S.L.R. Magazine

NAMM 2026 CELEBRATES ITS 125 YEARS OF MUSIC, SHOWCASING VARIOUS PERFORMANCES OF MUSICIANS/ARTISTS, INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS, MUSIC BUSINESS, MUSIC EDUCATION, AND AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS & NETWORKING, BY DON MARCELO

The year 2026 started off with a true bang for me in my journey in the world of music and music photography. I had the greatest opportunity of covering 3 days at NAMM,  photographing for an assignment for U.K.’s Music influencer, social media/music promoter of musicians, and YouTuber, Mr. Laurie Monk aka @shreddelicious aka @truthinshredding…well,…

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The year 2026 started off with a true bang for me in my journey in the world of music and music photography. I had the greatest opportunity of covering 3 days at NAMM,  photographing for an assignment for U.K.’s Music influencer, social media/music promoter of musicians, and YouTuber, Mr. Laurie Monk aka @shreddelicious aka @truthinshredding…well, actually, 4 days if you include the day before when I picked up my badge on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and walked around the area outside the convention center and some parts inside as well.

Written by Don Marcelo

Vistit NAMM website: https://www.namm.org/

This marks only my 2nd time attending this epic event, but the first time to cover and share some of my captured moments with a report and an article for S.L.R. MAGAZINE of some amazing artists as an assigned professional photographer and photojournalist. 

Although I have some special mentions (perhaps some bias as well) in regards to several artists I saw and photographed, this report is not a music review of how well each of the artist/artists’ performed for their demo sets for their sponsors. But rather, this is a report of just an overall observation of NAMM 2026 and to share to the world some of my captures of these amazing and talented artists through my mind’s eyes and shooting behind my lens and my camera; my personal thoughts and journey of the events that occured; and most importantly, introductions of the artists whom I had the honor and privilege to photograph on this weekend.

DAY 2 OF NAMM, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2026: THE CALM BEFORE THE MUSIC AND THE PUBLIC. 

I had a free day on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, so I went ahead to the city of Anaheim to pick up my badge early and document some behind the scenes of NAMM. On this day, not much happened except for some classes and education for members of NAMM who wanted to attend a class or a function to further their education in the world of music. For me, it was just an opportunity to walk around without the massive crowd and for me to plan my days on how to attack my assignments for each day. It was also an opportunity to capture some areas and document some behind the scenes of the set up. 

On this day, I ran into an old friend who was picking up his badge as well, Daniel Jun, a drummer for hire as well as a videographer. I have had many opportunities to photograph his LIVE performance in the past and he is quite talented and dynamic, if I may say so. What a great way to start my NAMM adventure.

Here are some BTS of DAY 2, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2026 of NAMM:

Photos by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026.

An empty indoor event space with polished floors, black curtains, and overhead lighting. A few people are visible near registration counters and a blue recycling bin.
A wide walkway lined with palm trees leading to a modern building, with several people walking in the distance.
A busy walkway lined with palm trees, featuring multiple people walking in different directions. Some individuals are wearing conference badges, indicating a professional or event setting.
A person filming in front of large blue letters that read '#NAMM SHOW', set in an outdoor area with palm trees in the background.
Exterior view of the NAMM Show entrance at Arena Plaza, featuring banners for music, sound, and live events, with palm trees and attendees in the background.
Exterior view of the Anaheim Convention Center featuring banners for The NAMM Show, celebrating 125 years from 1901 to 2026.
Stage setup for The NAMM Show, featuring a backdrop with the event name and sound equipment in front.
A camera on a tripod in front of a stage with a large banner reading 'SCREENWORKS,' surrounded by palm trees in an outdoor setting.
A stage setup for a music event featuring various musical instruments, amplifiers, and equipment, with a backdrop displaying 'The NAMM Show' and sponsor logos.
Exterior of the Anaheim Convention Center featuring banners for The NAMM Show, celebrating 125 years from 1901 to 2026.
Outdoor concert venue featuring a stage with a LED screen displaying the word 'GREENWORKS', surrounded by palm trees and vendor setups.
Interior view of a spacious, modern lobby with large windows, glass railings, and a directory board.
A view from the top of an escalator in a spacious public building, showing people descending and walking in the area below, with large windows and modern seating.
A large, decorative guitar made of various guitar parts stands next to a yellow neon sign displaying the word 'Gibson'.
View of the Hilton hotel building with a modern architecture design, featuring large glass windows and surrounded by greenery, on a cloudy day.
A display of various Gibson guitars lined up against a backdrop, showcasing craftsmanship in Nashville, TN, with people walking in the background.
A large illuminated screen displaying the Peavey logo in a modern style, set in an event space with natural light and a staircase in the background.
A row of various electric guitars displayed on stands in a brightly lit hallway at a music event.
A display of various electric guitars and a guitar amplifier, set against a backdrop featuring the Epiphone logo with the slogan 'For Every Player, For Every Stage'.
A display board featuring a timeline highlighting different decades from the 1930s to the 2020s, showcasing photos, memorabilia, and key events from each era.
A collage display showcasing the history of NAMM over 125 years, featuring various photographs, documents, and memorabilia organized by decade from the 1900s to the 2020s.
Signage for the NAMM Show reading 'Badge Will Call' and 'the MUSIC begins here' displayed above closed doors, with a security guard in the foreground.
Interior view of The NAMM Show venue showcasing a colorful sign that says 'The Music Begins Here' and an illuminated podium labeled 'idea center' with chairs in the background.

