The inaugural Sydney Guitar Festival is set to inhabit musical spaces across the city from 23-27 August, 2017.
The festival has added new shows with the announcement of a second line-up featuring Sydney guitarist Zane Banks (Crusin’ Deuces), composer Van Larkins, lead guitarist Drey Rollan from The Drey Rollan Band, Clayton Doley, contemporary guitarist Michael Fix, ARIA-nominated flamenco guitarist Damian Wright, nationally recognised jazz player Ben Hauptmann, Aussie phenomenon Adam Miller and solo blues/ roots performer Claude Hay (supporting Richie Kotzen).
Joining the newly announced acts, virtuoso guitarist Joe Robinson – acclaimed by many of the world's great players – will also be performing at the festival. As the winner of Australia's Got Talent 2008, he is a brilliant singer-songwriter with a story to tell and walks a tightrope between the instrumental music that’s put him in the spotlight and a unique fusion of rock, blues, jazz, and R&B that’s entirely his own.
The festival will also feature an exciting premiere screening of a new modern acoustic guitar documentary 'Acoustic Uprising', that features Tommy Emmanuel, Andy Mckee, Kaki King and Newton Faulkner.
The line-up of performances already announced includes Guitarra featuring the legendary Paco Peña and Australia’s finest classical guitar duo the Grigoryan Brothers; Australian guitarists paying tribute to Eric Clapton in Crossroads; US blues-rock virtuoso Richie Kotzen; Aussie legend and frontwoman of ARIA Award-winning band Superjesus Sarah McLeod; the incredible American jazz guitarist Sheryl Bailey; a celebration of B.B. King & Chuck Berry; local guitar prodigy James Norbert Ivanyi; and lots more.
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With workshops, master classes and performances from both local and international artists, Sydney Guitar Festival will be a celebration of the rich world of guitar music and culture, exploring all sounds from classical and flamenco, jazz, blues and rock.
Fuelled by a love of guitar music, its diverse history and its exciting future, the Sydney Guitar Festival is an event that aims to celebrate and contribute to the vibrant Sydney music scene for years to come.
New Sydney Guitar Festival Shows Added
Acoustic Uprising Premiere
Be inspired by the screening of the music documentary featuring interviews with some of the world’s leading guitarists, followed by a discussion with director Drew Roller and host of Guitar Speak Podcast, Matt Wakeling. Van Larkins will then perform a live set from his recently released album - Sun 27 August @ Concourse Concert HallJoe Robinson
Accompanied by Adam Miller, Robinson will walk the tightrope between the instrumental music that has put him in the spotlight and a unique fusion of vocally-based rock, blues, jazz and R&B that is entirely his own - Thursday 24 August @ LeadbellyPioneers of Rock N Roll
BB King to Chuck Berry. A continental journey through the roots and evolution of American popular music and the electric guitar featuring Zane Banks (Cruisin’ Deuces), Drey Rollan, Clayton Doley and more - Saturday 26 August @ Concourse TheatreSlide Evolution
An evening of blues-inspired slide guitar with Jeff Lang, Dom Turner (Backsliders) and The Fiona Boyes Band - Saturday 26 August @ Factory TheatreGet Blind With Brian!
Brian will be arranging music for a unique performance where the audience is to be blindfolded - Thursday 24 August @ Django BarDamian Wright + Special Guests
A rare, solo flamenco recital in which he will present the extraordinary variety of music styles with the flamenco guitar tradition - Friday 25 August @ Venue 505Closing Night Jam
The night will conclude with an epic, live-jam sessions with some of the festival’s best guitarists backed by The Fiona Boyes Band, guaranteed to leave you inspired and invigorated for another year of guitar obsession - Sunday 27 August @ Concourse Concert HallSydney Guitar Festival takes place 23-27 August.
