0
0
Melbourne Guitar Show returns as Australia’s biggest guitar show in 2025, with this year’s edition also marking a milestone for the iconic event, moving to a new home alongside an incredible lineup of performers, workshops and more locked and loaded for this March. The Victoria Pavilion at the Melbourne Showgrounds is set to play host to Australia’s ultimate showcase of guitars, amps, pedals and lots of other gear on Saturday March 1 and Sunday March 2; and with a new venue, a brand new layout and a reimagined program offering a horde of new ideas, workshops and live opportunities, 2025’s Melbourne Guitar Show will undeniably be the ultimate mecca for axe-slingers and riff-bringers of all ages.
We caught up with Dallas Frasca to discuss her Dream Guitar:
What is your dream guitar, and do you already have the guitar, or is this truly a Dream Guitar?
If I can only talk about one guitar, then, I’ve recently fallen back in love with my rare Gibson Les Paul Custom. I bought her at a closing-down sale in the ‘90s, and nothing else I own comes close to this bond. It was the change I needed for my new live show.
Ultimate dream guitar? Easy—a ‘59 Gibson Les Paul or a Custom Black Beauty. I was lucky enough to borrow one from my mate Rick Steward’s collection while recording Force of Nature, and to be real—giving it back was painful. That guitar had soul.
Why this guitar?
Les Pauls just have that undeniable power and it’s the kind of meat and potatoes I love. When I pick it up, it just feels right. The mahogany body and humbuckers deliver a tone with grunt and I love the sustain compared to other guitars I own.
What does this guitar pair well with?
A cranked-up Fender DeVille, no question. But if you’re into getting experimental, throw it through some old-school Big Muff fuzz or a gnarly octave pedal, and suddenly, you’ve got some denture-rattling offerings.
What genre does this guitar fit into?
I’m not bound to think that any guitar is suited to one specific genre #fuckfittingin 🤘🏻it’s all in how you play it. That being said, the Les Paul was built to rip—especially in blues & rock. It cuts through with that unmistakable big, dirty tone.
Are there any of your idols that play this guitar?
Some of the best to ever do it: Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Duane Allman, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Slash, Gary Moore, and of course, Billy Gibbons. Speaking of Gibbons, I’m still pinching myself that I’ll be touring with ZZ Top across Australia in April and May. I mean, when else am I gonna name-drop something like that? Haha. I’ll have my notebook, front row every night.
Anything else at Melbourne Guitar Show you’re excited to see? Performers, luthiers, etc.?
I’m definitely keen to catch up with the Cole Clark crew—they’ve had my back, and I owe them some high-fives and a beer. Touring with Orianthi recently blew my mind, so I’ve got my eye on some PRS guitars after hearing what she could pull out of them. And I’ll be saying hey to the legends at D’Addario, who’ve kept me stocked with strings for tours. Also keen to check out Polschelk Guitars—Aussie-made, pushing boundaries. Always down to see where the future of guitars is headed.
Following a huge 2024 that included two national tours – one alongside Orianthi (guitarist for Michael Jackson & Alice Cooper) – and the release of her latest album, Force of Nature , which landed at #2 onthe ARIA Charts , Dallas Frasca is heading back out on the road before joining ZZ Top & George Thorogood on the Red Hot Summer Tour this April and May. Kicking off on February 7 in Creswick , the run will see Frasca perform a mix of electric duo sets and full-band shows across Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia
Tickets for the Melbourne Guitar Show are on sale now from www.melbourneguitarshow.com.au. Early bird ticket discounts are available now, with affordable prices and early bird adult day passes under $30 available now. Simply purchase your Melbourne Guitar Show tickets online now and save.