DAY 3 OF NAMM, THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 2026: LET THE MUSIC PLAY INSTEAD OF THE DRAMA.

You have to love LA TRAFFIC (sarcasm on my part). Without traffic, in theory it should only take me 30-40 minutes to arrive at my destination in Anaheim at The Convention Center. But that’s in theory. There is a saying in LA that it takes an hour or more to get to your final destination, even if the distance is only 15 miles, it may still take an hour to get to that destination. So with that in mind, Angelenos revolve their schedule based on LA traffic. And on this day, it took me about an hour and a half to arrive at The Convention Center, SMH. As the French would say, “C’est La Vie”.

After arriving in the parking structure and dealing with traffic, I finally got to park my car. But then, I was immediately greeted with the sound of fire alarms blaring off. I said to myself, “Is this some kind of a joke! I had just parked my car.” I grabbed all my photo gear and rushed down the stairs to the entrance area. 

As I arrived at the entrance area, the alarms stopped. I asked the head of security what’s going on and he said that the alarms have been going on and off all week so no need to panic. Hmmm, I thought to myself: “What if it was a real emergency. How would we know if it’s real or not? What then?” What a great way to start NAMM, full of drama and the doors to the convention center were still closed.

After all of that drama early in the morning, things went back to “normal” and I was off to the races going from one booth to another and mapping out my timeline to photograph an artist’s demo show. Day 3 was Go! One thing I must mention, I was only assigned to cover female artists on this day with a list of who I needed to photograph. Despite this fact, I was able to capture a couple of male artists who performed their demo set.

First up, the phenomenal NiNi who kicked off the music for us on the grand stage at Yamaha Plaza. NiNi is a master musician from Taiwan who uses traditional Chinese folk instruments and incorporates her style of music with western rock music. This is the 3rd time I have seen and covered NiNi performing LIVE on stage. I have nothing but great things to say about this artist. You can find out more about NiNi from my previous articles and reviews here on S.L.R. MAGAZINE. Just go to the SEARCH function to find out more. Big fan of her style and performance and honored to have met this AGT season 19 quarter finalist contestant several times now.

Again all the artists I have photographed are all equal to me in regards to their great talents they showcased to all the fans. But I definitely would like to give a special shout out to several artists from this day who made a great impact in me with their music, their style, and their performance: 

  • Nathalia Jualim, guitarist from Indonesia. Truly a phenomenal guitarist whose style of playing along with her beautiful music made a quick fan of me during her demo set. I don’t know much about her, but I definitely would love find out more and hopefully to see and hear her perform on stage here in the U.S. someday.
  • Aoi MichellE, an acoustic guitarist from Japan who wasn’t on my list but who immediately stopped me on track while I was headed off to my next assignment. For someone to stop me from my track on to my next assignment, that’s powerful. Her style of playing is so unique that I would love to see more of her on stage if she ever comes back and performs for us here in America.
  • Charli Brewer, A Heavy Metal Queen shredder. This young lady can perform with the best of the best metal shredders. She is definitely fun to watch LIVE.
  • Sierra Levesque, Canada’s finest phenom who now lives part-time in LA is a multi-instrumentalist and great vocalist whom I have photographed before at the World Famous Whisky A Go Go for her very first time performing LIVE on stage in America. I have also written an article on Sierra here on S.L.R. MAGAZINE and I have seen her here in LA several times now as a performer or just hanging out here and there due to our mutual musician friends, The Great Electric violinist, Mia Asano, whom I have also photographed a million times as well on stage and off stage and have a written article about her here on S.L.R. MAGAZINE as well, and the great guitarist Sam Fairless. They were both there at the booth to watch Sierra perform. Always great seeing these wonderful people.

Here are some selected photos from DAY 3 OF NAMM:

Photos by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026.

