What Really went down at Woodshed Guitar Experience? Well keep reading to find out!
Have you ever dreamed of jamming out with your favorite guitarists or sharing a casual beer with them backstage? Want to hang out with top guitarist from all over the world? Andy Wood’s Woodshed Guitar Experience is just the place for that; a unique three-day event for music lovers where you can learn from and hang out with some of the best musicians in the industry on scenic Lake Frances in Crossville, Tennessee. Top guitarists come together from all over the world to teach one on one exclusive lessons for the campers.
August 25th, 2022 marked the first day of the third annual Woodshed Guitar Experience, hosted by Andy Wood. This year’s artist roster was stacked with big names such as Brent Mason, Mark Lettieri, Tosin Abasi, Greg Koch, Guthrie Trapp, Nick Johnston, Tom Quayle, Rory Hoffman, Eli Bishop, Ben Eller, Jim Riley, Seth Taylor, and Daniel Kimbro, and sponsored by Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Wampler, Suhr, REV, and yours truly, Open Chord Music. Our generous gear vendors included Universal Audio, XTS-XAct Tone Solutions, C.R. Alsip Guitars, and J. Rockett Pedals.
Although the festivities officially began on Thursday the 25th, our staff arrived at Lake Frances a day earlier on Wednesday with the Open Chord Stage in tow and began setting up for the event.
Thursday evening, guests and artists alike began to arrive and mingle in the dining hall for cocktail hour, hosted by Emily and Travis Wyrick. The duo performed some amazing covers and original songs, and invited guests and artists on stage to jam with them. Even Brent Mason joined in, and one lucky camper, Alan Harris, even got to play his guitar!
Andy Wood
is presented with a custom “Woodshed Guitar Experience” guitar by C.R. Alsip Guitars during Emily Wyrick’s cocktail hour performance.
After dinner, Andy Wood hosted a bluegrass performance featuring musicians Daniel Kimbro on the standup bass, Eli Bishop on violin, and Seth Taylor on banjo. The evening concluded with an open mic hosted by Uncle Ben Eller himself.
Friday and Saturday featured lessons by Greg Koch, Brent Mason, Mark Lettieri, Guthrie Trapp, Andy Wood, Nick Johnston, Tom Quayle, and Ben Eller, followed by performances/masterclasses by Tosin Abasi and Rory Hoffman. After dinner, guests gathered at the main stage to witness a concert of electrifying scale featuring all musicians on the roster, followed by Ben Eller’s open mic jam!
Saturday, the final day of the event, concluded with yet another monstrous concert, opened by young and upcoming band Bonfire Blue, who performed an array of original songs, and covers inspired by Stranger Things. The Finale Concert featured riveting solos by each of the unique artists on the lineup.
Bonfire Blue
Performing at Woodshed 2022
The night’s festivities were once again concluded by Ben Eller’s open mic. Even some of the Open Chord crew joined in!
Andy Wood’s Woodshed Guitar Experience is truly an experience like no other, where guests not only have the opportunity to learn from some of the best musicians in the industry, but also to simply sit down and have dinner or share a beer with them. The universal language of music ties all participants, whether they’re an artist, a guest, or crew member, together, and the friendships formed here will span a lifetime. This event is fueled by a mutual love for All Things Music, a core value that those of us at the Open Chord hold dear. Keep a close eye out on the Woodshed Guitar Experience’s website and social medias so you can join us next year!