The Vancouver International Guitar Festival, which takes place this weekend (September 24 to 25) at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre, isn't just the best place to search around for your next six-string investment.

As well as being an international marketplace for hundreds of handmade electric and acoustic guitars and the people who make them, the festival will also feature some fine local pickers showing their stuff, including local rockabilly specialist Paul Pigat of Cousin Harley and Dave Martone, a longtime associate of Bay Area guitar wizard Joe Satriani.

The festival's Time Out Bar, located on Level 2 of the community centre in MP4, will feature wine and beer and 45-minute solo sets on both days of the festival. 

Performers on Saturday include Eduardo Garcia Espinoza (noon), Jacob Seyer (1 pm), Matt Thomas (2 pm), Terry Robb (3 pm), and Josue Tacoronte Otero (4 pm).

And taking the stage on Sunday are Itamar Erez (noon), Robb again (1 pm), Pigat (2 pm), Martone (3 pm), and Matt Thomas (4 pm).

For more info on the Vancouver International Guitar Festival visit the website here.