New York Guitar Fest Announces 2012 Concerts

The festival, which was founded in 1999 by musician/produce David Spelman, will be held Jan. 6-29 at various NYC venues including The World Financial Center’s Winter Garden, Merkin Concert Hall, The 92nd Street Y, and Rockwood Music Hall.

The 2012 event features 35 guitarists with jazz, classical, rock, traditional and avant-garde styles represented.

The opening night concert, “The Apollo Project,” is free. The show, which is held Jan. 6 at the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden, celebrates the 25th anniversary of Brian Eno’s tribute to the NASA moon landings. A live performance of Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks will feature Itsnotyouitsme, Larry Campbell and special guests Noveller, Tortoise’s Jeff Parker and Phish’s Mike Gordon. More acts will be announced.

2012 marks the return of the Guitar Marathon Jan. 29 at the 92nd Street Y’s Kaufman Auditorium. The 6th biannual event, which is co-curated by Eliot Fisk and NYFG’s David Spelman, will interpret classical guitar music of Italian composers. The lineup includes Bill Kanengiser, Jason Vieaux, Nigel North, Hopkinson Smith and more.

A new event at the festival is the Alternative Guitar Summit curated by guitarist/bandleader/composer Joel Harrison. The summit takes place Jan. 13-15 at Rockwood Music Hall and includes Jan. 15’s tribute to jazz guitarist Jim Hall. Nels Cline, Thurston Moore, Mark Stewart, Liberty Elman, Dave Tronzo and Ben Monder are a few of the acts taking part in the summit.

The festival also will present 11 classic silent films by Buster Keaton accompanied by original scores performed by a number of guitarists.

Live guitar/film pairings include Keller Williams and 1920’s “One Week,” Kaki King and 1920’s “The Scarecrow,” Lee Renaldo and 1922’s “Cops,” and Gyan Riley and 1921’s “The Goat.”
     
For more information click here for New York Guitar Festival’s website.