From left, Hollie Brogunier and Kathy Marie Redwine, of Nashville country-folk-pop duo The Red Wine Effect, check out a couple new guitars at the Martin booth.
Antwon Vanoy of Kansas City plays the new Montage keyboard from Yamaha, enjoying the “funky Stevie Wonder sounds.”
Singer and instrumentalist Carly Jo Jackson of south Florida performs at the booth of Luna ukuleles, a sister company of Dean guitars.
Americana artist and international road warrior Brian Ashley Jones tears off some hot blues licks on an AAT-34 electric hollowbody from the new Alvarez Jazz and Blues series.
From left, moderator Doug DeAngelis; songwriter/producer Forest Glen Whitehead; songwriter/producer Jason Massey; and Black River Entertainment VP of A&R Doug Johnson, discuss the success of new country artists like Kelsea Ballerini, whose career they are all involved in, with a mic system that connects to the audience through headphones.
“Father of Newgrass” Sam Bush, who’s celebrating the release of his new album Storyman, checks out a Fishman Loudbox Artist amp with company president Larry Fishman.
Americana artists Tommy Wiggins (on accordion) and Larry Haack perform at the booth of Jiangyin Goldencup Angels Musical Instruments Co., Ltd., which sells accordions, harmonicas and more from its home base in China.
Fifteen-year-old Scott Blasko of Indiana checks out a bass, one of many instruments carried by Stagg Music, a regular NAMM exhibitor.
Joshua Rawlings plays a new acoustic-electric from D’Angelico, the pioneering electric archtop company that was revived in 2011 after a long dormancy, and which is now getting into acoustic guitars as well as electric.
North Carolina’s Christian Foushee-Green pounds out a mess o’ blues on a Celviano Grand Hybrid by Casio, marveling at the combination of hammers and digital technology in a piano.
Martin Guitars Director of Sales Kit Culpepper strikes a pose with country icon, and a subject of the Martin documentary The Ballad of the Dreadnought, Vince Gill.
Christian/folk/country sibling harmony group Daves Highway performs at the Kyser capos booth.
Mary Faith Rhoads-Lewis performs Bill Monroe’s “Jerusalem Ridge” on a hammered dulcimer at the Breezy Ridge Instruments, Ltd., booth.
Will Jones, sometimes known as “Dr. Epiphone,” models an Epiphone Masterbuilt Century acoustic-electric archtop, which was named “Best in Show” of all products at Summer NAMM 2016.
South Florida country artist Maggie Baugh, on a guitar with a mando body, and bassist Kyle Jones, on a small acoustic bass with “rubberband” strings, jam at the Gold Tone booth.
Ryan Cooper of Guild guitars demonstrates a prototype sunburst D-40 that will be available to the public later this year.
Bassist Cory Sowa, a recent Michigan-to-Nashville transplant, lays down the funk on a jazz bass at the Fender booth.
Jazzy fingerstylist John Richards performs at the booth of Heritage Guitar, whose instruments are used by Roy Clark, John Sebastian, and various Nashville pros.
Danielle Williams of Fenton, Missouri tries out a harp in the booth of Harpsicle Harps.
Guitar wizard Johnny Hiland and bassist TJ Armstrong play everything from swing to jazz to, well, whatever pops into their heads at the Gator Cases booth.
Annabel Jackson, front, and Leila Bedoian, in the rear, play pianos of the Schoenhut piano company, small pianos that connect to an iPad or Android device to enable a child (or grownup for that matter) to use apps to learn how to play the piano.
Ben Sokol of Massachusetts tries out a new Taylor 712e 12-fret in the Taylor room.
California country artist Sheyna Gee performs at the booth of Uncle Dave’s Custom Guitars, which are made in Texas.
Hang Over guitar straps owner Brian Jones congratulates the ladies of SwirlyGig, which makes mic stand-attachable drink holders used by Zac Brown and others, for winning the contest to name his guitar-playing skeleton model. Their politically-incorrect winning entry, however, could offend some readers and therefore should not be revealed here.
Nathan Allen of the band Seryn shows off his Kyser Capo tattoo
Levy’s Leathers presented a check for $10,000 to Guitars For Vets (G4V), a 501(c)(3) charity which provides music gear and therapy to thousands of war veterans. This donation represents the profits from the sale of their G4V strap and paves the way for 50 vets going thru the program. From Left to right: Eric Weinstein, Bill McDaniel, Daniel, Harvey Levy, Suzy McDaniel, Patrick Nettesheim.
Manufacturers and distributors of musical instruments and accessories from around the world converged on Nashville for three days last week for Summer NAMM 2016. While it certainly isn’t as big as winter NAMM in Anaheim, the event at Nashville’s Music City Center draws large numbers of both merchants and people who play various roles in the city’s ever-growing music industry. An event where everyone from small children to multi-platinum stars get to check out the latest equipment, Summer NAMM is the high point of the year for a lot of people who can’t get to California for the big one. This year’s exposition seemed a little subdued compared to past conventions, but several thousand people had a good time nonetheless, as evidenced by some of the photos. — RICK MOORE
