Madona to Host Annual Guitarists’ Session From 19 October
The annual “Guitarists’ Session” will take place at the Madona Municipality Cultural Centre from 19 to 23 October, with group lessons, masterclasses and concerts. Instructors include musicians from Latvia and Sweden.
The Madona Municipality Cultural Centre in Latvia will host its annual “Guitarists’ Session” from 19 to 23 October. The five-day music programme combines instrument lessons, masterclasses and concerts.
Lessons and instructors
Participants will study in groups by instrument. Acoustic guitar classes will be led by Egīls Leimanis and Jānis Čubars, and electric guitar by Aigars Māls and Sweden’s Eriks Asarsons. Vocals will be taught by Madara Briede and Atis Ieviņš, drums by Normans Bārbals and Jakobs Džonsons from Sweden, bass by Ieva Sircova and Sweden’s Rihards Malmstens, kokles (a traditional Latvian string instrument) by Kate Slišāne and Samanta Ceruka, and ukulele by Tenis Dimants.
Masterclasses will also be given by pianist Gints Žilinskis and guitarists Armands Alksnis, Gints Cālītis and Gints Smukais. Armands Svinsters, Uģis Olte, Atis Ieviņš, Armands Sakne, Miķelis Vanags and Toms Grēviņš will share their expertise as well.
Programme
On Monday, 19 October, participants register, have dinner and take part in “Free Stage”, an evening of singing and playing together. Registration for the Vidzeme seminar “Sound and Light” runs from 10:00 to 11:00.
On Tuesday, 20 October, the session opens with a group photo, followed by lessons and a masterclass by Armands Alksnis on the sound and effects palette of a rock guitarist. The evening includes an acoustic guitar concert by Gints Smukais, an indie concert by “Tante gaida”, and a talk-concert with Gints Cālītis on electric guitar pedals.
On Wednesday, 21 October, after a masterclass with Eric Assarsson, participants will hike to the Smeceres sils sports base. There, Atis Ieviņš and “Rock Brothers” and the punk band PND will perform, while director and producer Uģis Olte will talk about music videos.
On Thursday, 22 October, drummer Jacob Johnson leads a masterclass. The evening brings a jazz-fusion trio concert and a progressive rock concert by Aigars Māls and the band “Mattergy”.
On Friday, 23 October, lessons and a dress rehearsal will precede the closing concert at 17:00.
