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.
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.
Gianni Boragine: Djembes drums
Gianni imports Djembe shells that are hand-made in Africa. He brings them to life, doing the finishing work on the wood, sanding, fixing cracks, finishing details on carvings, and sealing the wood. Then he makes the steel rings, welds them and covers them with African fabrics. Vertical ropes are knotted through the rings. Next, he prepares the skins, shaping and soaking them, and putting the skins on the drum wet. Once they are dry, he trims them and adds tension to the ropes to get the tuning he is looking for.
Contact: nimbadrumming@gmail.com
0474 348 139
Danny Silver & Marcus Goddefroy: Violins
Enjoy the gentle, slow crafting of a violin, right before your eyes! Danny and Marcus have been making violins for several years, working together in Danny’s workshop. Marcus is passionate about restoring old violins and upgrading violins with tonal problems to their best potential. He also makes “hardanger” fiddles which have several sympathetic, non-bowed strings. Danny and Marcus 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.
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.
Nick Carpenter: Acoustic & electric guitars
Wildwood Instruments has been making musical instruments for over 30 years. Nick will have some hand-crafted acoustic guitars and mandolins on display. Nick also runs Electric Guitar Making Courses in Mount Franklin (near Daylesford) where, over one weekend, you will learn how to construct your very own custom kit guitar and learn all about how guitars work. Some of these guitar models will be on display too.
Contact: nick@wildwoodinstruments.com.au
wildwoodinstruments.com.au, 0416 188 950
Sat 25 & Sun 26 January, 10am-6pm, Mon 27 January 9am-12noon
A special event as part of Newstead Live
The Hub will host a brilliant array of musical instrument makers during Newstead Live 2025. A chance to see and hear some of the most skillfully crafted instruments around, and to talk to the makers about their craft.
Look in the Newstead Live Program for Made & Played performances each day at the Hub to hear Newstead Live performers, instrument makers and friends showcase the qualities of these fabulous instruments.
Chat, play and perhaps even purchase or commission a beautiful new instrument. Instruments include African djembe drums, guitars (acoustic and electric), banjos, ukuleles, mandolins, Cajon percussion, clay ocarinas and the gumleaf!
Who’s on show this year? Gianni Boragine, Jack Spira, Jeff Wilmott, Jon Madin, Mark Aspland, Nick Carpenter, Roderick Octigan, Ray Black, Trevor Phillips. Danny Silver and Marcus Goddefroy will demonstrate the gentle art of violin making, and Jon Madin will encourage you to play his wacky instruments.
Special event: Jon Madin’s Wacky Instruments
Come over to the Arts Hub and be part of a wacky instrument orchestra. Anyone can play and when you see them, you’ll want to! Jon Madin’s amazing collection of wacky instruments are legendary. Echocellos – keyed cellos you play with a real violin bow! Dingboxes – you jump on boxes to make a tune (or silly noises). Musical exercise bikes – pedal and play tunes! Farty Foot pumpers – horrible sounds and exploding gloves! Horse trough jumping bassoons – jump vigorously to operate trombone style bassoons. Shaker rings – you shake then throw them to a partner! Plus huge marimbas and 3 mini drum kits! And just what is a Farty Foot Pumper? Come along and find out. Everyone can play! Four sessions: Sat & Sun 10am-12pm and 2-4pm.
Experience the Art Bar – Bevvies, Bites and Beats, serving up delectable home-made desserts and tapas (inc vegan & GF0 and standard & AF wine, beer & cocktails: Sat & Sun 12pm-6pm.
Our coffee cart will caffeinate you with delicious options: Sat & Sun 10am-3pm.
Open session: Monday 27 Jan – 10am-12 noon. Come and play tunes with others. All instruments welcome.
Jump on the Festival bus and cruise over to the Hub during Newstead Live.
Thank you to Flow Power for sponsoring the Instrument Makers Gallery and Jon Madin’s Wacky Instruments. Flow Power has delivered the Newstead Community Energy Project in partnership with Renewable Newstead.
Danny Silver & Marcus Goddefroy: Violins
Enjoy the gentle, slow crafting of a violin, right before your eyes! Danny and Marcus have been making violins for several years, working together in Danny’s workshop. Marcus is passionate about restoring old violins and upgrading violins with tonal problems to their best potential. He also makes “hardanger” fiddles which have several sympathetic, non-bowed strings. Danny and Marcus 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.
