Monthly Meeting Recap and News for February 2026

Greetings guitar fans,

On Thursday, February 12, at Paschal Winery, we had a lovely evening full of camaraderie and good music, including by some new performers, plus a presentation of special guitars by their luthier.

This is also the season to renew your annual membership (or become a new member) by visiting guitarsocietyso.org/become-a-member.

Read on!
 The Monthly Meeting

PROGRAM

Francie Buckley – Der Mutige Seiltanzer, Nowhere, both by Angela Mair

Norm Fletcher – You Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman, Valentines Day by James Taylor, The Great Dancing Bear by Carl Zimmerman and Steve Ewert

Brian Parris – Midnight Rider by The Allman Brothers, Turn The Page by Bob Seeger, When I Call Your Name by Vince Gill

~ Intermission ~

Andy Casad – Sojourn, Just Let Go (originals)

Nick Garrett-Powell – Seabeg and Shemore (trad. Irish), Prism/Diffraction (original) on baritone guitar

Grant Ruiz – Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, The Silence of a Candle by Ralph Towner (1940 – 2026)

Dan Fellman Grant (Canto Sol) – Chan Chan by the Buena Vista Social Club, Libertango by Astor Piazzolla

Matt Dorris – Levantine Suite by Dusan Bogdanovic

After the music, there was a presentation by local luthier Phleques (phlequesguitars.com), showcasing his classical style guitars that are built for steel strings, which produce almost twice as much tension as nylon strings. Matt, Norm, Andy, and Nick all tried the guitars and said they were very playable, and the sound was clear and bright, but not overly so. Phleques described how his later model removes the sound hole and places two in the upper bouts so there’s more reinforcement along the center line of the soundboard. See more below under Guitars for Sale.
 
AnnouncementsOn Saturday, February 28, Canto Sol (Dan and Grant) will play at the Jacksonville Library from 2 to 3pm. On Saturday, March 1, they will play a full house concert at the Ol’ Barney venue in Grants Pass from 3 to 5pm. Reservations are required, so to reserve your spot(s) and to get the address, please send an email to jeffersonjamsandpreserves@gmail.com. (You can also ask to get on their mailing list.) And do tell your friends in Grants Pass! Admission is paid by donation. On Saturday, March 7, Canto Sol will play at the Paschal wine club pick-up event from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

On Friday, March 13 from 7 to 9pm, the Fret Drifters (Andy Casad and Nick Garrett-Powell) will perform an intimate concert at Paschal Winery for their Candle Light Concert Series. You can get more tickets and information here.Guitar for saleLocal luthier Phleques builds classical-style guitars that use steel strings. The designs are beautiful, as you can see from the photos above. Matt Dorris noted that they were as easy to play as a nylon string guitar. You can check out the models and pricing (which is very reasonable for hand built instruments) at phlequesguitars.com/shop or click on the images above.

Chris Malloy has some interesting guitars for sale: a 6-string classical by Greg Miller, a requinto, and a 10-string classical by LA maker Tomas Delgado, and a Ramirez. (All but the Ramirez are pictured below.) He’s also interested in donating his guitars to schools or selling them at a low price to earnest students. Please contact Chris at cmalloy@ruralnetwork.net for more information and pricing.GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGONThe GSSO is grateful to receive support from the following organizations:ShareTweetForward
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CONTACT INFORMATION

website:    www.guitarsocietyso.org
email:  guitarsocietyofso@gmail.com

Monthly Meeting Recap and News for January 2026

Greetings guitar fans,

Happy New Year to all! We look forward to the year, when we will celebrate our 25th anniversary in October 2026.

Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting, upcoming guitar-related events, and an extraordinary guitar for sale.
 The Monthly Meeting

PROGRAM

John Swinnerton – Solitude and Paschal (originals)

Brian Parris – Calling Me Home (traditional), Who’ll Stop the Rain by John Fogerty, I’m Not Over You by Carl Jackson, Cowboy Sweetheart by Patsy Montana, Gypsy Soul by Van Morrison, Blackeyed Cajun Woman by the Doobie Brothers

Arturo Ville – Moscow Lights (original), Venezuelan folk medley (traditional)

Neil Holland – Keep Opening Dawes (original)

Matt Dorris – Levantine Suite by Dusan Bogdanovic

Mark Turnbull – Love is in Charge, Emerson’s Song, What Does Love Say? (originals)
 
AnnouncementsGrant Ruiz will play solo guitar at Paschal Winery for their happy hour this Sunday, January 18, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM. He’ll also play at Belle Fiore’s wine club release party on Sunday, February 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM and at Trium Wines in Talent on Friday, February 6, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Mark Turnbull will play at La Baguette Music Cafe (340 A St.) in Ashland on Saturday, January 24, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Canto Sol (Dan Fellman and Grant) will play for a salsa dance party at Cedarwood Barn (7912 Wagner Creek Rd.) in Talent the evening of Wednesday, January 28.Guitar for saleFrom Dan Mish, danmish51@gmail.com:

1975 Hermanos Conde Flamenco Guitar 
This guitar is a Gravina model made by Faustino Conde.
It is the same model played by Paco de Lucia.
The guitar is extremely rare in that it has a French polish.
It has been appraised twice at $14,000.
I am selling it locally for $10,000, so as to not deal with shipping. GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGONThe GSSO is grateful to receive support from the following organizations:ShareTweetForward

December Meeting Recap and News

Greetings guitar fans,

Happy holidays and Winter solstice to all! We look forward to next year, which will be our 25th anniversary as of October 2026.

Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting, notes on the Michael Partington concert, and upcoming guitar-related events.

 

The Monthly Meeting

The gathering on December 11 was cozy and full of holiday spirit.

PROGRAM

Arturo Ville – Christmas medley that included Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Feliz Navidad

Steve and Marge Bismarck (guitar/bassoon) – Silver and Gold by Johnny Marks, Gesù Bambino by Pietro Yon, El Noi de la Mare (traditional Catalonian Christmas song)

Brian Paris – Missing You by Raul Malo, Past The Point Of Rescue by Mick Hanly, Please Come Home For Xmas by Charles Brown
 
Neil and Elizabeth Holland – Christmas medley on guitar and flute, End of the Day (original)
 


Michael PartingtonThe concert by Michael Partington on November 21 at the SOU Music Recital Hall was a big success. We had about 100 people in attendance, and Michael masterfully played a varied set ranging from earlier works to contemporary composers. The more modern piece by Bryan Johansen of Portland and Michael’s Latin American set were a big hit with the crowd.

Michael was happy to be back in Ashland after 24 years. He’s the only musician we’ve had back after all this time. (There’s an embarrassment of riches in guitarists out there!) He got to reconnect with Joe Thompson (pictured above), who met Michael at a guitar conference in 2003 and made the initial contact with the guitar society.

Michael also visited two of Mark Hampton’s guitar classes at South Medford High School. He reported that interestingly, the early morning class seemed more engaged than the later class, although both were appreciative.AnnouncementsGrant Ruiz will play solo guitar at Liquid Lounge in Ashland on Friday, December 26 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

Canto Sol (Dan Fellman and Grant) will play duets at Belle Fiore Winery in Ashland on Sunday, January 11 from 5:00 to 7:00  and at the Paschal Winery Happy Hour in Talent on Sunday, January 18 from 3:30 to 5:30 PM.GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGONThe GSSO is grateful to receive support from the following organizations: