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?
A very raw ‘one woman band’ set packed with lots of stories, copious amounts of slide guitar, busy feet on the foot drums and a fair bit of laughter in between.
How do you prepare for a show like this compared to a regular gig or festival?
I approach every single show the same. Give it your absolute all no matter where you’re playing or who you are playing to.
Are there any other artists on the lineup that you’re excited to see or collaborate with?
I’m always excited to see Lloyd Spiegel, Dallas Frasca and Kathleen Halloran. Those three are absolute weapons!
What guitar(s) will you be playing at the show, and why did you choose them?
I’ll have my old ’56 Gibson ES-295 Goldtop and My ’69 – ’70’s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop. These two are always my travelling buddies as they have such unique, contrasting voices.
Do you have a dream guitar that you don’t own yet?
I’d love to acquire an old Tele from the 50’s or 60’s for the Guitarsenal.
What do you look for when selecting a new guitar? Tone, feel, aesthetics, or something else?
Resonance is my go to, how much air is being moved around by the beast. I do tend to lean towards a more meatier baseball bat neck feel hence why I have the old Gibbos. But also I enjoy finding unfamiliar ground in guitars as it pushes me into different sonic territories which can be really fun and interesting.
What’s your go-to amp setup for live performances versus recording?
For live gigs, I tend to head towards the 1×12 or 2×12 Hotrod III combos and in the studio a 1×10 Princeton to tighten things up a little. On stage though I’m a sucker for the rumble though. What’s that old saying? You gotta move some air for people to care! Ha!
Do you remember the first song you ever learned to play on guitar?
‘A Horse With No Name’ was my first, followed by ‘Come As You Are’ – Nirvana
If you could jam with any guitarist, living or dead, who would it be?
I would have loved to have played with Sean Costello. Sadly he’s not with us anymore but the raw passion and tone that would flow out from his fingers hits deep for me. He played every note like it was his last. Incredible stuff.
If you could give one piece of advice to young guitarists aspiring to perform live, what would it be?
Play as much as you possibly can, see as much music as you can, be fearless in finding your own unique sound and most importantly have FUN!
What else is happening in Minnie Marks’ world (releases, tours, anything??)
I’m currently working diligently on a new album which I’ve been sitting on for a few years. I’ve been carefully curating the songs over the years, waiting to see what falls out of my mind, heart and hands. After I cut these tracks it’ll be time to hit the road again to tour!
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