Eric Clapton on March 28 announced the fifth installment of the Crossroads Guitar Festival known for hosting performances and impromptu collaborations from the world’s most legendary guitar players. The event will take place Sept. 20 and 21 in the city that hosted the first-ever Crossroads Guitar Festival, Dallas.
Clapton will gather the past, present and future of guitar music onto one stage for an unparalleled musical event. All profits from the Festival will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Clapton for chemically dependent persons.
Since its inception, Clapton’s vision for the Crossroads Guitar Festival has been to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can have fun and perform together for the benefit of a good cause. This year’s Festival will feature two-nights of musical performances with once-in-a-lifetime guitar collaborations. Known as pioneers in their field, the roster of artists spans old and new. The audience can expect unrivaled entertainment, brilliant guitar work, surprise guests and impromptu jams that are the hallmark of these performers.
In addition to the concerts, the Guitar Center Festival Village will be featured on Victory Plaza adjacent to the arena, where manufacturers, including Ernie Ball, Fender, Gibson, Martin, PRS, and more, will host interactive exhibits where guitar enthusiasts can plug in and play new products and classic favorites. In addition, Guitar Center Festival Village Stage, Presented by Ernie Ball, will host master guitar clinics and solo performances by main stage artists, next generation guitar virtuosos, and special surprise guests. The Guitar Center Festival Village will be open from noon to 8 p.m. each day and is free to all ticket holders.
Artists expected to perform at the event include Alan Darby, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather Low, Billy Gibbons, Bonnie Raitt, Bradley Walker, Buddy Guy Band, Daniel Santiago, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton, Gary Clark Jr., Gustavo Santaolalla, James Bay, Jeff Beck, Jerry Douglas, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Walsh, Jonny Lang, Keb Mo, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Los Lobos, Pedro Martins, Peter Frampton, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Sheryl Crow, Sonny Landreth, Susan Tedeschi, Tom Misch and Vince Gill.