Voyage-Air in Ethiopia

Where do folks take their Voyage-Air guitar? We just received this from Jonathan Bell:

"Last week, I played my VAD-04 at Wenshi Crater Lake at the edge of civilization in central Ethiopia. I don't think the village children had ever seen a guitar before, much less a guitar that folds!

"Wenshi Crater Lake is located at about 10,000 feet above sea level. The crater lip is approximately 11,400 feet. You can drive to the top of the rim along a 45 km dirt road that climbs up the outside of the crater. Then you have to hike down to the lake.

"I started playing along the lakefront, where there is an ancient village and a group of children very politely gathered to listen. I then went over to them, and started playing Wagonwheel by Old Crow Medicine Show. The children got so into the music that, well, I taught them the song. My daughter's cell-phone battery died before the song was over, but we got most of it on video."

Here's the video:

Nashville Hootenanny: Voyage-Air featured in a free Internet show!

This just in from Voyage-Air Guitar Artist Relations Director, Virginia Cannon:

“Hey! Everyone’s invited to tune in to the Nashville Hootenanny this Saturday night, February 19th. It streams live over the Internet, at the link below beginning at 5pm Pacific time, 6pm Mountain, 7pm Central, and 8pm Eastern time. No cable or dish TV required!

This Nashville Hootenanny is now seen in 72 countries and was watched by over 50,000 viewers last month. This show’s a hit, and the numbers continue to grow!

Click here to see the lineup for the show:

http://nashvillehootenanny.com/teenhoot/

The Nashville Hootenanny had this to say about James Hunter, who will play his Voyage-Air Guitar on the show:

“16 year old James Michael Hunter began playing the guitar when he was 5 years old, and he’s been singing and writing music ever since. When he was 9 years old he started a band called One Eyed Rhyno. James and his band have been playing original songs and covers of classic rock and blues for 7 years all over California.

"James and his band recorded his song ‘THE BIRD’ in 2010 and put in on itunes. One Eyed Rhyno is donating their proceeds from itune sales to the Student Conservation Association to help fund the gulf clean up.

"James is making his third trip to Nashville from Sacramento, California to write songs and play his third Hootenanny in February. He was asked to play at the 2010 NAMM convention in L.A. for Voyage Air Guitars and was interviewed for HUB World television as well. He’s inspired by all the great blues musicians especially Johnny Guitar Watson, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Page.”

This is a great chance to see the Voyage-Air Guitar played by an up and coming artist – and for free!

Also note that Steve Winwood’s daughter, Lilly will also be performing. This Nashville Hootenanny will be hosted by Youtube sensation Cjaye Lerose.

Here’s the link to watch the show on Saturday:

http://nashvillehootenanny.com/

Seriously: click the link to see the show… you won’t be disappointed. Talent like James Hunter is rare and unique. Voyage-Air Guitar is proud to help him along the way.

Sincerely,

Virginia Cannon.

The WRECKING CREW: Special Screening at NAMM

The award-winning documentary film “The Wrecking Crew” will be shown in a special one-time screening at the upcoming Winter NAMM Show, at 10am, January 16, 2011.

Director/Writer Denny Tedesco's (Son of Guitarist, Tommy Tedesco) chronicle of pop music's Heyday delves back to the late 50s, the 60s and the 70s, an era of all night recording sessions in cramped, smoke-filled rooms: when real musicianship was not only appreciated, it was demanded.

Stocked with rare, historical footage and interviews with the group’s members along with testimonials from music giants Dick Clark, Herb Alpert, Glen Campbell, Cher, Brian Wilson, Jimmy Webb, Don Randi, Gary Lewis among many, THE WRECKING CREW is an essential document of contemporary pop history and a must-see for anyone who's ever picked up an instrument, lived-off pop radio and collected music.

“Voyage-Air guitars appeal to session players in particular,” said Mr. Michael Ferrucci, VP of Sales and Marketing for Voyage-Air Guitar, Inc. “With Voyage-Air instruments, a session player can carry along an OM, a Dreadnought and a full-size electric guitar… in about the same space as a single old-fashioned guitar. This conveniently gives them a wide range of sounds and tone for a studio session – all with professional-grade, studio-ready instruments.”

