(Los Angeles, CA) From June 28 – July 2, 2015 musicians of all ages and levels will once again converge in California’s scenic Central Coast for the second annual G4 Experience with guitar virtuosos Joe Satriani, Tosin Abasi & Animals as Leaders, Guthrie Govan & The Aristrocrats, and Mike Keneally. This unique music camp that combines entertainment, education and a vacation experience will again be held at the picturesque Cambria Pines Lodge in Cambria, California, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Produced by Dreamcatcher Events, the G4 Experience (http://g4experience.com) is an extension of Satriani’s own G3 Tour, a concert tour the guitarist founded which features Satriani alongside two other well-known guitarists. “This year I’m happy to announce an exciting new G4 line up, with each player selected for their stunning musicianship and original approach to guitar playing,” Satriani revealed. “Guthrie will be bringing his bandmates from The Aristocrats – Bryan Beller on bass & Marco Minnemann on drums. Tosin will come with his Animals As Leaders featuring guitarist Javier Reyes & drummer Matt Garstka,” he enthusiastically continued, “Mike “The Wizard” Keneally returns this year bringing his unique multi-instrumental style and approach to the camp giving clinics, playing a solo show as well as being part of my band’s performances. To round out our teaching/performing staff will be good friends and all-around awesome guitarists Doug Doppler, Bruce Bouillet, and Andy Aledort along with my friend, Stu Hamm on bass.”
The event will kick off on Sunday, June 28 featuring a meet and greet with Joe, The Aristocrats, Animals as Leaders, Mike and G4 Experience guests. The rest of the experience will be filled with Master Classes led by Joe, Animals As Leaders, The Aristocrats, as well as smaller, breakout workshops with the other G4 leaders. In addition, during dinner each evening, there will be a featured concert with the G4 leaders followed by guests given the ability to ‘jam’ in any of the eight, fully loaded jam rooms!
Guthrie Govan, guitarist for The Aristocrats, looks on the whole event as a very special opportunity, “Every aspect of this event promises to be a lot of fun, but I must say I’m particularly looking forward to the fact that the whole Aristocrats trio will be there, working together, like when we’re writing, rehearsing or touring. That time is hugely important, but all too often gets overlooked.”
Given the huge success of last summer’s first G4 Experience, Satriani is ecstatic about launching the second event, “Last year’s successful G4 Experience in Cambria left me with great memories from each and every day. Teaching is something very close to my heart and I take it seriously. Having the chance to share what I know about music and guitar playing with like-minded players is always fun, and I find the camp environment brings out special performances from me and all the teachers.” Brimming with pride, he continues, “The G4 format allows us to explore all kinds of things which would simply not be possible in a typical “one off” Master Class session: the tutors and students will have more time in which to “connect” so the event promises to provide a much more personalized experience for the campers.”
The intimate G4 Experience is available for a maximum of 175 attendees. The event size is limited so every guest will have the opportunity to spend time with each of the featured artists. This unique music camp is open to guitarists of all ages and levels and provides an entertaining and educational once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience.
Tickets for the G4 Experience are on sale now at http://dreamcatcher.brkstn.com/g4/. Admission includes 4 nights lodging, meals, master classes, break-out sessions, live performances and jam sessions in 8 fully stocked jam rooms. Every attendee will also receive a welcome kit with items from D’Addario and Planet Waves.
“I’m confident each and every G4 camper will come away inspired and armed with more useful musical knowledge than they could have attained in any other way. The camp makes learning fun and creates an atmosphere of camaraderie that can’t be matched anywhere else.” Joe Satriani’s life-long pursuit of musical perfection now extends to those he eagerly takes into his “classroom”.
As an added bonus, if you register by December 31, 2014 you’ll receive a free Pigtronix Class A Boost pedal and West Coast Pedal Board when you arrive at camp.
Featured musician/instructor Tosin Abasi elaborates on the unique experience for teachers and campers: “We are looking forward to our participation in The G4 Experience. Not only are we excited to interact with other great established musicians, but we are also excited to interact with guitar players from all walks of life. With workshops, jam sessions and a great atmosphere, this unique event is a must for anyone who loves playing guitar.”
For the G4 Experience, guests will choose from a variety of room options at Cambria Pines Lodge in scenic Cambria, CA on California’s Central Coast. Located on 25 acres of Monterey pines and landscaped gardens, Cambria Pines Lodge (www.cambriapineslodge.com) is within minutes of the Pacific Ocean and Hearst Castle, and is close to hundreds of wineries. Cambria is easily accessible by air via the San Luis Obispo airport and by car via the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.