Zuri

A young woman plays a wooden bass guitar, wearing a colorful, form-fitting top. She is focused on her performance, surrounded by a blurred musical setting.
A musician in a colorful outfit is playing a bass guitar at an event, with a poster of another musician in the background.
A musician with colorful body art plays a wooden bass guitar while seated, wearing trendy black pants with lace-up details.
A woman playing a wood bass guitar while seated, wearing a colorful long-sleeve top and black pants with cutouts. She is focused on her playing, with a promotional backdrop featuring other musicians.
A musician playing a wooden bass guitar while sitting on a stool, wearing a colorful long-sleeve shirt and black pants with lace-up sides. Amplifiers are visible in the background.

NiNi

A female musician with blue hair passionately playing a banjo-like instrument on stage, wearing a vibrant blue outfit, with stage lights and a colorful background.
A musician performing on stage at The NAMM Show, with vibrant colored lights and a large backdrop displaying the event's name and slogan 'The Music Begins Here.'
A female musician performing on stage, playing a unique string instrument. She has blue hair and wears a vibrant blue dress adorned with patterns. The background features colorful visuals, adding to the energetic atmosphere of the performance.
A performer with blue hair playing a traditional instrument on stage, surrounded by dramatic lighting and an energetic backdrop.
A musician performing on stage, dressed in a blue patterned outfit, playing a string instrument with an energetic expression.

Sierra Levesque

A young woman with long hair wearing a black polka dot dress sings into a microphone while playing a black electric guitar at a music event.
A young woman playing an electric guitar at a music exhibition, with a booth featuring Lollar branding in the background.
A young woman singing into a microphone while playing a black electric guitar at a music event, surrounded by instruments and framed images.
A young woman with long hair singing into a microphone while playing a black electric guitar on stage.
A young woman with long hair playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a black polka dot top and standing in front of a microphone. She appears focused and engaged in her performance, with music equipment and display items in the background.

Sam Krones

A young person playing an electric guitar at a music event, wearing a gray sweater and glasses, with instruments displayed in the background.
A young person with glasses playing an electric guitar at an event, wearing a cozy sweater and a name tag. Several guitars are displayed in the background.
A young person playing an electric guitar at a music event, wearing glasses and a sweater, with other guitars displayed in the background.
A young person with glasses playing a guitar, focused on their technique, with various guitars visible in the background.
A young person with glasses playing an electric guitar at an event, wearing a cozy sweater and focused on the instrument.

Crista Violin

A woman playing the violin on stage with a microphone, performing in front of an audience at a convention.
A young woman performing on stage with a violin, wearing a patterned long-sleeve top and a black skirt, with musical instruments in the background.
A young woman with long hair, playing a violin while wearing a black skirt and a patterned long-sleeved top, stands on stage. Drums and audio equipment can be seen in the background.
A musician performing on stage with a violin, wearing a black skirt and a patterned top, with long pink hair. In the background, there are musical instruments and a microphone.
A young female violinist with pink hair performs on stage wearing a black skirt and a patterned top, with a microphone and musical instruments in the background.

Charli Brewer

A female guitarist passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a yellow top and performing in front of a display of black amplifiers.
A young woman in a yellow top passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, with a focused expression and sporting black pants and white shoes, surrounded by amplifiers and equipment.
A young woman passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a yellow top and black pants, with long hair flowing as she performs. Behind her is a display of amplifiers and a screen showing a music performance.
A guitarist passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a bright yellow top and black pants, with long hair flying. Amplifiers are visible in the background and a video screen showing a foot pedal is displayed.
A musician with long dark hair passionately playing a white electric guitar while wearing a yellow top, surrounded by amplifiers.

Aoi MichellE

A musician playing an acoustic guitar while seated at a booth for HOSCO Luthier Tools, with an audience in the background.
A musician performing on stage while playing an acoustic guitar, with several guitars displayed in the background at a guitar showcase event.
A woman playing an acoustic guitar at a music event, wearing a stylish dress and surrounded by luthier tools and guitars.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar at a trade show, focused while strumming the instrument, wearing a stylish outfit.
A young woman with short blonde hair playing an acoustic guitar at a music expo, with merchandise banners in the background.

Alice Izzy

A young woman in a leather jacket playing a gray electric guitar at a music supply event, with displayed guitars in the background.
A woman playing a gray electric guitar on a stage, wearing a black leather jacket with studs, with long hair flowing as she focuses on her performance. In the background, various guitars are displayed.
A musician with long hair passionately playing a silver guitar, headbanging, against a backdrop of various electric guitars.
A woman playing an electric guitar at a music convention, surrounded by various guitars on display.
A musician playing a gray electric guitar while standing in a music supply exhibition booth, wearing a leather jacket with studded details.

