The 24th Harp Guitar Gathering®

Hosted by Andy McKee!

(Who just so happens to be the most recent inductee into the Kansas Music Hall Of Fame)

November 13-15,  2026

Lawrence, Kansas

Schedule (subject to change)

Our home base will be the Oread Hotel – 1200 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas

Thursday November 12th

7:00 PM – Pre-Gathering get-together at a restaurant close to the Oread
hotel. This is purely a social thing that has become a regular event, but is
not technically part of the Gathering. You’ll need to be signed in advance
for this.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13th — at the Oread

11:00 Registration Check-In opens

12:00 LUNCH – you’re on your own

1:00–2:30 Welcome and Introduction
Stephen Bennett & Andy McKee welcome you to HGG 24 and introduce
this year’s featured performers/presenters, each of whom will spend a few
minutes talking about what they are presenting and/or play a song.

2:30-3:30 Introducing Murilo Martinez

Murilo Martinez is a Brazilian multi-instrumentalist. For 20 years, he has been composing, blending contemporary fingerstyle guitar techniques with influences from Brazilian musicality, such as baião and guarânia. With 4 albums released – “Sinfonia do Silêncio”, “Duon”, “Trinca do Mato”, and “A Forma do Som” – Martinez possesses a unique melodic quality and strong connection to his regional roots. He is currently releasing his latest album, “A Forma do Som”. The artist also works with musical production for regional artists and composing soundtracks for films, receiving several awards in Brazil and at the Cannes and London Film Festivals in 2025.

3:30-3:45 BREAK

3:45-4:45 Scotty Burford (our favorite Aussie, unless Tony Barnard shows
up – in which case they are both our favorite Aussie!) reviews the past year of the harp guitar in social media and explains how one of the worst inventions for our society can be the best method to present harp guitar to the wider world.

5:30-7 DINNER

7:30 The Second Annual Harp Guitar Championship!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14th – at the Oread

Michael In The Morning (Hedges, that is!) — Andy McKee will be driving this bus; the passengers are:

9:00 John Stropes

John is a leading authority on fingerstyle guitar. Through the historical research, analysis, transcription, teaching, and performance of fingerstyle guitar, he has brought focus to this style as a significant music. He’s also an authority on the playing on Michael Hedges.

10:00 Jake White

Jake White is a musician, entrepreneur, and author of Dream Out Loud: The Life and Music of Michael Hedges. He has studied Hedges’ work for over thirty-five years and is widely recognized as the leading authority on the guitarist’s life and legacy.

11:00 Randy Lutge

Joining the gathering in 2026 will be videographer/archivist Randy Lutge. Randy has been documenting live music, with an emphasis on fingerstyle for more than 45 years. Randy was a partner manager/music producer at The New Varsity Club in Palo Alto where he became close to, and filmed Michael Hedges starting in 1980. Randy will share rare footage of Hedges with the harp guitar.

12:00 LUNCH

1:30-3:30 The Luthiers Forum, led by Mike Doolin

1:30-2:30 Workshop with John Stropes

2:30-3:30

3:30 BREAK

3:45-5:30 Harp Guitar Ensemble with Mark Farley

5:30 DINNER – at the hotel

8:00 CONCERT

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15th – at the Oread for the morning

Room #1

9:15-12 The Steve Farmer Memorial Open Mic*

Room #2
9:15-10:30 Workshop with Murilo Martinez

10:45-12 Workshop with Andy McKee

Room #3
10-11:15 Workshop with Stephen Bennett

12:00 The Harp Guitar Year in Review with Sir Gregory
Once again, Gregg Miner gives us the roundup of this year’s harp guitar news. As always, it’s certain to be fascinating!

1:15 LUNCH – you’re on your own. Consult info in your packet for a
guide of nearby restaurants.

3:00 CONCERT at LIBERTY HALL (644 Massachusetts Avenue)

6:30 DINNER – back at the hotel

7:45 Open Mic

* Sadly, our friend Steve Farmer passed away early this morning (June 27, 2026). “Big Steve” had a big heart, a big hug, and a big pile of songs. He and Miss Vickie loved the Gathering and returned every year after they first attended in 2009 (if memory serves correctly). Steve loved the Open Mics that have been a regular feature of the Gathering from the beginning. The Sunday morning Open Mic session will be designated as being held in his memory from this day forward.