2022 SYDNEY TOMKINS GUITARS SHOWCASE - CLICK HERE for photos...

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Check out the fabulous new single by SHEA FISHER !!
CLICK HERE...

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Check out this great interview at the Dirt Action website and find out about
the 'other side' of Allan Tomkins! CLICK HERE...

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PREVIOUS SHOWCASE - TAMWORTH WAS HELD ON Thursday 23 January 2020
7pm in the Legends Lounge of West Tamworth League Club

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TOMKINS GUITARS SHOWCASE - SYDNEY 2019

Allan Tomkins at the 2019 Sydney Tomkins Guitars Showcase (photo by Megan)

CLICK HERE for lots more SYDNEY 2019 photos...

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Tomkins Guitars, bass and mandolin were on display
at Sydney's STRAND ARCADE, 25th-27th August 2016
as part of 'The Balevenie hosts The Craft Bar'.
Master craftsman Allan Tomkins gave several talks at the show.

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PREVIOUS SHOWCASE: TAMWORTH 2016
WESTS - LEGENDS LOUNGE - THURSDAY 21st JANUARY 2016 - 8pm

PLUS
'Tomkins Late Night Honky Tonk'
featuring Redd Volkaert and special guests,
every night at Wests Legends Lounge!

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Spotted at FARM AID 2015 in downtown Chicago, the 30th year of Farm Aid...
KEVIN SMITH, bass player for WILLIE NELSON,
onstage with his TOMKINS Custom Bass!

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PREVIOUS SHOWCASE: TAMWORTH 2015
WESTS - BLAZES SHOWROOM - THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY 2015 - 8pm

PLUS
Tomkins Late Night Honky Tonk
Friday 16 January 2015 to Sunday 25 January 2015
...every night at Wests Legends Lounge from 11pm
PLUS
Monday 26 January 2015 at 8:00 PM

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Tomkins Guitars are delighted to be part of The Balvenie Craft Museum in Sydney. Allan Tomkins is pictured above at the event where visitors can admire the diverse handiwork of 12 craftspeople within a shared space while listening to music made with handmade instruments and sipping on the Balvenie range of whiskey. (Photo by Terry Phillpot, Eyegraphics)

Music was provided by fellow-craftsman David Sleishman (Sleishman Drums),
and his band playing Tomkins instruments. (Photo by Bob Howe)

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PREVIOUS SHOWCASE: SYDNEY 2014
Thursday 13 November 2014 was our annual
'TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE'
at Canterbury Country, Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club.
starring a multitude of surprising singers and guitar-slingers including
DARREN CARR, DAMIEN ODELL, GARY BROWN, CLINT CRIGHTON, NEILLYRICH,
JOE TRAVERS, TORI DARKE, TRAVIS COLLINS, MICK MANLY, MICHAEL WHITE,
ROSS MCGREGOR, DWAYNE ELIX & THE ENGINEERS
and surprise guests BRYEN WILLEMS, ANGELA AYERS,
JAMES VERTLEY, JOHN COKER and JOHN LEE.
The show was hosted by BOB HOWE and NICKI GILLIS
with the Hillbilly Heaven band.
JUST SOME OF THE GANG BACKSTAGE...
Front: Mick, Gary, Allan, Bob, Nicki, Doug, Tori, Darren, Gary, John
Back: Tomi, Kenny, Will, John, Joe, James (obscured), Julieanne and Clint

More photos are HERE...

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TOBY KEITH receiving a custom-made Tomkins Guitar from Allan Tomkins (left)
and Guy Ngata (right - General Manager, Allphones Arena)
to commemorate his 2014 Sydney concert at the Allphones Arena
during the 'Hammer Down Under' tour.

JOEY FLOYD has been playing guitar in Toby Keith's band for 17 years and for the last 5 years he's been enjoying his Tomkins guitar, the same model as this one which he played on the Toby Keith 2014 'Hammer Down Under' Australian tour.

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MARCH 2014: CHRISTIE LAMB plays her Tomkins Guitar in the new video clip 'Manhunt'!

