Live music fans are set to have a fingerplucking good time at this year's Guitars In Bars series, with more than 780 artists and 100 venues signed up for the event.
Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre (9-12 August), Guitars In Bars is a key precursor to the Adelaide Guitar Festival and coincides with Umbrella: Winter City Sounds, now in its third year.
This year's official Guitars In Bars programme presents 220 gigs registered across the state, an overall 38 per cent increase on last year's event. The number of registered artists has also increased by more than 40 per cent, while venue particiption has been bolstered by up to 60 per cent.
Adelaide Guitar Festival Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan says Guitars in Bars that although Guitars In Bars has only been around for three years, it has already proved to be a growing success.
"This year offers the most exciting programme yet, with more artists, more venues and more live music," Slava says.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for performers to showcase their talent and we're thrilled so many musicians and venues want to get involved.”
By connecting musicians with venues, Guitars In Bars has precipitated an explosion of live music across South Australia that shines a spotlight on the diverse the talent of the state's musicians.
This year also sees increased interest outside of the city and suburbs, with 25 regional events organised at venues including Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, Barossa and Victor Harbour, activating a host of performance spaces throughout the region.
In association with the Adelaide Guitar Festival, Guitars In Bars will offer three acts the opportunity to appear as part of the Adelaide Guitar Festival, which brings some of the world's best guitar players to town, such as Tommy Emmanuel, Kaki King, Albert Lee and many more.
Click here to read about the Adelaide Guitar Festival 2018 programme.
The growing popularity of Guitars in Bars as well as Adelaide Guitar Festival and Umbrella: Winter City Sounds reaffirms Adelaide's status as a UNESCO City Of Music and continues to provide vital support for South Australian musicians of all levels.