Nathania Jualim

A woman playing a guitar in a music shop, surrounded by colorful guitars displayed on the wall.
A young woman playing an electric guitar surrounded by colorful guitars displayed on a wall, showcasing various designs and colors.
A young woman joyfully playing an electric guitar, smiling and expressing enthusiasm, with various guitars displayed in the background.
A woman smiling and playing an electric guitar in front of a display featuring multiple guitars on a black background.
A smiling woman playing a black electric guitar at a music exhibition, surrounded by colorful guitars displayed on the wall.

Yaffa Bottier

A woman with curly hair wearing a black leather jacket plays an electric guitar in front of a wall displaying the text 'like this.'
A young woman dressed in a leather jacket plays an electric guitar, focusing intently. There is a blurred background with a close-up of a butterfly tattoo visible on an arm.
A young woman with curly hair wears a black leather jacket and plays an electric guitar on stage, with amplifiers and a guitar case visible in the background.
A female guitarist wearing a leather jacket plays an electric guitar in front of a promotional backdrop featuring a blurred image of another person playing music.
A female guitarist in a black leather jacket plays an electric guitar on stage, with amplifiers and a guitar case in the background. A large image of a musician is displayed behind her.

DAY 4 OF NAMM, FRIDAY JANUARY 23, 2026: THE LONGEST DAY, BUT MOST MEANINGFUL NAMM MOMENTS FOR ME. THE MUSIC CONTINUES…

On this day, DAY 4 OF NAMM, everything went off smoothly.  No alarms blaring off in the parking structure which then equals to no drama. No hitches for me whatsoever and I got a great night’s rest. But I knew it was going to be a long day because I had to get there early to get a great parking spot and my schedule was packed from 9am until 11:45pm. This was a big day.

This day was full of Selfies running into so many musicians I know going from one booth to another. Talking for several minutes and catching up on the latest and greatest with them while making sure I’m on schedule with my assignments. It was also a day where I was excited to meet Japanese guitarist, Mayto, who is no longer with her band from Japan and has become a solo artist and is now creating a new path with her journey in music. A social media follower of mine on Instagram asked me if I could find the time after NAMM to show Mayto and her manager around Los Angeles, mainly Guitar Center and Santa Monica. And of course I said yes to Tim Snider of JROCK USA. After all, my favorite genre of music since 2020 is JROCK. More on Mayto and the other adventure in a future article.

I was also excited on this day because Turning Jane, an all female Rock Band from LA was once again asked by NAMM to perform LIVE on stage at The Hilton stage. The last time I saw and covered their show was 2 years ago at The World Famous Whisky A Go Go when they opened up for Ultimate Jam Night and Gritty and Pink, a collaboration showcase by UJN and GP. 

My excitement continued because the great guitarist, whom I know from her previous band, Vigil of War, Kiki Wong of SMASHING PUMPKINS was scheduled to perform a demo show on this day as well and she was part of my assignment. Of course I made sure that I got there early and up front  because she always brings in a huge crowd just like last year. And sure enough, we Media photographers were there about 45 minutes early before she got on to perform. Always great seeing and capturing LIVE shots of the great Kiki Wong. And always great seeing Kiki and getting our ritual selfies along with her friend Alicia Vigil of Vigil of War and Dragonforce. 

Special mention to some of my new and old favorite artists on this day:

  • Ariel Bellvalaire – I haven’t seen her in 3 years ever since she played for my friend’s band, Jules and The Howl at Molly Malone’s
  • Camille K – Another AGT contestant (Season 17) just like NiNi of Taiwan, whom I had the pleasure to meet and talk to during her set
  • Hannah Simi Hughes – I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am to see the continued growth and success she is having in her journey in music. I have been photographing her LIVE shows with her own band and another band she is in as a guitarist since 2021 and have worked with her on so many projects for all her EPK and social media needs. Truly love her continued growth.
  • Okapi from Japan – a superb male acoustic guitarist and a friend of Aoi MichellE. An honor to have met you and seen you perform at a booth on this day along with Aoi. Arigato Gozaimasu to you both.

This truly was a Perfect day if you ask me because I got to see some of my favorite people in the music industry and met a new friend and musician, Mayto from Japan, where we had a talk/interview session and sat down that evening for some Pizza dinner and planned my tour guide session of Santa Monica and Guitar Center for her and her manager after NAMM. But the best surprise was that I was able to convince her and her manager to stay after dinner and watch TURNING JANE’s concert with me even after her long day at NAMM. So they decided to stay and watch the show with me while I worked. And we drank beers too. Mayto even got Izzy’s guitar pick and their setlist and got to meet the ladies of TURNING JANE after their show for a crazy meet and greet session where fans were vying for their attention. She also got to meet my friend Daniel Jun, the drummer, and several loyal music supporters and fans whom I know during the TURNING JANE concert show, Erik and Daz. Truly a memorable day and evening. Long Day but definitely memorable.