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Thursday 14th November 2013 - 'TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE' - PHOTOS ARE HERE...
The show was held at Canterbury Country, Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club.
Hosted by DARREN CARR and NICKI GILLIS with the Hillbilly Heaven band.
Guests included Dan Murphy, Jamie Agius, Dwayne Elix & The Engineers, Neilly Rich (Amelia Richards & Matt McNeilly), Glen Bain, Mick Manley, Michael White, Brad Rose, Damien Odell, Gary Brown, Bryen Willems, Sharnee Fenwick, Craig Byrne, Alby Pool, Rob Wilson, Rusty Cochrane, Leyla Fences (USA), Jack Pledge and more...

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Dale Watson & His Lonestars performed I Lie When I Drink on The David Letterman Show on 24th June 2013. Dale, as always, played his custom-made Tomkins guitar.

30 Jan 2013: Allan Tomkins with KEITH URBAN and his Tomkins Diamondtina 2 Model, specially commissioned by Allphones Arena to commemorate Keith's concert at their venue. At the 41st Tamworth Country Music Festival, the TOMKINS LATE NIGHT HONKY TONK band, still standing after 10 consecutive nights working on the midnight shift at Wests (well, 11.30pm to 2.15am to be accurate)! Pictured above, L to R: Bob Howe, Terry Phillpot, Damien Odell and Allan Tomkins. Tomkins Guitars and Basses on Display at Wests. 18 – 27 January 2013 TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL:- Every night from 11.30pm, Legends Lounge, West Tamworth League Club – TOMKINS LATE NIGHT HONK TONK PLUS THE SHOW OF SHOWS - Thursday 24th Jan, Blazes Showroom, West Tamworth League Club, 8.30pm You can't have your cake and pick it too...     10 Dec 2012: On the occasion of GEOFF MACK’s 90th Birthday Party. A cake modelled after his Tomkins Guitar! With thanks to Barbara Morison for the photos. The title track off the new Doug Bruce album 'Made That Way', released November 2012. For more information go to www.dougbruce.com.au. Featuring Allan Tomkins, of Tomkins Customs Guitars, at work. Thursday 8th November 2012 was our annual Sydney 'TOMKINS GUITARS SHOWCASE' as part of Canterbury Country at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club, starring a multitude of surprising singers and guitar-slingers including Darren Carr, Steve Cheers, Mick Manley, Sharnee Fenwick, Damien Odell, Maryanne Burton, Dwayne Elix & The Engineers, Alby Pool, Michael White, Ross McGregor, Craig Byrne, Amelia Richards, Vic Price, Gary Brown, Jake Lardot, Jack Pledge, Bryen Willems, Ted Simpson, Rusty Cochrane & Doug Bruce. The night was hosted by BOB HOWE and NICKI GILLIS with the Hillbilly Heaven band. Sydney 2012 photos are HERE... Tomkins Guitar with kangaroo scratchplate One of two models available in Nashville from THE LABEL Tomkins Gary Allan Model (distressed green) One of two available in Nashville from THE LABEL 2012: Gary Allan's new Tomkins Guitar...# 19 and counting...! Gary Allan now owns the world's largest collection of Tomkins Guitars!!! The September issue of Australia's Country Music Capital News magazine features a two-page spread on picker BOB HOWE and his Tomkins guitar. USA SHOWCASES - JUNE 2012 ... The CHAD MORGAN road movie I'm Not Dead Yet is out now on DVD. Tomkins-spotters will note Chad wearing his Tomkins Guitar cap and many sightings of his special edition Tomkins 'The Sheik' guitar! I'M NOT DEAD YET is the hilarious untold story of the legendary 'Sheik Of Scrubby Creek'. Narrated by rock musician Tex Perkins, I'M NOT DEAD YET is the 'unplugged' chronicle of 78 year-old, country music legend Chad Morgan and his wife Joanie, as they travel and perform throughout regional and outback australia. Chad Morgan's extensive body of work reveals a consummate bush storyteller with a politically incorrect twist. He sings about chasing Shelias, fighting drongos, shotgun weddings, getting drunk and copulating double-decker blowflies! For over 50 years, Chad has out-sung, out-drank and