When the founders of the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation had their first late-night brainstorming session about creating an organization that would make the Flathead Valley an international hotspot for studying guitar, it was little more than a pipedream among friends.
Now, the COCGF’s annual guitar festival is headed into its sixth year, and the first five years of events showed that the concept could stick, and could grow at exponential rates.
David Feffer, executive director at COCGF and one of those who dreamt up the concept, said not only has the festival put the valley on the map for guitar connoisseurs, but has also contributed some serious cash to the local economies.
When asked what he thought about the festival affecting Bigfork’s businesses, Feffer, as usual, took it a step further, dreaming a little bigger.
“I would only expand it. A lot of people have done things in Kalispell and Whitefish, and come before and stayed after and gone to (Glacier National Park),” Feffer said. “It’s been the whole area.”
Each summer, the festival takes root in Bigfork at the Flathead Lake Lodge. Musicians come from around the world to learn and interact in the weeklong workshop series, during which they learn from some of the world’s best guitar players.
And in the evenings during the workshop, the teachers take the stage to perform for the public. This year’s lineup includes Lee Ritenour, Dweezil Zappa, the LA Guitar Quartet, Brett Dennen, Madeleine Peyroux, Jon Herington, David Grissom and Romero Lubambo.
The festival runs from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 this year.
The guitar foundation worked at breakneck speed to increase the festival’s reach around the globe, and according to an economic impact study on the festival, the public response is considerable.
In the first five years of the festival, the events have drawn about 15,000 people. That number includes local and out-of-area audience members. The report also estimates that the festival is responsible for a $6 million boost to the Flathead economy, with lodging, restaurant, gas, and other money spent.
Feffer noted that the report didn’t include certain aspects, such as one workshop visitor who eventually purchased a house in the valley and went through considerable renovations. He estimated the total economic impact to be around $7.5 million to $8 million in the last five years.
“That’s pretty amazing,” Feffer said.
And the festival shows no signs of slowing down. Feffer said the intent now that the workshop and concert series are more established is to start widening the scope and increasing the number of events.
Already, the COCGF is part of a new guitar class at the Salish and Kootenai College in Pablo. The program is for youth from preschool to college age, and Feffer said early expectations were that maybe five or six people would join the class to begin.
“The class is full,” he said. “It’s got 20 people in it. They’re going to send five students to the workshop. They raised the money.”
There will be more outreach and events in Kalispell and Whitefish as well, with workshops and performances planned for Flathead Valley Community College, the Thursday!Fest celebrations in Kalispell, and events in Whitefish.
Students for the workshop this year will include one from Brazil, and another from Norway. The COCGF is also working with various music institutions in Seattle, such as the Seattle Music Council, to establish a Seattle-based scholarship, and the foundation is also working on building a relationship with Brooklyn musicians as well.
“We’re looking to go into different communities to really highlight what we’re doing so there will be lots of focus on the Flathead Valley,” Feffer said. “It’s really, extremely cool.”
For more information, visit www.crownguitarfest.org.