Remember the heartbreak of Songbirds Guitar Museum closing back in August, and the subsequent excitement when the Songbirds Foundation announced that it was purchasing + reimagining the space?

In case you missed it, the museum + foundation are separate entities, and now the space formerly occupied by Songbirds Guitar Museum is owned and operated by the foundation.

We got the inside scoop + a tour of the space as it undergoes renovations — read on for what’s to come.

What’s happening

Songbirds Foundation took over the museum + is revamping it
There are still a lot of the cool guitars you’re used to (~300 vintage guitars, including BB King’s)
The goal is to make the space more accessible — essentially, they want to humanize the guitar to show that it’s for everyone

The reinvented space will feature displays on well-known musicians like BB King + lesser-known, but just as important musicians like Hank Snow — also, yes, that was BB King’s real guitar | Photo by NOOGAtoday

What changes are being made

More color + art
Tours will be self-guided
Implementing interactive elements — like a visual feedback simulator, guitar video game, buttons that play a recording of musician Andy Wood on different amps + pedals, and a scannable Spotify code for every song that’s mentioned in displays

What else you can expect

A new stage, which will make its debut at Songbird’s first show on Aug. 25
Exhibits on a variety of musicians + music history (from the Impressions and The Big 9 neighborhood to Hank Snow and Mary Kaye)
Classes for adults + children — including master classes with well renowned guitarists like Eric Johnson

The new Songbirds stage | Photo by NOOGAtoday

When to mark your calendar

Aug. 25 | First show at the new Songbirds guitar museum space
Sept. 18 | Grand opening of the new, reinvented guitar museum
March 28 | The first master class with “Cliffs of Dover” musician Eric Johnson (this class was announced yesterday + will likely fill up fast)
Various dates | A new music series called Songbirds Rising, which will feature artists that Songbirds thinks you should know about

Poll

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