outlived his famous contemporaries and has earnd his stripes as an Australian country music 'national treasure'. I'M NOT DEAD YET is a story about laughter, love, music, family and a devilishly charming 'Sheik from Scrubby Creek'. Watch the trailers and ORDER YOUR COPY HERE... MOST RECENT SHOWCASE - TAMWORTH 2012 **NEW** SYDNEY TOMKINS GUITARS SHOWCASE - NOV 2011 - PHOTOS are HERE It took this well-publicised video by DALE WATSON to get a decent response and compensation from the airline. Nice guitar Dale and that sounds like Allan Tomkins himself on the bass! On the occasion of the Sydney Film Festival premiere of the documentary of his life, I'm Not Dead Yet, legendary performer CHAD MORGAN appears on the cover of the July NSW edition of The Senior publication holding his custom Tomkins Guitar. The hand-carved leather pickguard of Chad's guitar has the slogan 'The Sheik'...a reference to his stage nickname, 'The Sheik of Scrubby Creek'. He is pictured with singer-songwriter Tex Perkins, who narrates the film. USA SHOWCASE - JUNE 2011 - PHOTOS & VIDEO are HERE Pictured above: Allan Tomkins with DALE WATSON and his Lone Stars at the Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Sydney, April 2011. Dale Watson's 2011 Tomkins Guitar For more detailed photos, CLICK HERE Alan Jackson signing the Tomkins guitar CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE CMC COMPETITION VIDEO Allan Tomkins and Alan Jackson To celebrate the premiere airing of CMC Rocks The Hunter on April 2nd,the Country Music Channel gave away a CMC Rocks The Hunter limited edition handcrafted Tomkins electric guitar signed by acts appearing at CMC Rocks The Hunter 2011, along with a signed Alan Jackson poster. This competition is NOW CLOSED.   The Battle of the Country Bands was held at West Tamworth League Club during the Country Music festival. A Tomkins guitar valued at $3,000 was presented to Mick Atholwood who was judged as the best lead guitarist in the competition for the second year running. Pictured left: Mick Atholwood is presented with his prize by Allan Tomkins (Photo by Terry Phillpot - Eyegraphics.net) 2011 TAMWORTH SHOWCASE - JAN 2011 - PHOTOS are HERE West Tamworth League Club, Blazes Showroom, 8.30pm-11.30pm Compered by Bob Howe. Special & surprise guests appearing (not in this order): Travis List, Craig Morrison, Penelope Somerville, Allan Caswell, Doug Bruce & Band, Mark D'Rozario, Christie Lamb, Lee Forster, Brad Rose, Jason Lee, Gary Brown, Mark Kotynia, Chuck Vandenbelt, Duncan Toombs, Dan Murphy, Shea Fisher, Chad Morgan + surprise guests The backing band: Drums: Terry Phillpot, Peter Figures, Pedal Steel: Warren Neilsen, Lap Steel: Gary Brown, Fiddle: Penelope Somerville, Bass: Allan Tomkins, Rusty Cochrane, Mark Kotynia, Guitar: Bob Howe, Duncan Toombs, Chuck Vandenbelt, Brad Rose SYDNEY SHOWCASE - NOV 2010 - PHOTOS are HERE June 2010: Gary Allan's new Tomkins Guitar...# 17 and counting...! June 2010: Aussies in Nashville! On Thursday 29th April 2010, Canterbury Country presented a 'CONCERT FOR BARBARA' at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club in Sydney. This all-star benefit show filled the auditorium with a huge wave of support for Barbara Tomkins to help her through a time of serious illness. Full details and PHOTOS are HERE...   April 2010: A delighted Christie Lamb receives her new Tomkins guitar onstage from Allan Tomkins.   