Here are some captured moments of all the artists I photographed on DAY 4 OF NAMM:

Photos by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026.

Okapi

A musician playing an acoustic guitar at a music expo, focusing intently on his craft while wearing a colorful shirt and glasses.
Person performing with an acoustic guitar at a music event, wearing a colorful shirt and black jacket, in front of various musical instruments.
A person wearing glasses and a patterned shirt playing an acoustic guitar at a music event, with various guitars visible in the background.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar at a trade show, wearing a patterned shirt and glasses, with various guitars visible in the background.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar at a music event, wearing glasses and a patterned shirt, with various guitars displayed in the background.

Camille K

A woman playing a red electric guitar while performing on stage, wearing a black outfit and a name badge.
A young woman playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone at a music event.
A female guitarist performing on stage with a red electric guitar, wearing a black outfit and focused on her playing, with a backdrop featuring guitar strings and colorful graphics.
A young woman playing a red electric guitar on stage, smiling while singing into a microphone. She is dressed in a black outfit and stands on a red carpet with musical instruments visible in the background.
A woman singing and playing an electric guitar on stage, with a colorful backdrop featuring the words 'Power Series' and various guitar picks visible. She has long hair and wears a black outfit.

Kiki Wong

A smiling woman with long hair and tattoos plays a guitar, reaching out towards the camera, with a famous guitarist in the background.
A woman with long blonde hair passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, dressed in a black top and red patterned pants, with tattoos visible on her arms.
A female guitarist passionately playing an electric guitar, wearing a black tank top and red patterned pants, with long wavy hair and a joyful expression.
A female guitarist energetically playing an electric guitar, with a backdrop featuring a well-known guitarist. She is wearing a black top and patterned pants, expressing enthusiasm and passion for music.
A musician with long, flowing hair passionately playing an electric guitar, captured mid-performance, with vibrant energy and a stylish outfit.

Ariel Bellvalaire

A musician with long curly hair passionately plays a gold electric guitar while wearing a black leather jacket and sequined pants. In the background, there are two guitars displayed and a promotional banner.
A female guitarist lying on the floor, passionately playing an electric guitar, with curly hair and wearing a black leather jacket and sparkling gold skirt.
A musician with curly hair is playing a golden electric guitar while seated on the floor, wearing a black leather jacket and shiny gold patterned pants. Several guitars are visible in the background.
A female guitarist with curly blonde hair passionately performing on stage, singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar. She wears a black leather jacket and shiny flared pants. The background features branding elements and a partially visible other musician.
A female guitarist passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a black leather jacket and sequined pants, with a vibrant background featuring a logo and other guitars.

Federica Mapelli

A woman playing a light-colored electric guitar at a music event, wearing a black outfit and sunglasses on her head.
A person playing a yellow electric guitar in front of a display for Dophix guitar effects, surrounded by various guitar effect pedals on a table.
A woman playing a light-colored electric guitar at a music event, wearing casual attire and sunglasses, with a relaxed expression.
A young woman playing a yellow electric guitar, wearing sunglasses and a black shirt. She looks focused while performing in a crowded music event.
A young woman playing a cream-colored electric guitar while focused on her performance, wearing a black outfit and sunglasses on her head, during an event or exhibition.

Nova Neon

A person wearing a black hoodie, black mask, and knee-high socks poses playfully with a peace sign in an indoor setting with a closed garage door in the background.
A young person wearing a black hoodie and a face mask poses with a peace sign in front of a closed rolling door.
A young woman wearing a black mask and a large black hoodie, posing with peace signs. She is dressed in a skirt and has accessories like a chain on her leg. A badge is hanging from her neck.
A young woman wearing a black hoodie and a mask stands in a playful pose, making a peace sign with her fingers. She has long, dark hair and is wearing black knee-high socks with straps.
A person wearing a black mask and oversized hoodie, posing with peace signs, in a casual outfit with a skirt and knee-high socks on a convention floor.

Mayto

A musician playing an electric guitar with a purple finish on stage in front of a colorful backdrop featuring musical themes and characters.
A close-up of a person playing an electric guitar with a colorful, purple finish, wearing a black and blue outfit.
A woman playing an electric guitar with a purple finish at a colorful music-themed backdrop.
A young woman playing an electric guitar on stage with a colorful backdrop featuring music-related graphics.
A female guitarist playing a purple electric guitar at a music event, with a RotoSound logo backdrop.

