Wednesday, January 08, 2020

NAMM Preview: Orange Amplification hosts greats; She Rocks Awards; Gibson; Drum Workshop Music Foundation

Winter NAMM arrives in Anaheim next week so it is definitely a great time to start sharing news on the high-profile music event!


Meet Orianthi, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) and Jesse Hughes (EODM) at Orange 2020 NAMM Booth
 
Orianthi / Photo credit: Ross Halfin
Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple fame.
Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal
Ambassadors joining Orange Amplification on their booth, #4644, Hall D, at this year’s NAMM are guitar slayer Orianthi, the legendary Glenn Hughes and frontman extraordinaire, Jesse Hughes.
 
Blues based rock guitarist Orianthi is known for performing with the stars like Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper in the past. More recently the native of Adelaide, Australia has been working on a solo album, due for release soon. Her outstanding 2009 major label debut Believe featured the hit single "According to You," as well as the hard rocking tracks "Bad News" and "Think Like a Man."
 
The former bassist and singer with Deep PurpleGlenn Hughes has just completed the second leg of his ‘Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live’ UK Tour to outstanding reviews. He also fronts the English-American hard rock outfit Black Country Communion.
 
Jesse Hughes and the Eagles of Death Metal are all set to tour Australia and New Zealand in 2020, their first tour of this part of the world since 2016.
 

Appearance Details (PST) on the Orange Amplification booth #4644 Hall D:
 
Friday 17th January 2020
2.00pm Glenn Hughes
4.30pm Jesse Hughes
 
Saturday 18th January 2020
12.00pm Glenn Hughes
2.30pm Orianthi
 
Check it out at the Orange Amplification booth #4644, Hall D where all the other Orange products can also be seen. www.orangeamps.com


Singer-Songwriter and Bassist Tal Wilkenfeld to be Honored at 2020 She Rocks Awards 

Wilkenfeld joins Gloria Gaynor, Linda Perry, Lzzy Hale, Suzi Quatro and others who will be honored and perform at the House of Blues on January 17, 2020

 


The Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN), proudly announces that chart-topping singer-songwriter and bass guitar virtuoso Tal Wilkenfeld will be honored at the 2020 She Rocks Awards taking place at the House of Blues Anaheim on Friday, January 17, 2020. Wilkenfeld has performed and recorded with an array of rock royalty, and in early 2019, her album Love Remains debuted at the top of Billboard’s Heatseeker charts, demonstrating her instrumental and vocal prowess, along with her masterful songwriting chops.

This year’s She Rocks Awards also features a star-studded performance lineup, including live music from honorees Gloria Gaynor, Lzzy Hale, Linda Perry, Suzi Quatro, Beatie Wolfe and Wilkenfeld, the evening’s co-host, Mindi Abair, and opening act D_Drive, among others. House band Rock Sugah will also provide music throughout the evening. The band is led by renowned bassist Divinity Roxx, joined by the legendary Kat Dyson on guitar, Drin Elliott on keyboards and Queen Cora Coleman on drums.

Paying tribute to women in the music industry, the eighth annual She Rocks Awards will take place at 7:30p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at the House of Blues Anaheim. This high-energy evening will include live music, awards and speeches, celebrity appearances, a fabulous silent auction, amazing gift bags and much more. The event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased at sherocksawards.com.

The full 2020 She Rocks Awards list of honorees:
  • Gloria Gaynor, GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, GRAMMY Hall of Fame inductee, and the legendary voice behind the iconic hit “I Will Survive"
  • Linda Perry, GRAMMY, Golden Globe, Critic's Choice-nominated artist, Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee, multi-platinum producer and former frontwoman for 4 Non Blondes 
  • Lzzy Hale, GRAMMY Award-winning artist/songwriter and frontwoman for Halestorm
  • Tal Wilkenfeld, chart-topping singer-songwriter and critically acclaimed bassist
  • Suzi Quatro, pioneering bass player, singer, musician and actress who played the role of Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days
  • Beatie Wolfe, Singer-songwriter, pioneer of immersive music formats, UN Women role model 
  • Suzanne D’Addario Brouder, Executive Director of the D’Addario Foundation 
  • Tara Low, Music-based entrepreneur and editor and founder of Guitar Girl Magazine
  • Myrna Sislen, Owner of Middle C Music in D.C., classical guitarist, philanthropist, music educator
  • Judy Schaefer, Marketing Director at PRS Guitars
  • Ebonie Smith, Founder and President of Gender Amplified, Inc, and Atlantic Records audio engineer and producer
Tickets are now on sale for the 2020 She Rocks Awards, available in four tiers that include dinner and more. This event is open to the public; a NAMM Show badge is not required to attend the She Rocks Awards.
The 2020 She Rocks Awards is sponsored by Sweetwater, PRS Guitars, Marshall Amplification, Gibson, Tech 21, Reverb, NAMM, D’Angelico Guitars, Rat Sound Systems, Roland, Zildjian, Fishman, Sennheiser, D’Addario, Seymour Duncan, PreSonus, Shure, M.A.C Cosmetics, Monster Energy, Hippeas,  Clif Bar, 108 Rock Star Guitars, iZotope, Soundgirls, Parade magazine, Premier GuitarGuitar Girl MagazineThe Music & Sound RetailerMusic Inc. magazine, MusicNewsGuitar PlayerGuitar WorldBass PlayerElectronic Musician, Music Radar,  KVR Audio, IK Multimedia, Future Publishing, and more. The She Rocks Awards will be live streamed by Parade magazine at parade.com/sherocks.
Learn more about the She Rocks Awards at sherocksawards.com.

GIBSON:

- ICONIC, NASHVILLE-BASED GUITAR BRAND THRIVES IN NEW ERA - 

Gibson Team Photo
 
Over the past year, Gibson has re-emerged with a compelling vision, new leadership, relevant guitars, and widespread industry support to set up the brand for a new era of success. Welcome to Gibson in 2020. 
 
