**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
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
Latest 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.
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
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...
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
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
Tomkins Custom Guitars, Basses, Lap-Steels & Mandolins
The TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE was held in
**NEW** 
2005 - TOMKINS PLAYERS ON TOUR IN AUSTRALIA...
