Guitar fans celebrate the history of the Fender Stratocaster at Watersmeet in Rickmansworth

The Fender Stratocaster, launched by Leo Fender in 1954, has become the very personification of an electric guitar - being wielded by the world’s most recognisable heroes, and inspiring musicians to become ‘Strat’ players still today.

The “50 Years of Fender” show, which has been selling out theatres across the South in 2024 and 2025, takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride of wonderful music and stories about how the Stratocaster became such an important instrument for so many guitar players, and pays homage to some of the worlds most influential guitar heroes - many of which are household names, and some that aren’t - but you’ll have been singing along to their music for years.

“The Strat is such a fascinating instrument,” says show runner and Lead guitarist Dave Phillips. “We buy our Stratocasters because our heroes played one, but they also bought their Strats because of their heroes. Its look and sound is so quintessential to the player and the music that they’ve made with it - it inspired me to build a show around the history, the music and the players of this unique and definitive instrument and we’ve been blown away by the response, especially with such a different type of show!”

The show is presented by the musicians and performers that bring you DS:UK…in Tribute to Dire Straits and Seriously Collins, who sell out venues weekly across the country, guaranteeing you a fantastic and fascinating night out.

You can find out more about 50 Years of Fender and purchase tickets at www.50YearsOfFender.co.uk and www.watersmeet.co.uk

50 Years of Fender is an independent show, and not run and affiliated by Fender Musical Instruments Corp.