NASHVILLE, TN Gibson--the iconic, American-made instrument brand--has been synonymous with shaping, creating, inspiring and contributing to the ‘share of sound’ for 126 years. After more than a century, Gibson artists, players and fans continue to experience the brand rejuvenated. In studios and on live stages, Gibson is played by the best and brightest artists, across generations, genres and genders and has emerged as the most relevant, most played and most loved guitar brand around the world. Gibson announced today, (January 8), it will unveil a new era in guitar evolution at Winter NAMM 2020 in Anaheim, CA

One year after shifting from obstacles to opportunities, Gibson has more than delivered against expectations, with more to come in 2020 and beyond. Gibson has kept its promises and continues to deliver historical accuracy, contemporary updates, signature collections, customized creations, award-winning guitars, improved quality and new levels of artist and fan engagement

JC, President and CEO of Gibson
Led by James “JC” Curleigh as Chief Executive Officer and a passionate music lover, Gibson shifted into 125-year-old start-up mode, with a clear focus on leveraging an iconic past and leaning into the innovative future. The starting point was a renewed obsession with making the best guitars by prioritizing craftmanship, authenticity and quality across the boardGibson doubled-down on Nashvilleaka Music City USAwith significant investments in the Gibson USA factorynew Leadership in the Gibson Custom Shop, and the new set-up of the Gibson ES range at both Gibson Custom Shop and at Gibson USA. Not to mention the recent relocation of Gibson’s Global Headquarters to the heart of downtown Nashville in the iconic Cummins Station building. The new HQ will enable Gibson to set the stage for an exciting future.    

“We are proud of what we have achieved over the past year and we are encouraged by the feedback from our fans, the support from our artists and the growing confidence from our dealer base,” says JC. “We are back in growth mode, but we know we have more work to do to realize the full potential across all of our brands. We are obsessed with guitars, so we will continue to focus on setting the best conditions for success going forward."

Last year, the brand launched Gibson Gives, the front end of the Gibson Foundation whose overall mission is to make music matter to more people in more ways, one guitar at a time. “We have committed to donate 1,000 guitars over the next 1000 days and are already ahead, having donated 160 guitars in just four months,” adds JCGibson Gives played a lead role in supporting the ‘Do it for the Love’ Foundation, outfitted Maplewood High School in Nashville with multiple guitars for a music room (in partnership with Give A Note) and played it forward donating 48 guitars and 19,000 string sets to Guitars For Vets bringing the power of music to returning U.S. military veterans with PTSD. Gibson Gives is off to a solid start, with much more to come in 2020.

The Gibson Alliance, the official forum of our iconic artists, focusing on everything from thought leadership, product development and creating guitars to engage the next generation of players, is in full swing. Likewise, the first class from the new Gibson Generation Group (G3) two-year mentoring program is underway. G3’s class of 2021 is currently working with 18 talented and undiscovered new players from IndiaSpainChina, NorwayFrance, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, the U.K. and the U.S., providing them with one-of-a-kind career opportunities only Gibson can offer. Spanning in age from 11 to 20 years-old, once selected, the young artists receive one-on-one mentoring from the Gibson Entertainment Relations Team, are showcased worldwide opening for legendary artists on tour, and perform on stages with our festival partners including Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival and more.

“We are very excited about our plans for 2020, which we will introduce next week at NAMM,” claims JC. “Gibson will go from strength to strength with brand new collections as well as a focus on the successful Original and Modern Collections. Epiphone will be reintroduced as the most authentic and accessible guitar brand, inspired by Gibson and made for every stage. And Kramer will re-emerge as the iconic rockers’ guitar brand made to rock hard!”   

Across all of Gibson’s brands and collections, the story continues to be told with iconic and emerging artists that inspire the now and nurture the next generation of Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer fans.


Drum Workshop Music Foundation (DWMF) Launches

New Charitable Organization Brings Music Education and Inspiration to All

  

Michele Abrams

Drum Workshop Inc. (DW) (DW) Designer and manufacturer of award-winning drums, pedals and hardware, recently announced the unveiling of the DW Music Foundation (DWMF). The goal of the new charitable arm is to provide the gift of music to underserved communities worldwide.

Over several decades, DW has supported numerous music-related charities by donating instruments and educational resources.  Past support includes artist mentoring and resource collaboration designed to foster an appreciation of music as a life enhancing and life changing activity. The formation of DWMF will enable the company to build on this legacy of giving and expand its impact by supporting these same organizations, as well as a host of other endeavors including youth outreach, health & wellness, scholastic music and arts programs and more.

Scott Donnell, DW’s VP of Marketing notes, “The DWMF will allow us to formalize our charity efforts and cement some of our long-term partnerships. It will also set the stage to connect with other organizations that are aligned with our mission.”

A select group of business and music industry leaders including DW’s Founder Don Lombardi and DW President and CEO, Chris Lombardi, will be part of the foundation’s board of directors.  Michele Abrams has been tapped as Executive Director and will head efforts to establish the foundation as a self-sustaining entity that will work in tandem with key partners in the coming years.  Abrams expertise in nonprofit development, fundraising, and creating memorable world-class events, concerts and fundraisers, will be a valuable asset to the DWMF team.

Both music and philanthropy have been my life’s passion.  This extraordinary opportunity will open so many doors for so many.  I’m truly thrilled and honored to be joining the DWMF on this rewarding journey”, commented Abrams.


DWMF is on the web @ www.dwmf.org/. Tax detectable donations can be made @ dwmf.networkforgood.com

Visit the Drum Workshop booth #202AB, Level 2 at Winter NAMM for more information.

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