Hannah Simi Hughes

A woman with long dark hair and bold makeup smiles and extends her hand while holding an electric guitar at a music event. A microphone is positioned nearby, with a backdrop displaying brand information.
A guitarist in a black outfit and red skirt plays an electric guitar in front of a backdrop featuring the Dophix logo, showcasing handmade guitar effects.
A woman playing an electric guitar in front of a backdrop featuring the brand 'DOPHIX,' which promotes handmade guitar effects.
A female musician performing on stage with an electric guitar, wearing a black top and a red skirt, with patterned boots. She stands in front of a microphone and a backdrop featuring the logo for Dophix, a brand of handmade guitar effects.
A woman playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a black top and a red skirt, with a black backdrop featuring the text 'DOPE' and 'Made in Italy'.

Diana Llerena

A female drummer playing a drum set at a music event, with spectators in the background.
A female drummer playing a sparkling drum set at a music convention, wearing sunglasses and a black shirt.
A female drummer performing on a modern drum set at a music event, wearing a black outfit and focused on playing.
A woman playing drums on a stage, wearing a black shirt and sunglasses, with a DW drum set in the foreground.
A female drummer playing a sparkly silver drum set at a music convention, wearing a black shirt and holding a drumstick.

Aoi Michelle

A musician wearing a floral apron performs with an acoustic guitar at a music event, surrounded by various guitars in the background.
A woman playing an acoustic guitar at a music exhibition featuring various guitar models on display in the background.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar at a music exhibition, wearing a blue and white patterned outfit, with a display of guitars in the background.
A musician performing on stage, playing an acoustic guitar. She has short hair and is wearing a casual, patterned dress. Behind her are various guitars displayed, with promotional materials visible.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar, wearing a sheer black top and large earrings, with a focused expression.

Turning Jane

Two female musicians performing on stage, one playing a bass guitar and the other dancing energetically, with an audience visible in the background.
Two female musicians performing on stage, one playing a black electric guitar and the other holding a microphone, with a third woman playing bass in the background. The backdrop features the text 'The NAMM' and colorful stage lighting.
Two female musicians performing on stage, one playing the guitar and the other singing into a microphone, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A live music performance featuring four female musicians on stage, with one singer using a red microphone stand, a guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer in the background. The setting includes amplifiers and a transparent sound barrier with visible stage lights.
A female guitarist passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, with another female musician performing beside her. The setting features musical equipment and vibrant stage lighting.

Jasmine

A smiling female musician playing a red bass guitar on stage, with a colorful background and stage equipment visible.
A female musician passionately performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a black outfit and smiling. Audience members can be seen in the background, enjoying the performance.
A female musician performs on stage, holding a guitar and singing into a microphone, with an audience visible in the background.
A female bassist performing on stage, wearing a black dress, with a display timer in front showing 38:22.
A female musician performing on stage with a guitar, smiling and engaged with the audience, wearing a stylish outfit.

Jordi

A drummer performing on stage with a set of drums, partially obscured by clear sound barriers, with a microphone setup and an amplifier in the foreground.
A female drummer passionately playing her drum kit behind a clear acrylic sound shield, with her hair flying as she performs on stage.
A female drummer performing behind a transparent drum shield, with a focused expression. In the background, vibrant stage lighting and musical equipment can be seen.
A drummer performing on stage behind a transparent sound barrier, with amplifiers visible in the foreground and a large banner in the background.
A female drummer performing behind a clear drum shield, with a full drum set and amplifiers in the foreground at a live music event.

Izzy

A female guitarist passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, with her head tilted back and hair flowing, surrounded by colorful stage lights and a blurred band in the background.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, dressed in a black outfit with lace detailing, performing with intensity in front of a vibrant backdrop and various musical equipment.
A female guitarist passionately playing a black electric guitar on stage, wearing a black outfit with a sleeveless design.
A female guitarist performing on stage, playing a black electric guitar with passion, wearing a stylish outfit, and surrounded by musical instruments.
A female guitarist playing a black electric guitar on stage, wearing a sleeveless outfit and fishnet leggings, with a band performing in the background under stage lights.

Taylor

A female singer performing on stage with energetic hair movement, dressed in a black outfit with a fur accent, set against vibrant red stage lighting.
A female singer performing on stage with a microphone, her hair flowing dramatically as she expresses emotion.
A female singer passionately performing on stage while holding a microphone, with bright stage lights illuminating the scene. She has long hair and is wearing a stylish outfit.
A female singer passionately performing on stage with a microphone, wearing a stylish black outfit with feathered details, while an audience watches in the background.
A singer performing on stage, holding a microphone with a red microphone stand adorned with roses. She has long hair and wears a black outfit, conveying a lively and energetic atmosphere.

