The Ninth Annual Gathering of Resonateurs
The 14th Annual Gathering of Resonateurs
It’s time once again for the annual out a 'red carpet' invitation to our group which Gathering of Resonateurs 'ResoGat 2018'. You still left us with the unanswered are invited to join the folks at the 13th annual question..."would people be willing to relocate to event at the Holiday Inn Express in Wilkesboro a new location some 600 miles from John and NC to be held July 11th through the 14th, 2018 Margaret's home?" The pleasant answer was a (checking out and heading for home on Sunday resounding 'yes'...with over 100 attendees from the 9th). Get your reservations in by July 5th at 15 states and Canada that year. In 2016, we had the Holiday Inn Express 336.838.1800 to get the 158 folks from 25 states of which 108 were Dobro block room rate of $90 per night. Be sure to players! reference the Dobro Festival event. So we are proceeding with plans for the So who are the Resonateurs and what 2018 Annual Gathering. It's important to note exactly is the Gathering of Resonateurs, or that we've intentionally maintained an informal ResoGat for short? Well, the quick answer is, unstructured style to the event...with the only we're a loosely knit group of individuals who are rule being that there are no rules. All levels of drawn together out a love or fascination for the players are encouraged to attend, whether an dobro, or resonator guitar. Invented and early-on beginner or a full up professional. The developed in the late 1920's and early 30's, the main 'requirement' to attend is a desire to five Dopyera brothers presented America and the become involved with other devotees of the world with a totally unique instrument centered resonator guitar. Most of the Gathering time is around a mechanical resonating sound or spent in totally unstructured "fun", jamming, amplification system. The brothers tossed looking at the exhibiters’ wares, sharing ideas. around the question of what to call this new class Here is a description of the activities that occur at of stringed instruments and finally coined the the Gathering for the pickers and non pickers term 'Dobro' which was a combination of the alike. Among these are : Jams, Exhibiter Room, words DOpyera and BROthers. Following Informal Workshops, Community Concert with a WWII, electrified instruments appeared and special guest to be honored (Johnny Bellar), door interest in the Dobro subsided somewhat until prizes, raffles, silent auctions, group pictures, and bluegrass music appeared. Josh (Buck) Graves luncheon & awards,!! converted the Earl Scruggs style of banjo picking The activities schedule will be posted on to the dobro and the rest is history as notable the big board in the main lobby of the hotel. Look players (Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, Rob for the 2018 schedule on the website. The 2017 Ickes, Randy Kohrs...) made the instrument ...a schedule last year was: bunch of 'cone heads ''main stream' . Knowing Arrive on Wednesday, help setup, and jam all the contribution his father had made to the world afternoon and evening with friends of music, John Dopyera Jr. and his wife Thursday: Workshops and jamming all day Margaret threw out an open invitation for 10:30 am – Corey Lee McQuade, Flat Picking Dobro anyone with a strong interest in the dobro / 1 pm - Chris Hart – Playing Josh Graves resonator guitar...luthier, collector, musician, .2 pm - Mike Esposito - Christmas Music connoisseur, or ?...to join them at their home in Friday: Workshops and jamming all day Pennsylvania for a week long 'Gathering in the 10:30 am - Lou Wamp – Your job as the Dobro Woods' during the Fourth of July week in 2000. Player: Ensemble playing, rhythms, fills, and backup. Learn how to backup your band. From this beginning it has grown every year up 1 pm - Bev King – Historical Perspective to, and including, the current Annual Gathering 3 pm - Group photo of Resonateurs held at Wilkesboro, NC. Friday evening, concert for the community Following the 2004 Gathering, John and and to recognize our honoree Margaret made the hard decision to sell their Saturday afternoon, a group dinner in the Pennsylvania wooded retreat and a committee afternoon with door prizes and special was formed to see if the Gathering could awards successfully transfer and find a new 'home.' The communities of Wilkesboro/N. Wilkesboro rolled
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In addition to the planned activities the local area has In previous years, there were workshops on Beginning and many interesting attractions, historic sites, shopping and Intermediate/Advanced Dobro and Flat Picking Dobro: dining opportunities. Those attending for the first time will find the people of this area to be very friendly and hospitable. For those of us returning, this is like a homecoming to visit old friends. The atmosphere of the Gathering has always been very relaxed and informal. The only rule being - there are no rules. Feel free to join in the jam sessions or just sit and listen if you prefer. Enjoy other activities as you wish. Lou Wamp Corey Lee McQuade If you are in the market for a custom made resonator guitar, you will find an excellent selection from Hopefully you can plan on joining us at this 2018 some of the finest luthiers in the world. In 2017, we had Annual Gathering of Resonateurs. If so, please contact Jenny Faulk with Perfect Touch Picks, Ken 'Chief' Harper Pammy so name tags can be make for you and your party. with Chief's Leatherworks, Bev King with Country Heritage Please include your address and phone numbers. Don’t Music, Charlie McClary with Charlie's Slide Pro Capo, forget the July 5th deadline for reserving a room. Peter Mosco with Macon Stringed Instruments and Steve If you would like to pre-order a Tee-Shirt in your Smith with Red Line Resophonics. The 2017 exhibiters size, contact Pammy with the quantity and sizes desired by pictured are front row, left to right: Charlie, Bev, and Peter; Monday, June 25 for the pre-order. You do not have to back row, left to right: Steve, Jenny, and Chief. John is not purchase the Tee-Shirt if you do not like it but if you do, you shown. will be assured of getting your size. Now hurry up and prepare yourself for a great time with good friends old and new! There is nothing else like the Gathering so enjoy every minute of it and plan to come back next year.
2018 Gathering of Resonators Committee
Pammy Davis, Chair ([email protected] or 336.202.1536) Frank Bounds (Webmaster), Rob Armstrong, Tom Costner, Tammy James, Larry Klein, Larry Maltz, Bob McEvoy, Jim Nagle, Will Springer, Olivia Wittmann We want to say a special thank you to this past year’s sponsors. The majority of them have never attended Website: www.resogat.org the gathering but didn't hesitate to help us out when asked. .
Please show your gratitude to them and let them know how much you appreciate their contribution. Any additional exhibiters will be listed on the website’s Facebook page 2017 Group Picture Another benefit offered is the option for a professional Dobro instructor to offer personalized private lessons for a fee. These were arranged between the instructor and the student and not the Gathering of Resonateurs. If you are interested in providing private individualized lessons in 2018, please contact Pammy for more details. We are excited to be honoring Johnny Bellar at the ResoFest Concert on Friday, July 13, 2018!
Other area hotels
Addison Inn (Wilkesboro): 336.838.1000 Hampton Inn (Wilkesboro): 336.838.5000 Red Carpet Inn (Wilkesboro): 336.667.2176
All three hotels are within a 5 minute drive of the Holiday Inn Express.