Melbourne Guitar Show returns as Australia’s biggest guitar show in 2025, with this year’s edition also marking a milestone for the iconic event, moving to a new home alongside an incredible lineup of performers, workshops and more locked and loaded for this March. The Victoria Pavilion at the Melbourne Showgrounds is set to play host to Australia’s ultimate showcase of guitars, amps, pedals and lots of other gear on Saturday March 1 and Sunday March 2; and with a new venue, a brand new layout and a reimagined program offering a horde of new ideas, workshops and live opportunities, 2025’s Melbourne Guitar Show will undeniably be the ultimate mecca for axe-slingers and riff-bringers of all ages.
- How does it feel to be part of the Melbourne Guitar Show 2025 lineup?
I have wanted to play the MGS for years now so I’m so excited to be a part of the 2025 lineup!
- Have you ever customized your own guitar? If so, what modifications did you make?
I wouldn’t really call it ‘customised’ but my acoustics all have K&K mini pickups in them and I use a tonebone preamp …. So not really customised but it is about as fancy as I get!
- How has your choice of gear evolved over your career?
Yeah definitely, I used to think I had to have all of the fancy gear but the more you actually play the more you realise that’s just something else you’ve got to lug around yourself! So I try to keep it all pretty streamlined and as ‘no room for error’ as I can.
- If you could only use one effects pedal for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
I only have pedals for my electric, which I don’t often get to play. But when I do I absolutely love love love my Way Huge Pork Loin pedal! It is definitely one I won’t get rid of in a hurry!
- What do you think makes the Melbourne Guitar Show such a special event for musicians and fans?
I think it’s such an amazing chance for fans and musicians to come together and appreciate (and lets face it, nerd out) over instruments and gear and all that fun stuff!
- Do you prefer writing alone or collaborating with other musicians?
I love both! I’ve just completed a project where I’ve co-written 52 songs with 52 different writers over the past year (52 weeks) so I’m in cowriter mode! But there is also something super special about writing a song by yourself, and what comes out is usually more of a personal song.
- Who were your biggest influences when you first started playing guitar?
I’m a self taught guitarist, and while I was learning I was listening to a lot of Americana & Bluegrass music. So when I first started I was playing all those Old Timey songs as well as lots of Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale & Steve Earle, as well as country acts like The Chicks & Faith Hill!
- Do you ever write music away from the guitar and then translate it later?
Yeah I do try to do that often, it’s a great way to not be constrained by your habits!
- How do you know when a song is “finished”?
I’m a bit of a ruminator when it comes to songs, so for me, I’ll write the song, then I’ll think about it for weeks/months and in some cases years. Then I’ll come back to it and edit till I don’t feel like anything is clunky! I have a couple of ‘white whale’ songs that I’ve been writing & rewriting for years and years and they’re still not done!
- What’s the most memorable live show you’ve ever played?
Ooh that’s a tough one to answer, I think the most memorable ones are always the ones where you walk off stage and thing ‘yessss’ . I’ve had a couple where my band and I have been so pumped about our performance, one was a big festival & one was a small show in the middle of Vic … I think the memorable thing has always been about how good the show felt and how the audience reacted to it!
- What’s next on the horizon – Tours, releases, anything.
Well as I mentioned before I’ve just finished a cowriting project so I’ve got a few songs up my sleeve that I want to record this year. Tour wise I have a few shows coming up which I’m really excited about!