At the 2010 Tamworth TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE there were two brand new guitars presented for the first time on stage:   Pictured left: Allan Tomkins and NICKI GILLIS with the new Nicki Gillis Signature Model Tomkins electric guitar. (Photo by Bob Howe)     Pictured right: Barbara and Allan Tomkins with two of their grandchildren make a special guitar presentation onstage to their son, Mark Tomkins. (Photo by Bob Howe) The 2010 Tamworth TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE was on Thursday 21st January 2010 at 8pm in the Blazes Showroom at West Tamworth Leagues Club Special and Surprise guests included Direct from Nashville - JOHN STONE, Beccy Cole, Travis List, Allan Caswell, Sharnee Fenwick, Duncan Toombs, Dan Murphy, Steve McCauley, Penelope Sommerville, Rebecca Somerville, Sharon Benjamin, Mark Hillier, Dean Johnston, Briana Lee, Chuck Vandenbelt, Brad Rose, Makaylie Foodey, Craig Morrison, Nicki Gillis, Jason Lee, Dean Johnston, Travis Collins, The Heartleys (NZ), Gary Brown, Lee Forster, Rob Wilson, Tall Timbre, Terry Phillpot, Warren Neilsen, Allan Tomkins, Rusty Cochrane... Compered by Bob Howe and Nicki Gillis LOTS OF PHOTOS...CLICK HERE... Nick Vanderven the Netherlands sent us this photo of Redd Volkaert with his Tomkins guitar that he took in the 'Patronaat Club' in Haarlem, The Netherlands on Sunday 0ctober 18, 2009. Nick says. "It's a beautiful sound - Redd playing all the stars from heaven with his great Tomkins guitar." Thank you Nick! Canterbury Country presented on Thursday 12 November 2009 8pm in the Starlight Auditorium Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club 'THE TOMKINS GUITAR SYDNEY SHOWCASE 2009' which starred a multitude of surprise singers and guitar-slingers including Jason Lee, Allan Caswell, Briana Lee, Craig Morrison, Terry Mandryk, Greg Peters, John Lee, Makaylie Foodey, Alby Pool, Melody Pool, Bryen Willems, Nicki Gillis, Chuck Vandenbelt, Dwayne Elix, Dave Cook, Penelope Sommerville, Kye Cole, Travis Collins, Gary Brown, Glen Skarratt, Lee Forster, Bob Howe & more...       PHOTOS ARE HERE GARY ALLAN sporting his 2009 Tomkins Custom Guitar                     Look for Tomkins Guitars at the Salon de Guitare de Montréal - Montreal Guitar Show 3-5 July 2009 A customised limited edition Tomkins electric guitar signed by the acts appearing at CMC Rocks the Snowys 2009, including (pictured) Taylor Swift, Corb Lund, Joe Nichols and Old Crow Medicine Show. This competition has now closed! Visit the CMC site TAMWORTH SHOWCASE - JAN 2009 - PHOTOS are HERE 22nd January 2009: During the Tamworth Tomkins Guitar Showcase in Blazes SHEA FISHER surprised guitar-maker Allan Tomkins on-stage with a custom made belt buckle depicting three Tomkins guitars! L to R: Julian Sammut, Paula & Lee Bowman, Ben Cant (obscured), Rusty Cochrane, Simon Ross Pictured above, also in Tamworth: JETTY ROAD previewing their upcoming album Life at a Million Miles at the Tamworth Services Club, January 2009. It will include their latest chart-topping single Good Times - the video clip for which features footage shot on their world tour. As well as Lee and Julian playing their Tomkins guitars, watch the video to spot the row of Tomkins Guitars on display during their Nashville Showcase appearances! SYDNEY SHOWCASE - NOV 2008 - PHOTOS are HERE NASHVILLE SHOWCASES - JUNE 2008 - PHOTOS & VIDEO HERE TAMWORTH SHOWCASE - JAN 2008 - PHOTOS are HERE 13 Sept 2008: Congratulations to DREW McALISTER who not only won the 2008 Cooper's Golden Saddle Award, presented at the The Galston Country Music Festival, but also the inaugural Tomkins Guitars Golden Saddle Performance Award, presented by Allan Tomkins. With the new Performance Award, Drew takes possession of the beautiful custom designed perpetual trophy - a black Tomkins Guitar with the Golden Saddle logo in gold leaf on the front - for 12 months. NASHVILLE SHOWCASES - JUNE 2008 - PHOTOS HERE A new Tomkins guitar for GARY ALLAN...! HORSESHOE BEND ROUNDUP, HEXHAM SHOWCASE - DEC 2007 - PHOTOS HERE SYDNEY SHOWCASE - NOV 2007 - PHOTOS HERE USA SHOWCASE PHOTOS The previous TOMKINS GUITARS AUSTRALIAN SHOWCASE was a huge success at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel, 623 Union Street, Nashville TN from June 4 to June 10 inclusive, from 4.00pm to 8.00pm each day. If you missed it, look out for their return in 2008! Carol Sturzel, Beccy Cole, Allan Tomkins at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel (left) Allan Tomkins, Jody Maphis, (right) Travis Collins