In August 2017, one of my Aussie muso friends asked if I wanted to accompany him to an industry event. I agreed without thinking too much about the type of gathering it might be.

That’s how I found myself at the Caulfield Racecourse, attending the third edition of the Melbourne Guitar Show. And even though I’ve tried (and miserably) failed three times to learn to play the fretted instrument, it was one of the best trade fairs I’ve ever been to.

This year, it’s back again with a stack of prominent exhibitors and a program packed with amazing performances, workshops and meet-ups.

PART 216 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE

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To give you a bit of context, my friend Ben is a guitar player. Back in 2017, he was a member of a cool soul/roots/pop band Mayfield. So he had every reason to be at the Melbourne Guitar Show (MGS). I just tagged along but learnt heaps about the instrument and the companies that manufacture it attending the event.

It was the first time I came across the name of the Melbourne-based company Maton Guitars that turned 75 (!) a few years ago, for example. I also loved seeing the industry veteran Diesel and the dynamic emerging duo Opal Ocean perform up close.

“Australia’s favourite guitar event” has grown exponentially since 2017, becoming a tradition. It’s now hard to imagine a year in music without guitar nerds and fans descending on Melbourne to check out what’s cooking in that field.

Funnily, though, MGS is run by a company based in the rival state, NSW.

Australian Music Association is the local industry body for the music products sector. It has organised the event since 2015, developing close relationships with several other music industry organisations over the years. Amongst the 2025 partners, supporters and sponsors are two Melbourne broadcasters, PBS and Triple M, my fave gear news distributors, Australian Musician, global entertainment industry insurance provider, Marsh Entertainment, and Yamaha Music.

This year’s edition looks impressive for other reasons, too. Its diverse programming is one of them.

I can’t get over the fact that a female powerhouse, Dallas Frasca, is taking the stage. The Melbourne-based roots/rock muso released an outstanding album, Force of Nature, last year, so she’ll surely present some of the new songs at the show. I recently listened to the record again, and have no doubt whatsoever she will tear the roof down.

But that’s not all. Another absolute Aussie music legend, Paul Dempsey, will be interviewed at the gathering by Greg Philips from Australian Musician. Yep, I mean that Paul Dempsey – a member of Something For Kate and, more recently, Fanning Dempsey National Park. What a treat!

Another highlight for me is the Fender Experience. One of the best guitar brands in the world has put on its own program, with a mystery product unboxing and a chance to win a factory-customised electric guitar or bass, designed by you, amongst other things. Plus, I can’t not mention that Liam Brown, better known as Shirtless, who plays bass for Client Liaison, will appear in that space with his own show.

Finally, as you might expect from a trade fair of this sort, songwriting and guitar maintenance workshops are definitely worth your while as well.

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A post shared by Melbourne Guitar show (@melbourneguitarshow)

Now, let’s talk about a different aspect of this music popular gathering.

With over 50 exhibitors, any guitar lover will feel like a kid in a candy store. From amps to pedals to sheet music, you can also choose between major guitar brands, electric and acoustic instruments and local industry reps.

That last group is always of my interest. In 2025, the Aussie representation is quite strong. Some more recognisable brands, like Ormsby Guitars or Pedal Empire, are accompanied by newcomers. And one of those emerging businesses caught my attention.

Checki Guitar Art is the creation of Peter Checki. His mission is to paint the instruments “with a bold splatter paint style, using vibrant, bright colours to create dynamic, creative, and visually striking designs.” Taking into consideration that we live in very individualistic times, this customisation might be just the thing guitar lovers need right now.

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A post shared by Peter Checki (@checkiguitarart)

All those MGS elements might give you the impression that it’s an exclusive event with a pricey entry. Thankfully, that’s not the case at all. Anybody can attend it and the tickets are super accessible, at AUD 50 for the whole 2-day event.

So if you’re into guitars and have no plans for the first weekend of March yet, you might want to consider travelling to Melbourne to meet like-minded music fans and splash out on cool new gear.

And if it wasn’t for the fact that my friend Ben now lives in New York and I’m Europe-based, we’d probably see you there, too.

_{Cover image: MGS FB page}

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Melbourne Guitar Show takes place on March 1st-2nd, 2025 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Victoria Pavilion, Melbourne Showgrounds. You can still get tickets here.

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