Bass Events
Guitar Summit 2018: The Bass is Alive and Well!
Guitar Summit 2018: The Bass is Alive and Well! The second edition of Europe’s largest guitar event exceeds all expectations.
– In its second year, the Guitar Summit has grown in size.
– The new master class format draws guitar fans from around the world.
– The Guitar Summit reinforces its status as an international event.
On September 9th, 2018, the second edition of the Guitar Summit 2018—an event dedicated to everything around the guitar AND BASS—was a wrap.
As such, for a long weekend (from Friday to Sunday), Mannheim, a Unesco City of Music, stood in the centerof the international world of guitars, including its acoustic and electric varieties, basses, effect pedals, amps, accessories, and of course, music!
Located in Mannheim’s Rosengarten, the event, which is the largest of its kind in Europe, was visited by nearly 6,200 guitar enthusiasts, representing an increase of 33 percent over the previous year.
Attendees came from all over Europe, and also travelled from as far away as the United States, Canada, and Malaysia. We are especially happy to announce a significant increase in younger visitors, with about 30 percent of attendees being under the age of 35. The Guitar Summit’s international status is not only reflected by its visitors, but also in the exhibiting companies from around the world, who came to engage with manufacturers, distributors, and customers.
Spread out over four floors, more than 200 exhibitors showed products by 400 brands, and the greatly expanded program of activities included 160 workshops on seven stages. A new addition was found in a set of 12 master classes, which allowed guitarists and bassist to learn directly from their idols in a small group format. This part of the program turned out to be highly popular, with almost all master classes selling out. Another new idea that resonated with attendees was the Do It Yourself area, where participants could build guitar kits, effect pedals, and even amplifiers, with professional guidance.
Held in the Rosengarten’s Mozartsaal, the Guitar Summit’s Friday and Saturday evening concerts features international stars such as Phil X (Bon Jovi), Uli Jon Roth (formerly of the Scorpions), Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani, Michael Schenker Group), Jon Gomm, or YouTube sensation Pete Thorn, as well as top acts from Germany,
including Marcus Deml with his band The Blue Poets, and Jazz-Echo prize winners Sommerplatte.
The attractive program was rewarded with strong pre-sales, with many visitors already securing their tickets well in advance.
The Guitar Summit’s success was realized through an extensive and carefully planned advertising campaign, which included print, web, and social media.
These efforts were spearheaded by Gitarre & Bass, the largest German-language magazine for musicians, who was the event’s organizer.
The Guitar Summit represents a cooperation between Gitarre & Bass, m:con Mannheim, and the Music Commission Mannheim.
Save the date: Guitar Summit 2019, September 27th to 29th, at the Mannheim Rosengarten.
More information available online at guitarsummit.de
