Every year Kalamazoo has the Fretboard Festival at the museum. They have guitar builders from all over the area and a lot of free workshops and music. Today I saw this 16-year-old kid play with his band and shot this video. Pretty amazing, especially since he said he’s been sick all week.
Jake Kershaw at the Fretboard Festival
DougoBlue
#5
That Firebird is brand new. He also played an old Les Paul and a older strat.
He is a nice kid.
We talked about an upcoming gig he has in support of some national/regional act in Grand Rapids. He said it was going to be tough because it was on a school night.
DougoBlue
#6
Jake has come a long way in this last year. He’s playing big venues and opening up for national acts now.
He’s still got a couple more years of high school, but he’s going places.
Here’s a shot of him playing his custom Heritage.
Photo credit: Derek Ketchum
DougoBlue
#7
This year’s Fretboard Festival was great too.
Highlights for me were May Erlewine and the Moxie Strings.
Photos courtesy of Derek Ketchum Photography.
DougoBlue
#8
I went to the Heritage Guitar get-together and factory tour today. Jake Kershaw, the high school kid from down the road demo’d a few of their guitars during the tour.
DougoBlue
#9
My friend Arnie that worked at Heritage for many years built this custom Flying V that he brought out later. He built a baffled sound hole into the upper wing (you can barely see it in my lousy photo). I designed the Embrrs logo for him that he had etched onto a piece of brass for the headstock.
Jake played this guitar at Ribfest Thursday night during a ZZ Top medley.
