Apologies for being late on this post. I landed in town after this convention, and right away my phone rang with news of the sudden passing of a very close friend. I’ve been in a funk ever since, and trying to get right with the world.
Getting out of Boise during our dark winter months, and into 70 degrees and sunshine, is reason enough to make yearly plans to attend this convention.
This was another huge year for The NAMM Show in Anaheim. I was joined by 60,000 other attendees. There were 1600 exhibitors, and over 200 workshops. This is a music marketing convention, with something for everyone. It’s not for the faint of heart if you’re not a people person, or have a hard time walking. Some of us go on extra hikes before the convention, to get ready for the massive amount of walking. This year I did the smart thing, and got a room with a tub. It made all the difference!
There are tons of band stages and pop-ups at NAMM, you can often be walking next to someone famous without realizing it! Last year I ran into Jon Batiste in just this way. This year, I saw producer Sylvia Massy just after joining her production workshop. The workshops are great, and I always find a couple that specifically support female audio engineers. My favorite workshop featured Grammy-winning engineer Andrew Sheps, who broke down the routing, mixing, and plug-in chains of the song “Too Sweet,” from Hozier. This was a dream come true for me, to see all these buttons on a giant screen. Another workshop featured a work in progress that had not yet been released, so we were not allowed to film. The producer spoke about the importance of what order to add your compression, and especially reverb. I saw a breakdown of the song “Despacito,” mixed by Mauricio Rengifo and Andrés Torres. They showed the isolation of every single amazing cumbia beat as a single piece, to emphasize the punch of the song.
I met some folks with a brand new app that is taking off, Music Road Trip. It’s a great free app for music lovers, giving you concert info and music listings, lodging options, where to eat, what to explore, how to rideshare in any area you’re enjoying music.
Another plus of the NAMM Show, is there is live music everywhere you look. Every style, from songwriter to Mariachi.
The awards shows are an extra treat to this convention. This time I saw the TEC awards, and She Rocks Awards.
The TEC awards give awards to new and innovative software, plugins, and tech gear. The performer this year was Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins. It was a little cringe when he said, “We’re all high on coke right now!” I’m like, really? Cuz I’m not, nor is the 9 year old girl in front of me who had been dancing so cute every time the awards music came on. Now she just looks confused. Great music, though. Last year was an epic performance from Jack White. It’s so interesting to see the inventors, investors, and teams that make the equipment everyone uses on stage and in the studio.
A highlight for me is She Rocks Awards. There’s nothing like it, and it’s a fun red carpet event I’ve been luckily invited to cover to several years. It’s always exciting to see our KRVB floor sign of where to stand, amongst press from around the world. This event honors many women in the music and production fields. The evening is always very inspirational, with great speakers and performers. It’s a nice chance to rest your legs, have a great dinner, get inspired, and go home with a swag bag. Mixi Demner, vocalist of Stitched up Heart, was the emcee. Her band is really good, and they’re coming to Boise! Stitched Up Heart opens for Sebastian Bach, in a show March 6th at Treefort Music Hall! Get tix HERE.
You can watch this year’s She Rocks Awards below.
Lastly, I’ve done this for several years now. Here is the 2026 compilation of “Guitar Faces of NAMM!”
Cannot wait to go back next year, you should go! Next year’s convention is January 26-30th.
Have questions or comments? Email me.