DAY 5 OF NAMM, SATURDAY JANUARY 24, 2026: THE FINALÉ

Nothing lasts forever and nothing is guaranteed except death and taxes. Final day of NAMM was a lot more mellow for me despite the fact that I truly was exhausted from the previous days. But I found myself to get the energy I needed to complete my assignments because Music and Photography are the two things that always get my blood flowing.

Just like Friday, I got to see more musician friends on this day and took selfies. 

The most memorable moment for me on this day was towards the end of the day inside the convention center when a deep dark ominous voice suddenly started barking at me that got my blood flowing. He stood behind me making sure I didn’t see his face right away while I was in the middle of texting someone on my phone. 

He said to me, “Excuse me Sir. I don’t believe you are allowed to be here and photograph anyone. May I see your press pass and credentials please and who are you here for?” 

But after he asked me those questions, I got a glimpse of his hair to the right side of my face and I said to myself, I know exactly who this guy is who was trying to “scare” me. 

I quickly responded in confidence and sarcasm, “I’m here with the band MINISTRY!!!” 

A huge burst of laughter was had by both of us and we gave each other a big ‘ol hug and talked about what’s good. The man with the deep and dark ominous voice and the hair that gave it away was none other than the great guitarist CESAR SOTO of the band MINISTRY.  We talked shop for a good moment and then we took our selfies and went on our way. What a cool and magical moment that was.

Here are some of the final SELECTS from the last day of NAMM 2026, DAY 5:

Photos by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026.

Alex Hutchings and Nathania Jualim

A smiling woman extends her hand toward the camera in a casual setting, while a man stands behind her with arms crossed, both in front of a colorful abstract background.
Two people posing together with rock hand gestures, standing in front of a colorful backdrop at an event. One person is wearing a black cap and a blue shirt, while the other is dressed in a black jacket and plaid skirt.
Three individuals stand together posing for a photo at an event, with a colorful background featuring splashes of paint.
Two people posing together with a colorful backdrop at an event, one making a hand gesture and the other smiling, both wearing casual attire.
A man and a woman posing together for a photo at an event, with colorful splashes in the background and musical instruments visible.

Federica Mapelli

A woman playing an electric guitar on stage, smiling with closed eyes, wearing a blue dress and a white blouse, with a backdrop of amplifier stacks.
A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, with sound amplifiers in the background and colorful lighting.
A musician playing a teal guitar on stage with amplifiers in the background, promoting a product with the logo 'TONEX'. The musician has multicolored hair and wears a blue dress.
A woman with short hair playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a blue dress with white sleeves, surrounded by amplifiers.
A musician playing a blue electric guitar on stage, wearing a blue dress with puffed sleeves, with amplifiers in the background and a banner that reads 'TONEX' above.

Loida Luizzi

A guitarist performing on stage, wearing a black outfit and playing a red electric guitar, with a display of various guitars in the background.
A young woman joyfully playing a red electric guitar on stage, smiling at the audience, with various guitars displayed in the background.
A female guitarist playing a red electric guitar at a music event, surrounded by various guitars hanging on a wall.
A woman with long, wavy hair playing a red electric guitar in a music store, with various guitars displayed on the wall behind her.
A woman playing a red electric guitar at a music exhibition, with various guitars displayed in the background.

Shantaia and Curt

Musicians performing on stage with guitars, captured during a live music event at the Hilton in Anaheim.
A guitarist performing energetically on stage, smiling and playing a yellow electric guitar. In the background, another musician plays percussion instruments, while a female guitarist with long hair and a vintage-style dress also performs, creating a lively atmosphere.
A musician performing on stage, singing into a microphone while holding a pink electric guitar, wearing sunglasses and a patterned outfit. Another band member can be seen playing a guitar in the background.
A musician performing on stage, holding an electric guitar with a vibrant orange finish. The performer has a beard and is dressed in a light-colored shirt. In the background, a keyboard and colorful stage lights are visible.
A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, singing into a microphone, with a keyboard player in the background.
A female guitarist on stage wearing sunglasses and a fringe dress, playing a pink electric guitar. A male bassist is partially visible in the background.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a stylish tan shirt with black accents, captured in a moment of performance.
A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage during a live performance, wearing a beige shirt with a dark collar, while another musician is visible in the background near a keyboard.
A woman with long hair wearing a brown fringed dress and knee-high brown boots plays an electric guitar on stage. The background features musical instruments and lighting that creates a vibrant atmosphere.

