BW&BK; has received the following press release:

JOE SATRIANI, ULI JON ROTH, GILBY CLARKE, GLENN HUGHES (ex-DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH), VERNON REID (LIVING COLOUR), ALEX SKOLNICK (TESTAMENT) and fretless harp guitarist TIM DONAHUE are heading up the G-TARanaki 1st International Guitar Festival on July 14th -19th. All of these acts are giving exclusive NZ shows, which involve full concert performances, workshops, forums and jam sessions. Joe Satriani will be also giving fans an intimate "Club Joe" workshop before his headline show.

Venture Taranaki events development manager Garry Sharpe-Young says the event is already proving historic. "Not only do we have these amazing artists all coming out to Taranaki to perform, we have a number of unique and never to be repeated collaborations, duets and jams happening. Glenn Hughes is playing a full electric set with a unique Kiwi band featuring guitar virtuoso Kara Gordon and Vernon Reid will be playing with some of New Zealand's finest too. The musical spread of the event is huge - Metal, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Folk and Classical. Many of these artists are breaking US tours to play here, so we are honoured."

One of the most exciting things is Uli Jon Roth's fabled Sky Academy. A huge success in Los Angeles, Uli is now bringing this amazing experience out to Taranaki and working directly with aspiring young guitarists in our regional schools in Waitera, Inglewood and Opunake. "It's truly incredible he is doing this and, of course, working with such high profile special guests as Gilby Clarke and Vernon Reid" says Sharpe-Young. "We have further artist announcements still to come". G-TARanaki is the latest in a line of event surprizes captured by the region, including exlusive shows by Motorhead and Sir Elton John.

Glenn Hughes commented "I am really excited and honoured to be invited back to New Zealand, a place I haven't played since the heady days of Deep Purple in 1975. Taranaki sounds both intriguing and wonderful, and my role as a musician is to entertain, inspire and at times- educate, so to be able to meet, play, talk and interact with the local musicians and musical youth of the country will be a very rewarding and memorable experience for me." Alex Skolnick said about G-TARanaki "Being in the land of the Kiwis, rocking and rolling hard alongside some of the giants is all this humble guitarist can ask for."

G-TARanaki is topped off by two mega concerts at the TSB Stadium on Friday July 18th and Saturday July 19th.