Get Ready to Shred
The Barnburner Guitar Competition returns September 26, bringing some of the Northwest’s best flatpickers together for a full day of fast hands, great guitars, and serious competition.
This year’s champion will take home Blue Flame, a one-of-a-kind dreadnought built specifically for the Barnburner by Outlanders member Bill Schroer. Inspired by the question of what a traditional bluegrass guitar might look and sound like if it had been born in the Pacific Northwest, Blue Flame is built largely from regional, salvaged, and sustainably sourced woods, including sinker Sitka spruce from Southeast Alaska and flamed Oregon myrtlewood.
Meet “Blue Flame”
Meet this year’s grand prize: Blue Flame, a one-of-a-kind guitar built specifically for the Barnburner. The first-place winner will take it home. Click below to learn the story behind the guitar, the sourcing of its wood, and the details of the build.
So How Do I Win This
Judging will be based on:
Originality
Timing
Style
Difficulty of material
Execution and clarity
Overall performance
Adherence to Bluegrass guitar tradition
Flatpicking and Travis-style fingerpicking are both allowed. One accompanist is permitted — no vocals, no electric instruments.
Judge Roger Ferguson,
National Flatpicking Champion (Winfield, KS)
Sign Up Today
Or Maybe you got some questions…