Beccy Cole, Allan Tomkins Listen HERE to DALE WATSON talk about his Tomkins guitar with Johnno on ABC Radio's Saturday Night Country... The TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE was held in the Big Backyard at West Tamworth League Club on Thursday 25th January 2007 at 1.30pm. **NEW** Watch the TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE video podcast from the 2007 Tamworth Country Music Festival in Windows Media Player (Dial-up connections should download and then play from their hard drive) N.B. This podcast is an excerpt from the Cowboys In Cyberspace video podcast. Sydney TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE 9th November 2006 - Photos and video... Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton with Allan Tomkins at Vindaloo Studios 2006 Dale Watson hamming it up with Allan at Blanco's Bar & Grill - Houston, Texas 2006 TAMWORTH 2006 SHOWCASE & CLINIC Photos...CLICK HERE April 2004: REDD VOLKAERT live at the Continental Club in Austin, Texas "...just lovin' that guitar!" with Kevin Smith (bass) & Cindy Cashdollar (steel).   Check out the April issue of the USA BASS PLAYER magazine featuring Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton on the cover with his Tomkins Kimberly 1 bass! CLICK HERE for more... Since the release of the video clip for Gary Allan's "The Best I Ever Had" that features his green Tomkins guitar, there has been huge interest in this unique instrument. Click on the image below to enlarge the photo... The song has now been nominated for Single of the Year at the 41st Academy Of Country Music Awards. Now open - Smoky's Bar and Grill at Wests' Diggers in Tamworth NSW, featuring the Tomkins Guitars of Adam Harvey, Gary Allan and Beccy Cole! (Photo by Terry Phillpot - Eyeball Photographic Services) Sydney TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE October 13th 2005 - Photos...   During September and October the Country Music Channel aired their Tomkins Guitars mini-documentary on high rotation and one lucky viewer won a custom CMC/Gary Allan Tomkins Guitar! Pictured Left: Allan Tomkins presents the guitar to Tim Parry who was delighted when his wife Louise won the prize for him! 2005 - TOMKINS PLAYERS ON TOUR IN AUSTRALIA... Allied Artists and Country Music Channel proudly announced the long awaited return of GARY ALLAN. With over four million records sold and a slew of top ten hits, Gary Allan is one of country music's biggest names. "We've all been working hard to make this trip back to Australia happen. I'm bringing my full band so we're looking forward to the fun on and off stage. Being on tour in Australia is a different adventure for us and there should even be some time to enjoy some of your famous beaches" said Allan. Steve Forde and The Flange were the special guests for the entire tour. Watch for Gary's video clip "The Best I Ever Had" that features a green Tomkins guitar! Rose Lee Maphis and Emmylou Harris admiring a Tomkins Diamondtina Chambered Piezzo model guitar! 2005 TAMWORTH PHOTOS NOW ON-LINE... January 15th: Congratulations to JEDD HUGHES for winning the Golden Guitar for New Talent of the Year at the 33rd Toyota Golden Guitar Awards with his song High Lonesome ... Special Feature: CLICK HERE to view a photo slideshow of Joe Travers' guitar being built, stage by stage! The latest album by AEROSMITH, Honkin' On Bobo is out now and features 11 Blues and Roots classics and a new Aerosmith original. Look in the booklet (right) and on the back cover to see TOM HAMILTON, (below left) sporting a TOMKINS bass! Pre-2005 News CLICK HERE... For more details on Tomkins Custom Guitars and Basses . . . Mobile: 0419 602 333 International Phone +61 419 602 333 E-mail: Tomkins Guitars A selection of TOMKINS Guitars and Basses are also available from: Charlie Turner Email: Toll-free 1-866-790-2950 U.S.A. HOME - GALLERY - CDs - PICKERS - SHOWCASE - LINKS - NEWS © 1997-2024 Tomkins Custom Guitars and Basses Webmaster = ShowNet