Barrie will strike a new chord later this month as the Simcoe Guitar Festival makes its inaugural debut in the city.
The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 24, at Burton Avenue United Church and will showcase international performers through featured concerts, workshops and guitar masterclasses.
International musicians scheduled to attend include Scottish guitarist Matthew McAllister and Canadian guitarist Emma Rush, both of whom will perform during the festival.
Barrie native and guitarist Tim Beattie founded the festival and will oversee the event. In a news release, he said the idea for a guitar festival in his hometown began when he was a young musician.
“This is the kind of event I dreamed of growing up in Barrie,” he said.
“If I wanted to hear professional guitarists perform or feel part of a wider musical community, I had to travel to Toronto or even farther. Simcoe Guitar is about bringing that inspiration home.”
Beattie now lives in the United Kingdom, where he teaches at the University of St. Andrews, while continuing to perform across Europe and North America. He credited growing up in Barrie with helping shape his love of music.
“I grew up here, participated in local music festivals, and was shaped by this community. This festival is my way of giving back and creating new opportunities for the next generation of musicians,” he said.
Beattie said bringing accomplished guitarists to Barrie offers local musicians a chance to listen,
learn and connect with professionals in the field.
“This is a rare opportunity for Barrie audiences,” he said.
“You’re hearing artists who perform internationally, right here in our community.”
The Simcoe Guitar Festival is planned as a full-day event, running from 10 a.m. to 5p.m.
