Jack Spira: Guitars, Bouzouki
Jack Spira is a London trained guitar maker of some 30 years’ experience. He specialises in steel string flat top guitars and related instruments such as tenor guitar and Irish bouzouki. Located in Boolarra, Gippsland Victoria. Contact: www.jackspiraguitars.com,
jack@jackspiraguitars.com
0417 725 621.
Joe Gallacher: Guitars, mandolins, Irish Bouzoukis
Joe Gallacher has been building guitars, mandolins and Irish bouzoukis in Albury NSW since 1989. Influenced by British and American builders he has developed his own sound in acoustic guitars, built with a wide range of tonewoods. Joe has recently been building instruments from 100% reclaimed timber with excellent results. Contact: www.gallacherguitars.com, joegallacherguitars@gmail.com
0408 519 459.
Roderick Octigan: Guitars
Roderick is a boutique builder based in the East of Melbourne. Each instrument he creates is crafted by hand with absolute attention to detail. Using both Australian and imported tone woods, he specialises in acoustic arch tops and caters for the discerning musician who is very particular about tone, responsiveness, feel and playability of the instrument. His commitment to both the aesthetic and sonic quality of each guitar, combined with his love of creating them, means hundreds of hours are spent on each instrument and only two or three are completed each year. Contact: www.octiganguitars.com,
info@octiganguitars.com
0417 054 327.
Trevor Phillips: Guitars, Banjos, Ukuleles
Trevor makes stringed instruments from a traditional foundation, making use of the freedom to experiment and modify afforded to the small custom builder, enjoying the treasury of local timbers available. He is a firm believer that Australian makers are writing their own chapter in the history of musical instruments, due to a mixture of cultural influences, combined with the unique, locally available timber species. Contact: trevor@tpinstruments.com, 0431 201 799.
Jeff Wilmott: Clay Ocarinas
Jeff has been making ceramics for decades, combining this with a love of playing guitar and other instruments, including the gum leaf. In 1987 Jeff started making and playing ocarinas – small clay flutes – combining his love of pottery and folk music. Jeff also teaches guitar, fiddle, mandolin, didgeridoo and the gum leaf. Contact: 0418 723 542.
Mark Aspland: Woodskin – Percussion instruments
Mark, inventor of the Woodskin™ KiKBox® Cajon has significantly advanced the traditional cajon, extending its use to a wide variety of musical genres and players. With patented built-in pedal driven kick and snare, switchable snare plus tone & depth controls it offers unparalleled versatility with a uniquely crisp and powerful sound. Contact: www.woodskin.com, mark@woodskin.com, 0419 162 540.
Ray Black: Banjos & Mandolins
A banjo or mandolin made by Ray Black is prized by musicians who have taken advantage of Ray’s forty years of experience and experimentation as a luthier. His 5 string and tenor banjos feature hardware fabricated and machined in his workshop; a range of tone rings, woods and finishes create the tone and look you want. His mandolins are built using hand carved Adirondack Spruce tops with Red Maple sides, backs, and necks. Contact: fwcfarmer@yahoo.com
0423 230 213.
Patrick McNamara
Patrick McNamara is a retired fine furniture maker of 40 years who started instrument making around 15 years ago. Patrick primarily works with Victorian blackwood, satin box and reclaimed timbers. His ukuleles and hollow body electric guitars are played by his daughter, local songwriter Holly McNamara and local musician Ange Lawson. Patrick also makes dulcimers, banjos and banjo ukuleles.
Contact: pjmcn7@gmail.com, 0411 989 362.
Andy Rigby: Harps Made and Played
Andy Rigby has carved out a unique niche for himself in the world of music. He is one of Australia’s leading designers, makers, players and teachers of the harp. Andy also makes and plays flutes, whistles and marimbas. He teaches these instruments privately and at leading festivals in Australia.
Contact: http://www.andyrigby.net/, arharp2002@yahoo.com.au, 0400 865 229.
Friday 26 & Saturday 27 January 10am-5pm, Sunday 28 Jan 10am-12noon
A special event as part of Newstead Live
The Hub will host a brilliant array of musical instrument makers during Newstead Live 2024. A chance to see and hear some of the most skillfully crafted instruments around, and to talk to the makers about their craft.
Nine instrument makers will be there during the festival: guitar makers Jack Spira, Roderick Octigan; Ray Black – banjos & mandolins; Joe Gallacher – guitars, mandolins & Irish bouzoukis; Trevor Phillips: guitars, banjos, ukuleles; Patrick McNamara – ukuleles, hollow body electric guitars, dulcimers, banjos, banjo ukuleles; Mark Aspland– Cajon percussion; Andy Rigby harps; and Jeff Wilmott, clay ocarinas (and the gumleaf!). Danny Silver and Marcus Goddefroy will demonstrate the gentle art of slow making!
Come over to the Hub for our Made & Played performances each day at the to hear Newstead Live performers showcase the qualities of these fabulous instruments. Instrument makers and friends will also be playing – check out the full blackboard schedule at the Hub or our Facebook page for updates.
While at the Hub enjoy a delicious coffee from the Coffee Peddlers Café; Fri & Sat afternoons, the Hub will be serving local wine and beer.
Jump on the Festival bus and cruise over to the Hub during Newstead Live: Free, all welcome, gold coin donation appreciated!
Marcus, a resident of Newstead, and Danny, in the bush at Walmer, have been making violins for a number of years working together in Danny’s workshop on a semi-regular basis.
Marcus is also passionate about restoring old violins and upgrading violins with all sorts of tonal problems to their best potential. He also makes “hardanger” fiddles which have a number of sympathetic, non-bowed strings.
They also play their violins together from time to time so they may take some time out from exhibiting the slow art of violin making to have a relaxing jam session playing some of Marcus’ original compositions.
