Two and a half years ago Nick Sergi moved to Byron and became the proprietor of one of Byron’s most iconic businesses, Byron Music.
A former high school music teacher, and sometime player, Sergi also admits he loves guitars. He loves them so much in fact that he’s initiated the first Byron Bay Guitar Festival.
‘I love the sonic beauty of the guitar,’ says Nick. ‘That’s the best way I can describe it. I was always drawn to it. I have always aspired to be a good player. I learned the guitar boogie from Tommy Emmanuel…’
The Byron Bay Guitar Festival grew out of an idea Nick had in order to give his business an edge.
‘Byron Music is more than 30 years old. It’s a very competitive landscape online and now with Amazon. As a music shop we have to have a point of difference. At Bluesfest I put up a stage and a drum kit and a guitar and let people jam. It worked. I wanted to have a guitar show at my shop and it turned into something enormous!’
Sergi got in contact with the Byron Brewery, who were keen to come on board as the venue for the event. As the birthplace of Bluesfest, this venue provides a good omen for this new festival, along with lots of funky spaces for festival events.
‘We are using the whole carpark; it will have a market setup.
Pighouse Flicks will host all our seminars and workshops and streaming a couple of independent guitar-style films.
And then main stage in the big newly refurbished room in the Brewery and the beergarden will be the main gigs.’
Nick is excited about the lineup, something he’s fine-tuning and adapting every day.
‘We have added Jeff Lang on the Saturday with Kevin Borich. Steve Edmonds is back by popular demand after the Bluesfest show this year. Black Rabbit George, and we have some great girls; it was the hardest thing I tried to get – couple of really strong chicks.’
To play the festival you have to be an Australian guitarist, but it can be across genres – blues, rock, flamenco, classical, country.
‘Fiona Boyes is playing. She is a veteran, she has been around for quite a while. She is very blues, southern Californian influence, a very hard-working girl, grandmother of eight kids. And Tash Wolf is the golden girl, only 19, a beautiful player and she is really well known for her Instragram and as a model. She needs to be pushed in her guitar though. I am also trying to find some young developing talents to bring them through.’
Byron Bay Guitar Festival at the Byron Brewery. 11 and 12 November.
For tickets and program info go to byronbayguitarfestival.com.
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