As part of its 30th Anniversary season, the Weis Center for the Performing Arts at Bucknell University will devote an entire day to the legacy, tradition and craftsmanship of Martin Guitars on Saturday, October 14. The day is entitled, Martin Guitar Gathering: A Celebration of the Legacy of C.F. Martin Guitars in American Roots Music.
The day is sponsored, in part, by C.F. Martin & Co. in Nazareth, the News-Item in Shamokin, WXPN radio in Harrisburg and K&S Music Center located in South Williamsport.
All of the day’s events are free with the exception of the Del McCoury Band performance (Bill and the Belles opens) at 7:30 p.m.
All events take place in various locations throughout the Weis Center.
The day includes facilitated workshops including blues slide guitar basics, guitar repair consultations, guitar theory, and a roots music record listening session, as well as Martin Guitar displays and merchandise, a community guitar jam, a film screening and panel discussion, and evening performances.
The full schedule is available at Bucknell.edu/MartinGuitarDay
11 a.m.-noon
Facilitated Guitar Workshop
Blues Slide Guitar Basics with Rory Block. Participants bring guitars for this interactive instructional session. Weis Center West Lobby
11 a.m.-noon
The Doctor is In: Guitar Repair Consultations
K&S Music Center will facilitate guitar tunings, tune-ups, and restringing and consult with guitarists one-on-one about special repairs or modifications. Weis Center East Lobby
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Martin Guitars and Merchandise on Display
C.F. Martin will showcase an assortment of special custom guitars. Guitars available for purchase from K&S Music Center from noon-1 p.m. C.F. Martin merchandise will also be available for purchase. Weis Center Atrium Lobby
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Documentary Screening and Q&A: Ballad of the Dreadnought – A Musical Icon Turns 100
Discussion will feature Dick Boak, Museum, Archives, Special Projects Director, C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. and Jerry Zolten, educator, author, producer, and musician. Weis Center Auditorium
1:30-3 p.m.
Community Guitar Jam
All levels of proficiency are welcome to bring their guitars, stringed instruments and hand percussion to play along from the audience! The stage will play host to a house band comprised of local musicians and rotating special-guest song leaders, including Lenny Kaye from Patti Smith Group, Rory Block, Kris Truelson from Bill and the Belles, members of the Del McCoury Band and Jerry Zolten. Together we will play favorite songs steeped in blues, rock and Americana. Guitar chords and lyrics will be projected on a large screen and all are welcome to sing and strum along for this communal musical affair. Weis Center Atrium Lobby
3-4 p.m.
Facilitated Workshops, Running Concurrently
Groovin’ with Kris Truelsen and Jerry Zolten: A Roots Music Record Listening Session @ 78 RPM. Weis Center West Lobby
“How many ways can you play that chord?” Guitar theory workshop with Anthony Latt. Participants bring guitars for this interactive instructional session. Weis Center Upper West Lobby
6 p.m.
Rory Block Performance
Free, tickets not required. Weis Center Atrium Lobby
A traditionalist and innovator at the same time, Rory has committed her life and career to preserving the Delta blues tradition and bringing it to life for 21st century audiences around the world.
7:30 p.m.
Del McCoury Band Performance
Opener: Bill and the Belles. Weis Center Auditorium
The Del McCoury Band is the most awarded bluegrass band of all time. Their most recent release took home the 2013 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. McCoury has received over thirty International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year nine times.
Adults: $28
Seniors 62+ & subscribers: $22
Youth 18 & under: $18
Bucknell employees & retirees (limit 2): $18
Bucknell students (limit 2): $10
Non-Bucknell college students (limit 2): $18
Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice or 570-577-1000
Tickets can be purchased online at the Campus Box Office or by calling 570-577-1000.
Tickets are also available in person from several locations including the Weis Center lobby (weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and the CAP Center Box Office, located on the ground floor of the Elaine Langone Center (weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
About the Artists
Blues musician Rory Block will perform for free in the Weis Center Atrium Lobby at 6 p.m. Tickets are not required. Heralded as “a living landmark” (Berkeley Express), “a national treasure” (Guitar Extra), and “one of the greatest living acoustic blues artists” (Blues Revue), Block has committed her life and her career to preserving the Delta blues tradition and bringing it to life for 21st century audiences around the world. A traditionalist and an innovator at the same time, she wields a fiery and haunting guitar and vocal style that redefines the boundaries of acoustic blues and folk.
Bluegrass legend Del McCoury and his Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center auditorium, with Bill and 
the Belles opening. Bill and the Belles offers a contemporary reimagining of a bygone era, a vocal-centric performance that breathes new life into the sounds of early country music. From sentimental Southern ballads to the popular songs of Tin Pan Alley to regional fiddle breakdowns, a Bill and the Belles show is a celebration of the diversity country music once represented. The Del McCoury Band is the most awarded bluegrass band of all time. Their most recent release Streets of Baltimore took home the 2013 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, adding to their already impressive 2006 Grammy win for The Company We Keep and over thirty International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, including Entertainer Of The Year nine times.
For more information about Martin Guitar Gathering, contact Lisa Leighton, marketing and outreach director, at 570-577-3727 or by e-mail at lisa.leighton@bucknell.edu.
For more information about the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, go to www.bucknell.edu/WeisCenter or search for the Weis Center on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.