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.
- What can fans expect from your performance at this year’s Melbourne Guitar Show?
Lots of new material from my new record, Force Of Nature. Slabs of riffage, a few cheeky solos. We will be in power duo format, Mr Josh Barber (Goyte, Izzy Rodin) on drums. I’ll also throw in some reimagined oldies and a big ‘ole heart.
- How do you prepare for a show like this compared to a regular gig or festival?
I’m always practicing—sometimes just noodling on the guitar while watching TV or hanging out, other times plugged in with my full rig, dialed in. The neighbors must be sick of hearing the same lick on repeat. Haha.Once I’ve locked in the set, I usually run a couple of rehearsals with my dear friend and killer multi-instrumentalist, Josh Barber, to bring it all to life. I’ll be on tour all through Feb/Mar, so by the time we hit MGS, the show will be firing on all cylinders!
- Are there any other artists on the lineup that you’re excited to see or collaborate with?
I can’t wait to see Kathleen Halloran and Minnie Marks shred! Australia seriously punches above its weight when it comes to guitarists, and there are so many unbelievable female players coming through the ranks. It’s always inspiring to share a stage with these powerhouses.
- What guitar(s) will you be playing at the show, and why did you choose them?
I’ll be rocking my custom Les Paul—it’s got that undeniable power, the kind of meat and potatoes I love. When I pick it up, it just feels right for me. The mahogany body and humbuckers give it a real grunt, and the sustain is next level compared to my other guitars. I’ll also be playing a bunch of songs on my Cole Clark (shout out to my homies—they’ve had my back this past year!). Since I use a lot of different tunings and want to keep the set flowing, I’ll have my Gibson SG and a Mini Maton in the mix too.
- Do you have a dream guitar that you don’t own yet?
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. What a guitar!
- What do you look for when selecting a new guitar? Tone, feel, aesthetics, or something else?
It’s gotta feel like an extension of me. The second I pick it up, I know if we’re gonna get along. Tone is everything—if it doesn’t have that soul, that grunt, that bite, it’s not for me. Playability matters too; I don’t want to fight the guitar, I want it to feel like home. Aesthetics are a bonus, but if it sounds like a guttural blues howl, laced with demonic slabs of riffage, then I’m in. I don’t care if it looks like it’s been dragged through hell and back.
- What’s your go-to amp setup for live performances versus recording?
I’ve always been a bit of a traditionalist, but lately, I’ve been experimenting with a Kemper rig for live shows—it’s been a game-changer for what I’m trying to achieve with just me and a drummer on stage. There are weeks of pre-tour prep in this space but I’m totally down for it if I can build my sonic landscape closer to what I can imagine. In the studio, though, I’m all about the hunt. I’ll chase a sound down whatever weird path it takes me. On my new album, some tracks were recorded through a tiny cigarette-pack amp, others straight into an old record player speaker. Whatever gets the right vibe, then I’ll find my way there.
- Do you remember the first song you ever learned to play on guitar?
Classic rite of passage! Sweet Child O’ Mine was the first, then Stairway to Heaven—straight into the deep end.
- If you could jam with any guitarist, living or dead, who would it be?
All the Kings—Freddie, Albert, and B.B. I was lucky enough to share a bill with B.B. King in the south of France and even got to meet him afterward! That was the closest I ever got—and yeah, I totally fan-girled.
- If you could give one piece of advice to young guitarists aspiring to perform live, what would it be?
Make loads of mistakes daily, this is the only place where you grow. Listen to the greats. Write the best damn songs you can—ones that cut through the noise. Collaborate, steal songwriting tricks (like a pro), and keep sharpening your craft. Play. A lot. Jam with other people, ALOT. Stop obsessing over your pedalboard and get on a stage. That’s where things start to come together.
- What else is happening in Dallas Fasca’s world (releases, tours, anything??)
After a massive 2024—two national tours, including one with Orianthi (Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper), and dropping Force of Nature, which hit #2 on the ARIA Charts—I’m hitting the road again through Feb/March before joining ZZ Top & George Thorogood on the Red Hot Summer Tour this April and May.
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