Excerpted from Acoustic Guitar magazine, February 2001, No. 98.

News RETURN TO TOP	Classical guitarist Martha Masters won first place at the 2000 Guitar Foundation of America International solo competition in San Antonio, Texas. Her prizes include a recording contract with Naxos, a concert video for Mel Bay, and an extensive tour of North America. For more information, go to www.marthamasters.com. Music in High Places is a year-long series of monthly musical adventures airing on DIRECTV. Each hour-long program features a different top performer performing sans audience in Earth’s most ancient locations. Twelve hours of additional footage from each episode will be viewable at www.musicinhighplaces.msn.com. There will be episodes with such stars as Shawn Colvin and Lyle Lovett. Show producers are currently scouting Madrid, Spain, for a location in which to present hip-hop superstar Wyclef Jean.
Events RETURN TO TOP	Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, and Guitar Salon International are teaming up to present a classical guitar concert and master class series. It will feature a concert with Grammy-nominated Paul Galbraith on February 4, a concert with David Tanenbaum on February 24, and a master class with Tanenbaum on February 25. For more information, call (310) 338-5386 or go to www.lmu.edu/colleges/cfa/music.
In Memory	Folksinger and songwriter Al Grierson died in a flash flood in Texas on November 2. Often referred to as the Poet Laureate of Luckenbach, Grierson was a regular performer at the Kerrville Folk Festival. He released two recordings of primarily original compositions: Things That Never Added Up to Me and A Candle for Durruti.
Meet A.G.	If you’re attending the 2001 Folk Alliance conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, February 15–18, stop by the Acoustic Guitar booth and visit with editor Simone Solondz and advertising and promotions manager Sabrina Smith. The annual event features dozens of official and unofficial artist showcases. A few of the hundreds of artists who will perform this year include Guy Davis, Mary Gauthier, Chuck Brodsky, Grit Laskin, and the Reedy Buzzards.
New Releases RETURN TO TOP	On Election Day 2000, Rounder Records released Stop Handgun Violence, a 20-track compilation to benefit the Boston-based organization of the same name. Among the artists who contributed tracks are Bonnie Raitt, Sixpence None the Richer, Sugar Ray, and Cheryl Wheeler. Looking for blues-oriented instructional videos? Check out Ernie Hawkins’ The Guitar of Lightnin’ Hopkins and The Guitar of Blind Willie McTell (Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop, [973] 729-5544, www.guitarvideos.com ) and Innovative Arrangements for American Blues/Roots Guitar by Geoff Muldaur (Homespun Tapes, [914] 246-2550, www.homespuntapes.com ). Warner Brothers recently published Tommy Emmanuel Solo Guitar Style, by Paul Hedman and Peter Pik, an in-depth look at the Australian guitarist and his music. Read our expert reviews of new acoustic-guitar oriented CDs take from the pages of Acoustic Guitar magazine. Visit the archives and read reviews of scores of great acoustic CDs.
Cyber Notes RETURN TO TOP	Mick Fleetwood, founding member and skin basher of Fleetwood Mac, has teamed with auction pioneer Ted Owen to create www.fleetwoodowen.com, a site peddling high-end memorabilia to the highest bidder. An initial offering of "specialist" guitars is slated for December. Explore Acoustic Guitar’s new online Custom Guitar Gallery at www.acousticguitar.com. More than 200 of the world’s best luthiers are profiled with images, bios, contact information, prices, and more. Fans of old-time music should check out the Old-Time Music Homepage at www.oldtimemusic.playhear.com. This extensive resource offers valuable historical information, biographical sketches of key players, discographies, a calendar of upcoming events, and news from the old-time music community. Rockabilly enthusiasts can click around the clock at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Go to www.rockabillyhall.com to catch the latest news and read artist bios, reviews, and articles about this revitalized genre. Need some help with an Acoustic Guitar lesson? Check out the new Lessons section in the Guitar Talk forums at www.acousticguitar.com. Ask questions, post tips, and get advice from the experts at A.G. about our book, magazine, and online lessons.

 

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