When wide-eyed pop fans first ponder playing music themselves, the instrument they try for size in the mirror is usually the tennis racket. Gurning solos wrought from the criss-crossed nylon strings, with intricate imaginary fretwork along the handle bit. The dedicated will inevitably graduate to the real thing. Even as styles and tastes mutate, the Guitar Hero remains the most aspirational and admired position in the band; whether you’re Keith Richards or Andrew Ridgeley up on that stage, how you use your guitar is what makes you a star.
For those similarly serious about all things guitars, amps, pedals and accessories, the second Brighton Guitar Show & FX Expo brings together some of the finest brands in the UK. Rocking up at Brighton Racecourse on Saturday 20th July, this one-day show across two large grandstands offers visitors the chance to get their hands on some of the best gear around (the unspoken proviso of “No Wonderwall” probably applies). Last year’s debut show went down really well, so this is worth a visit if you’re at all fuzz and flange-friendly. Tickets are £15 from brightonguitarshow.co.uk.