Ben Cote

A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, with long hair and a rock-themed t-shirt. The backdrop features various guitars displayed.
A musician with long hair playing an electric guitar at a music exhibit, surrounded by various guitars displayed on the wall.
A musician performing with an electric guitar at a music expo, showcasing various guitars on a display wall behind him.
A musician playing an electric guitar at a music store, with various guitars displayed in the background.
A guitarist performing energetically on stage with a black and white electric guitar, surrounded by various guitars on display.

Aanika Pai

A young girl playing electric guitar on stage at a music event, focused on her performance with an audience watching intently.
A young musician playing an electric guitar on stage in front of a red backdrop with the text 'Tamina Brand USA'.
A young musician plays an electric guitar while posing confidently in front of a red backdrop with the word 'Tama' and a 50-year anniversary logo.
A young girl playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a black and white long-sleeve shirt and light blue jeans. She smiles while performing, standing in front of a red backdrop with 'Tajima' branding.
A young musician performing on stage, playing an electric guitar with a serious expression. She wears a black and white long-sleeve shirt and loose-fitting jeans. An amplifier is visible beside her, and a colorful backdrop features text celebrating a 40th anniversary.

Alyssa Day and Alissa White-Gluz

Two women sitting on stage with microphones, engaged in conversation, with a colorful audio waveform display in the background.
A smiling woman with long blonde hair and glasses sits on a stage with a microphone, wearing a black outfit and silver jewelry, in front of a colorful digital backdrop.
A young woman with long hair and glasses sits on a stool, hands together in a gesture of thanks or contemplation, in front of a colorful digital sound wave display. She is wearing a black outfit and has a name tag visible.
A woman with long blue hair wearing a black sleeveless outfit, posing with a confident expression in front of a digital audio workstation interface.
Profile of a woman with teal hair and a black outfit, standing near a microphone on a stage with a patterned background.

Mohini Dey

A female musician passionately playing an electric bass guitar at a music event, wearing a stylish outfit with a leather skirt and knee-high boots, against a backdrop of instrument strings on display.
A musician performing on stage, playing an electric bass guitar. She has long, braided hair and is wearing a black leather skirt. Behind her is a wall displaying various guitar string products, along with a neon sign that reads 'S.I.T. Strings.'
A musician performing with a bass guitar at a music expo, wearing a stylish outfit with a crop top and a leather skirt, standing in front of a display of guitar strings and accessories.
A musician with colorful braided hair plays an electric bass guitar at a music expo, surrounded by string packages and a laptop.
A young woman with braids playing a bass guitar at a music event, with a backdrop of string products and a neon sign.

Lari Basilio

A person holding a smartphone capturing a performer on stage, with a blurred background of lights and a banner.
A diverse group of people smiling and interacting at a music event, with a guitar visible in the background and a banner for Seymour Duncan.
A guitarist with long, light-colored hair wearing a black leather jacket, passionately playing a black electric guitar on stage.
Musician playing a black electric guitar while wearing a leather jacket, with long hair and focused expression.
Musician performing passionately on stage with an electric guitar, wearing a black leather jacket, with a vibrant background featuring a tattooed figure.

IN CONCLUSION:

When I first arrived and parked my car on Wednesday for the main event for my assignments, I was greeted by a fire alarm system. The last concert show on this night for me, the fire alarm also greeted me and was present on and off during the set up of Shantaia and Curt Chambers show inside The Hilton Hotel. 

Some audience members were stunned and confused and were looking at each other and were wondering if they should stay inside the building or leave. Everyone stayed despite the fact that no announcements were made that it was a glitch in the system. Everyone just assumed that it was safe. Eventually the music started for Shantaia and Curt’s set.

After the concert, I left The Hilton Stage and headed back towards the parking structure where once again I was greeted by more alarms going off. Sheesh!!! The NAMM 2026 drama started with fire alarms going off on Thursday morning and the drama ended with fire alarms going off as well in the parking structure on late Saturday evening. It was one dramatic NAMM event. 

Despite the fire alarm drama, one thing is for sure, NAMM 2026 was AWESOME and truly memorable. Thanks in all parts by Mr. Laurie Monk of The U.K., a music influencer and a YouTuber promoting many different artists for making this happen for me. Thank you for the opportunity to have worked for you on capturing moments of these amazing artists for all your social media needs and theirs as well to help promote their growth and success in the music industry. Thank you to all the musicians who were kind enough to let me photograph them (and our selfies but no selfies will be posted on this report) during their performance. Y’all ROCK. SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!

– Don Marcelo

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