One of the most popular drawcards at the Festival is the Guitar Expo which is the largest gathering of Australian guitar makers from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, and guitar retailers selling imported guitars and accessories. You can actually speak to the maker, feel, touch and play the guitars on exhibition. There is a sound resistant room for all the power freaks who want to test their amps as well as quiet areas allowing acoustic guitar freedom.
All products are available for sale.
A major component of the Festival is the annual Young Guitarist of the Year Award, which is open to guitarists aged under 21 as of 28 March 2000. Each guitarist plays up to 2 solo pieces at a maximum of 4 minutes. Judging takes place on 6 April at the George Jenkins Theatre, Monash University. The judging panel assesses originality, technical skill, strength of live performance and delivery, timing and the ability to keep to a tight format. There are encouragement awards for the other three finalists thanks to Ron Leigh's Music Factory, Highett.