Chasing a world record at guitar festival

May 11 2005 Ayrshire Post

KIRKMICHAEL Guitar Festival is aiming to enter the record books by having a guitar built from scratch in three days.

Organisers hope to smash a previous record set in Italy by having Ayrshire-based guitar maker Mark Bailey build an electric guitar from scratch during its three day festival on June 3 to 5.

The pressure will be on for the guitar maker as the instrument must be ready to be played on the last concert of the festival when it will also be raffled.

This year’s event will also host the first Scottish Air Guitar Championships.

Celebrity supporters of the festival include Dolly Parton, Bill Wyman, Tony Blair and Brian May.

Now in its sixth year it’s estimated the festival will attract 5,000 people who will see artists including YES guitarist Steve Howe, flamenco maestro Juan Martin, Australian guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel, Grammy winner Albert Lee and jazz star Martin Taylor.

Members of the public attending the festival will be able to see the record attempt as it takes place.

Mark Bailey will be giving free guitar building workshops during the day as he works on completing the instrument.

For more information and ticket booking go to www.kirkmichael.org or call 01292 611222.

Mark Bailey has made guitars professionally for 15 years and has been playing for 20 years.

In 1998 with Carol Davies he formed Bailey Guitars and created the unique 'BYO' course enabling anyone to make their dream guitar.