Freak Guitar Camp 2005 - 1st International Week

I had a great time with all of you guys!! Many thanks for your inspiring playing and your kick ass attitude!!

I'm gonna post plenty of pics and vids here and if you also have kick ass material to share, as well as comments, feel free to post!

Stay Freaky!

Julien

           The Freak Guitar Camp has during the past years rapidly grown from a small course for Swedes to what now only can be described as a major international success! Though many details have been improved during the years the basic concept is still the same: What you get are six intensive days of hard work on the guitar in the Swedish woods.

           During daytime Mattias IA Eklundh, a k a "The Guru", leads his God-fearing classes, teaching his various unorthodox techniques as well as picking examples, tapping, harmonics, riffing, finger-picking, poly-rhythms, odd time stuff that will turn your whole concept of music up side down! IA's six-stringed spanking starts right after breakfast and continue until dinner in the late afternoon (plus lunch and a couple of breaks for occasional caffeine and refreshments).

           During the evenings Freak Kitchen's extraordinary drummer Björn Fryklund teaches in everything from the importance of rhythm to how to behave in a band context.

As the sun goes down you get to learn and try how to record various instruments with maestro Christian Alsing.

As if this wasn't enough, there was this year a very special guest guitar monster : Mr Ron Thal aka BUMBLEFOOT himself, who came especially from New York to kick our asses!!!

           The camp is held just outside Gothenburg, Sweden, at a place called Härsjösands Kursgård, located exactly in the middle of nowhere.

           Among many things, the beautiful surroundings include a nice lake great for various H2O-activities (read: swimming, if you're into that) between the frantic classes, something you really need since at least 10 hours in the class room each day is to be expected! After a butt busting day's work there is time for practice and if you're lucky you just might catch a couple of hours of well-deserved sleep!

          Does this sound challenging to your physical and mental state of mind/body? It sure is! But do not fear; everyone (as far as we know) leave the camp strengthened (if somewhat exhausted). In fact, many of our former students come back year after year and vividly tell that the Freak Guitar Camp has been one of the best experiences of their lives!

Here are last year's first international week campers: