larry Carlton play guitar millions of times. As a dominant force in LA during the golden age of session players, Carlton played on literally thousands of sessions, resulting in a vast array of hit singles and albums and a long list of film and TV music — he even co-composed the theme to Hill Street Blues! His extensive solo career and work with bands such as the Crusaders and Fourplay cemented his status at the top. Sweetwater’s Mitch Gallagher took the Performance Theatre stage with Larry for a wide-ranging conversation about his career and his approach to guitar.
Nick D’Virgilio
Drums are the heartbeat of any production, and no one knows this better than our own Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard, Big Big Train, Tears for Fears, Genesis), who got in on the action hosting a workshop on how to get great drum tracks anywhere you’re recording.
Yngwie Malmsteen
An event like GearFest requires something special for the big finale, and this year, we took it over the top with an exclusive performance by the one and only Yngwie Malmsteen! The man who was the wellspring for classically inspired shred guitar in the ’80s brought his blazing technique, unmatched stage presence — and of course an incredible wall of red-hot Marshalls — to the Pavilion stage for a high-volume, high-energy, jaw-dropping conclusion to an incredible weekend!
http://www.facebook.com/sweetwater/videos/10156646493728746/
GearFest 2019 happens next June 21–22. Get it on your calendar, and make your plans to be here so you don’t miss tremendous events and memories like these!