The Wrecking Crew will screen at 10am, Sunday, January 16 in room 204C at the NAMM Show. There will be door prizes, and info about how to arrange private screenings at music stores and other music events.

For more information contact Denny@wreckingcrewfilm.com

Website: http://www.wreckingcrewfilm.com

Voyage-Air: New Distributor in Japan

Voyage-Air Guitar, Inc., has named 3G International Co., Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) as their Exclusive Distributor for Voyage-Air’s full range of revolutionary folding travel guitars in Japan.

3G International began selling the Voyage-Air acoustic guitar series in Japan during the fourth quarter of 2010.

Mr. Masaaki Shimasue, President of 3G International said: "We are very excited and proud to introduce this innovative guitar in the Japanese market. We strongly believe that Voyage-Air guitars will be a big sensation in Japan, and we are already having great response from the market. We will be introducing the new Voyage-Air TransAxe™ Series of folding electric guitars this coming Spring, 2011."

“The compact size of all Voyage-Air guitars makes them a natural for musicians in Japan,” said Michael Ferrucci, VP of Sales and Marketing for Voyage-Air Guitar. “Mr. Shimasue has an extensive knowledge of vintage and custom-luthier guitars. His marketing and distribution demonstrates the strength and durability of the unique and patented Voyage-Air folding hinge, as well as the high-quality of our affordable travel guitars.”

Voyage-Air goes to War

United States soldier, Charles Nordby, is proudly serving our country in Afghanistan. Before Charlie left for war, his fiancé Ashley and some friends organized a “fund raiser” – they all chipped in to send him off with a Voyage- Air Guitar.

His instrument of choice? The Voyage-Air VAOM-02, thanks to its rugged, compact shape and great tone. He was truly touched and moved by the gift. He called the guitar “the best gift I’ve ever received, other than my fiancé Ashley.”

Charlie is an amazing musician: gifted with a great singing voice, as well as great guitar chops. He reports that he hasn’t had a day off in four months, has had to endure below-zero weather, in addition to the stress of having to be on constant alert. And in these extreme conditions, the Voyage-Air guitar is by his side, and is holding up great!

Every day, Charlie looks to his Voyage-Air Guitar to allow him a few minutes of musical pleasure… and the feeling of being “normal.” In addition to informal performances in off moments, Charlie is also giving guitar lessons to fellow soldiers. Charlie’s really special: using his Voyage-Air guitar to spread the gift of music under wartime conditions. We thank Charlie. You should too.

Voyage-Air on Charlie Crowe TV

A winner in the Guitar Player Live guitar competition this year, Charlie Crowe became intrigued with the Voyage-Air Guitar. He asked if he could feature it on one of the episodes in his popular Nashville-based TV show. You can see the episode below.

For 12 years, Charlie toured the nation as a guitar player for the country-rock super duo Brooks & Dunn. He has appeared on awards shows, music videos, Letterman, Leno, the Olympics and two presidential inaugurations. All of this may explain why Charlie’s so comfortable in front of the camera.

In addition to being a hit songwriter, Charlie is also the newest blogger for Guitar Player Magazine: he’ll talk about everything from guitars to gear of all kinds. Keep an eye out for him in the magazine and on-line… you never know what he’ll talk about next!

Click here to read his blog about participating in the Guitar Player Live Guitar Competition.

Don Jones: The Voyage-Air Blues

You never know what kind of connections you can make with a Voyage-Air guitar. Recently, we were on a camping trip in the Crestline, CA area, and met a group of locals who were throwing a big Camping Party. Among them was Don Jones, who plays with the band Radiator BBQ.

Having played guitar all his life, Don was blown away by the Voyage-Air folding guitar. "There's no way THIS can work," and Don continued: "But it DOES work, and this is what I've always been after, wow... it's full-size and will fit in the trunk of my car, with all my other stuff!"

Don was so inspired that he made up "The Voyage-Air Blues" that's in the video below. You can also see the Voyage-Air Mascot wannabe: 'Roscoe' in the background, perking his ears as he digs the tunes.

Thanks Don. The proof is in the guitar: one strum on a Voyage-Air guitar, and Don 'got it.' One strum, and you will too!