Masters of the Telecaster Guitar Camp Comes to Full Moon Resort

It was one of the greatest, most joyous inventions of the 20th Century.  Since it emerged from Leo Fender’s California workshop in 1950, The Fender Telecaster has been the electric guitar of choice for a vast array of players. It’s been the signature axe of legendary country-pickers James Burton and Luther Perkins, rockers Keith Richard and Bruce Springsteen, jazzers Bill Frisell and Julian Lage and blues legends Muddy Waters and Albert Collins.

Now, musicians of all levels will have the chance to learn from, jam and hang out with some of the greatest players of this classic instrument when the first-ever Masters of the Telecaster Guitar Camp comes to the Full Moon Resort, September 30 – October 4.

This guitar lover’s dream event is co-produced by two internationally renowned guitar-playing locals – Joel Harrison and Jim Weider.  Harrison may be best known as the producer of the Alternate Guitar Festival. At the same time, Weider is acclaimed for his long tenure as guitarist and songwriter who replaced Robbie Robertson in the second incarnation of The Band and, currently, The Weight Band.  The Masters of the Telecaster Guitar Camp is a direct outgrowth of the popularity of Weider’s decade-long running Masters of the Telecaster concert series.

“It all began as a tribute to the late, great Roy Buchanan,” begins Weider.  “He was the ultimate Televisionary. Once I heard his debut album in 1971, his use of feedback, harmonics, volume swells and his unrivaled touch, I was sold on being a Telecaster player.  I was just one of a legion of well-known guitarists concerned that Roy was being forgotten after he died in 1988.  A great tree has grown from this sentiment and our passion for Roy.”

Weider initiated the Masters of the Telecaster with an event at the Iridium in New York City a decade ago.  He was joined at this concert by another local guitar legend, Arlen Roth, and blues great Tom Principato.  Weider expanded the venture by joining forces with G.E. Smith, best known for his time with the original Saturday Night Live band and through his touring and recording with Hall & Oates, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and many others.  Over the past decade, they have toured extensively up and down the East Coast and Midwest, with a special emphasis on shows here in the Hudson Valley at the Bearsville Theater, along with Atlanta, Nashville and New York City.

“This effort really kicked into high gear when I partnered with G.E.,” adds Weider.  “We often have a third guitarist join us for these concerts, everyone from John Jorgenson to Larry Campbell.  These nights are really a blast, as we rip through a gamut of sounds and styles – from old rockabilly, country and early rock-n-roll to Chicago blues and jazz.”

The Masters of the Telecaster Guitar Camp became a reality when Michael Densmore of Music Masters Collective approached Weider about turning it into a four-day spectacular.  Densmore had previously partnered with Weider on bringing his Camp Cripple Creek, the multi-day tribute to The Band, to the Full Moon Resort.

The Masters of the Telecaster Guitar Camp will occur September 30 – October 4 at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, N.Y.   It will feature a full day of workshops for players of all levels, followed by nighttime performances and three rooms where attendees can jam with the legends.

The list of guitar stars who will be there to teach, jam and hang is a true cross-genre A-list of Telecaster masters.  It includes Albert Lee, Bill Frisell, Brent Mason, Larry Campbell, G.E. Smith, Joe Herington, Guthrie Trapp, Redd Volkaert, Adam Levy, Joe Louis Walker, Carolyn Wonderland and Cindy Cashdollar, along with hosts Jim Weider and Joel Harrison.

“From my work, I was well acquainted with the players in country and rock, but Joel was the one who knew the jazz and alternative side, who brought in names like the legendary Bill Frisell,” adds Weider. “This is a truly unbelievable lineup that will appeal to all guitar players, whether they wail of a Tele or not.”

“The workshops will be incredible,” continues Weider.  “We’ll have large groups as well as small breakdowns, ones where players can learn techniques like hybrid picking, slide, some new chords, tips for working in the studio and enjoy ensemble playing with some of the world’s greatest players.  Whether you play a Telecaster or not, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for learning and the best-ever music vacation you can have.”

Tickets to the four-day event will include all of the above plus full room and board.  For tickets and more information, visit HERE.

Weider will also be at The Full Moon Resort June 18 – 21 for the latest installment of Camp Cripple Creek. It’s a similar multi-day event of teaching clinics, workshops, performances, jam sessions and hangs celebrating the love of American roots music and Woodstock’s most notable homegrown ensemble, The Band.  Once again, there’s an A-list of musicians here who will entertain, inform and inspire.

Weider also serves as the host of this event. He and keyboardist Brian Mitchell represent a direct lineage to this penultimate edition of The Band, along with The Levon Helm Band and the current-day The Weight Band. Along with Albert Rogers, Michael Bram, and Matt Zeiner, they offer brilliant interpretations of this legendary music as well as a powerful repertoire of great original songs.

An all-star cast of luminaries will be in on the festivities, most of whom have deep roots in the history of The Band and Levon Helm’s music projects.  They include Jimmy Vivino, legendary guitarist for some of the world’s greatest recording artists (including Levon) and bandleader for Conan O’Brien; Bob Margolin, storied guitarist for Muddy Waters who played at The Last Waltz and Byron Isaacs, vocalist/bassist of the Lumineers and Levon’s Midnight Ramble Band who brings his project, The Lost Leaders, to the camp. Also onboard are Chris O’Leary, singer for Levon’s Barnburners; Cindy Cashdollar, Woodstock’s slide enchantress; Larry Packer, fiddler extraordinaire of The Last Waltz fame; Randy Ciarlante, drummer for The Band; and Rob Fraboni, engineer for the soundtrack for Martin Scorcese’s film, The Last Waltz.  There will also be Don LaSala, owner/historian of Big Pink, the humble house in West Saugerties where Dylan and The Band crafted the litany of classic songs known as “The Basement Tapes.”

The Full Moon Resort is a 100-acre wonderland of fields, meadows and mountain streams featuring country-inn-style accommodations, luxury cottages, glamping, gourmet dining, a variety of beautiful barns, the artistically rustic Roadhouse and the spectacular new Moondance Pavilion, home to scores of magical Music Masters Collective performances.

Masters of the Telecaster Guitar Camp
Full Moon Resort
September 30 – October 4th, 2024
TICKETS HERE

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Contributing writer Sal Cataldi is a musician, writer and former publicist living in Saugerties, NY.
Photos Courtesy of Masters of the Telecaster Guitar Camp + Jim Weider