Tag: Faris Guitar Co

Faris Guitar Company Grand Opening this weekend

Popular bluegrass guitarist, vocalist, and band leader Rick Faris is proud to announce the Grand Opening of the new location of his business, Faris Guitar Company, and Kentucky Guitar Works this weekend in Owensboro, KY.

Faris grew up in bluegrass music, performing as a teen with his family’s band, and then served a journeyman’s role with Special Consensus, initially on mandolin, finishing up on guitar. From there, he launched a solo performing career and currently tours with his own Rick Faris Band.

The May 10-11 Grand Opening is also the launch for Kentucky Guitar Works, which will host a number of acoustic string luthiers in one building, located a short distance from the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro. Rick will oversee an apprenticeship program there, as well as other experienced luthiers who will join the team.

All this is part of a downtown revitalization effort by the city and its business leaders, based around making Owensboro a hub for bluegrass music in western Kentucky, and thus a tourist draw throughout the year.

Rick says that seeing this all come together after months of planning and renovations feels great.

“I have been just beside myself with joy at how amazing this project has been to undertake. I’ve had some real friends in the trenches, helping me get it off the ground, and it really does take a village. I’m glad that my village is Owensboro, Kentucky. I feel very excited to be doing something that will further bluegrass and the lutherie trade, so we have a healthy industry as we move into the future here at the Bluegrass Capitol of the World!

I’ve been teaching since I was a teenager with bluegrass music, and I have trained a few luthiers up in the trade, but I’m really excited to have a bigger impact on the education and demonstration of the luthier trade that has given me such a rewarding career.”

Faris will build his branded guitars in the new shop, which the public can visit to watch the luthiers at work. He, and others, will also accept instruments for repair.

A good many special events are planned for the Grand Opening celebration. Things get started at noon on Friday (May 10) with a ribbon cutting, followed by a pair of open house opportunities at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. During these sessions, Rick will host a meet and greet with media and the public, and take everyone on a guided tour of the facility.

Then on Saturday, they will get an early start at 9:00 a.m. with an hour of live bluegrass, provided by Faris on guitar, Scott Napier on mandolin, and Chris Joslin on banjo. Other musical guests are expected. After the performance, two more Open House sessions will be available at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

In order to deal with limited space, Guitar Works asks that those interested in attending one of the Open House options, please register in advance online.

From 3:00-4:30 p.m., Kentucky Guitar Works will host a luthier jam using instruments made by regional artisans and craftspeople.

Congratulations to Rick Faris, Faris Guitar Company, and Kentucky Guitar Works on your Grand Opening!

Faris Guitar Co moving to Kentucky Guitar Works

Rick Faris has had quite a run in bluegrass music. Still a fairly young man, he has gone from playing in his family’s band as a teen, to touring the world with Special Consensus, to being a successful solo recording and touring artist on his own. Gifted with a natural musical ability and a very pleasant singing voice, Rick is also a natural entertainer, and a warm and welcoming person admired by everyone he works alongside.

But all along the way he has held on to his “day job,” one that is flexible with his travel schedule and perfectly suits his artistic and creative impulses. For as long as he has been playing stringed instruments, Faris has also been repairing and maintaining them, and more recently building his own custom guitars based on the classic prewar dreadnaught model.

Just this week Rick has announced that he is accepting a new position in Owensboro, KY to pursue his craft, and build his Faris Guitars as part of the new Kentucky Guitar Works @ the Center for Lutherie.

Rick says that he has been offered an opportunity that he can’t resist.

“Everyone is becoming familiar with who I am as a performing artist and songwriter, but a lot of folks still don’t know that I am also a luthier, and spend a great deal of time building and repairing guitars and other stringed instruments. We are super excited to announce that the Faris family is moving to Owensboro, Kentucky to become the Artist in Residence at Kentucky Guitar Works.

At Kentucky Guitar Works I will be building my Faris Guitars, but I will also be offering guitar building workshops, courses, and luthier panels to educate and share information with the wider luthier community, to improve the vastly growing private luthier sector of this amazingly rewarding craft.

This latest announcement is an amazing opportunity for this other love of my life. Owensboro has recently rebranded as ‘The Bluegrass Music Capitol of the World’ to surround their town, which is a stone’s throw away from Rosine, KY, in the identity of the bluegrass community, with the aimpoint of fostering bluegrass growth and development.”

Those who have visited Owensboro to explore the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum may already be aware of the location of Kentucky Guitar Works. Just a few blocks from the Hall of Fame, it resides in the building that had previously housed the Museum before their new facility opened in 2018.

Rick will have access to an 1800 sq ft shop at KGW, which will also be open to visitors who can watch the ongoing work in progress. Like the Museum, there will be a pickin’ parlor set up where visitors can jam, and try out instruments for sale. Davies County Kentucky and the City of Owensboro are deeply involved in this venture along with regional tourism agencies and local businesses, which they believe will be a natural draw for visitors interested in the craft of lutherie, and a natural add-on to a trip to the Hall of Fame.

They have named Faris as a permanent artist in residence, where he will also be in a position to supervise apprentices and lead workshops, as well as offering his own repair and restoration services along with new, custom made guitars. His formal training had been under the tutelage of such renowned luthiers as Leo Posch of Leo Posch Stringed Instruments, Steve Mason of Mossman Guitars, and Jim Bagger of Mass Street Music.

Rick says that he is looking forward to this upcoming move, and his new position.

“Although I come from the vibrant NE Kansas lutherie scene, I am joining a great community in Western Kentucky that has some real amazing luthiers that I can’t wait to get to know better, and tap for tons of great education seminar opportunities.”

Remodeling is currently underway at Kentucky Guitar Works, with an official launch in January of 2024. Rick says that he expects that everything will be in place for full operation by springtime, with visitors welcome to come check out the shop.

Once things are fully operational, Kentucky Guitar Works expects to bring in other builders and craftspeople to work in the facility, and build apprentice programs for those interested in pursuing lutherie as a career.

Congratulations to Rick Faris, Faris Guitar Co, and Kentucky Guitar Works, and best of luck to them all in Owensboro.

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