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ONE of the world’s premier guitarists is preparing to rock the kingdom next month with a series of events planned to entertain music lovers.
Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, lead shredder for legendary rock band Guns N’ Roses, will take part in a ‘Meet & Greet’ session at Virgin Megastore in City Centre Bahrain on December 3, followed by a special guitar clinic at Room 2 Rock in Adliya on December 4.
Finally, Thal will bring the curtain down with a full concert at Ibrida, Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, Seef, on December 5.
The event is being hosted by Jam Up and will also feature local band Likwid and Dubai rockers Point of View, a band personally endorsed by Thal.
The event’s chief organiser Jude D’Souza said: “The concert’s main essence is to empower Bahraini and Bahrain-based musicians worldwide. Jam Up basically consists of local talent, regional talent from around the GCC and international talent, all of which will be showcased.”
Bringing Bumblefoot to Bahrain has been a process in gestation for a long period, since the Jam Up team were invited to one of his exclusive gigs in Dubai. There, Jude pitched the idea of playing in Bahrain to him, and the initiative of promoting local talent meant that he was very happy to accept.
Tragedy struck in September when Jude’s good friend Savio Samanna, one of the original organisers of Jam Up, suffered a fatal heart attack. He was only 37 and his untimely passing led to the concert, originally scheduled for October, being postponed.
Jude said: “It came as a complete shock to all of us at Jam Up, of which Savio was an integral part. We lost a great friend that day and we certainly miss him. The first Jam Up concert will certainly be a tribute to Savio and I know he would have been proud.”
With tickets already selling fast, coupled with the success of German rockers Scorpions at the Formula 1 back in April, it appears that there is a growing market for rock music in Bahrain.
Jam Up is aiming to tap into this interest going forward with events twice annually, all with the three-pronged concept of a local Bahraini, regional GCC and renowned international talent performing.
The choice of Ibrida as the venue, despite being indoors and so naturally with a smaller capacity than an outdoor venue, was a deliberate one according to Jude.
“Ibrida seemed to be the perfect place for us as the setting it provides, both acoustically and visually, is the kind of mood we aim to set with Jam Up. We endeavour to deliver warm intimate gigs which have never occurred before in Bahrain in this format. We have coined Ibrida as the ‘Home of Live Music’, so I think it’s a moniker that sits pretty well with our vision,” he said.
Bumblefoot, 45, has a huge portfolio of work, both from the recording and producing side of things, but shot to international fame when he was invited to join superstars Guns N’ Roses in 2006, with whom he has continued to tour with ever since.
Speaking to GulfWeekly, he said: “I’m excited about meeting the local musicians and everyone getting to know each other. Jam Up has put together great events and I’m honoured to be a part of what they’re doing!”
For more information about the Jam Up events and to reserve tickets, email www.jamup.me