http://g4experience.com
www.dreamcatcher-events.com
About The G4 Experience Featured Musicians:
Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani has been a worldwide guitar hero since his 1987 breakthrough album, Surfing With The Alien. Over 10-million albums and CDs later, in addition to 14 Grammy nominations and numerous accolades, Joe continues to push the envelope of modern rock guitar playing. Although he originally started his career by teaching some of the top rock guitar players of the ’80s and ’90s like Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and virtuoso Steve Vai, Joe Satriani is universally hailed as one of the most technically accomplished and respected guitar players in the history of rock music. Satriani, who cites Jimi Hendrix as a major influence, quickly established his reputation as one of rock’s most important guitarists. Since the release of Surfing With The Alien in ’87, Satriani has continually been voted the best guitarist in leading guitar magazine readers’ polls. Chosen by Mick Jagger to perform worldwide on Mick’s first solo tour and by Deep Purple to tour Japan and Europe, Joe quickly proved himself to be a true guitar hero. After releasing several critically acclaimed solo albums, in 1996, Satriani embarked on the first G3 showcase tour, which became an instant success. G3 tours have performed sold out shows in the U.S., Europe, South America, Japan and Australia, and there have been three Live G3 DVDs. In 2009, Joe teamed up with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony of Van Halen, plus Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to form Chickenfoot. The band’s debut album has been an international success receiving gold awards in the US, Canada and Europe, plus recognition from Classic Rock Magazine as The Best New Band of 2009. In April 2012, Joe released the 3D concert film Satchurated: Live In Montreal. During the same year, he embarked on G3 tours of Europe, South America and Australia and celebrated the release of the JVM JS Marshall signature amplifier. May 2013 saw Joe release his 14th studio album, Unstoppable Momentum, followed by extensive North American and European tours. In 2014, Satriani celebrated his 30th year in the music business by releasing both a career-spanning box set (Joe Satriani: The Complete Studio Recordings) and his first memoir (“Strange Beautiful Music: A Musical Memoir”) both released in April.
www.satriani.com
Animals As Leaders
Animals As Leaders formed in 2007 after guitarist Tosin Abasi’s previous technical metalcore band, Reflux, disbanded. An instrumental progressive metal band currently features Abasi along with guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka. The band released their self-titled debut in 2009. They went on to release the albums Weightless in 2011 and The Joy of Motion in 2014. Animals As Leaders is revered worldwide as a trailblazing pioneer of modern heavy music. The group’s genre-defying compositions have earned extensive praise — Steve Vai called the band “the future of creative, heavy virtuoso guitar playing.”
http://prostheticrecords.com/?p=499
The Aristocrats
The Aristocrats is a rock supergroup formed in 2011by Guthrie Govan, Bryan Beller and Marco Minnemann after a wildly enthusiastic response to a concert performance at The Anaheim Bass Bash during the Winter NAMM show in January 2011. The trio had just one rehearsal before the concert but amazed the audience as well as themselves. Govan later stated: “The chemistry was so great, that when we came offstage we all said to each other: ‘This is working. We should record this.” The band recorded their debut album in just under two weeks with the music reflecting their respective influences ranging from 70s fusion to progressive, instrumental rock, groove metal and to just plain absurdity. The band has released a live album (Boing, We’ll Do It Live!) and a second studio album Culture Clash in July 2013. Subsequent tours of North America, Europe, South America and Asia allowed the band to compile live performances from seven different venues for their upcoming second live album, Culture Clash Live!, scheduled to be released on CD and DVD in November 2014.
http://the-aristocrats-band.com/
Mike Keneally
“Keneally is the leading progressive rock genius of the post-Zappa era.” – All Music Guide
Mike Keneally has released 25 albums of his music since 1992, building a body of work of remarkable inventiveness and originality. Keneally played in Frank Zappa’s last touring band, performing as a vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist. He’s appeared on many Zappa albums, is currently a touring member of both Dethklok and the Joe Satriani Band, and has also recorded or performed with Robert Fripp, Steve Vai, Chickenfoot, Bear McCreary, Dweezil Zappa and countless others. His 52-minute orchestra-with-guitar suite The Universe Will Provide received its world premiere in 2003 by Keneally performing with Holland’s Metropole Orkest; the U.S. premiere of Universe occurred at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in 2011. 2012’s release was Wing Beat Fantastic: Songs Written by Mike Keneally & Andy Partridge, a collection of material written with ex-XTC leader Andy Partridge; the album was widely acclaimed, and ranked highly on several critics’ “Best of 2012” lists. 2013 found Keneally on the road with Joe Satriani for 92 concerts over six months, as well as being a featured vocalist in the Metalocalypse rock opera The DOOMSTAR REQUIEM. Time Out New York says, in reference to the Mike Keneally Band, “this band, with such a peculiar genius leading it, is a thing to savor.”
www.keneally.com
About Dreamcatcher Events: Dreamcatcher Events is the leading independent producer of musical and other event-related immersive retreats for young adults and adults. Dreamcatcher retreats provide unique, intimate, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for fans to spend several days with a legendary artist, while at the same time providing the artists a chance to connect with premium fans and earn impressive non-tour revenue. Dreamcatcher Events is privately owned, independently financed, fan-centric, artist-friendly, and provides completely turn-key operations. Past artists-in-residence have included Medeski, Martin and Wood, Paul Gilbert, Richard Thompson, Todd Rundgren, Umphreys McGee, Dweezil Zappa, and members of such bands as King Crimson, Megadeth, Yes, and the Allman Brothers.
About Cambria Pines Lodge: Cambria Pines Lodge (2905 Burton Drive, Cambria, CA) offers extensive grounds and gardens available for exploring. Therapeutic massage and body treatments are also available onsite at Sojourn Healing Arts Center. For a more active experience, check out the Cambria Pines Lodge Nature Trail, which leads down a steep hill into Cambria village via 250+ steps. Cambria Pines Lodge Restaurant features organic produce hand-picked from the Lodge’s organic kitchen garden. The restaurant’s wine list offers a selection of some of the finest award-winning wines that the Central Coast wine regions have to offer. If internet access is needed, complimentary Wi-Fi is available in the Cambria Pines Lodge rooms and suites.
www.CambriaPinesLodge.com
For More Information on G4, visit: http://g4experience.com/