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{{Short description|Music festival founded by Eric Clapton}}
The '''''Crossroads Guitar Festival''''' was a [[benefit concert]] for [[Eric Clapton]]'s [[Crossroads Centre]] located in [[Antigua]]. The concert was held at the [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]] stadium of [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Texas]], from [[June 4]], [[2004]], to [[June 6]], [[2004]]. Another festival will be held on July 28, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. A two-disc [[DVD]] containing 250 minutes of footage of the 2004 concert was released in the same year.
{{Refimprove|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox music festival
| founders = [[Eric Clapton]]
| music_festival_name = Crossroads Guitar Festival
| image = [[Image:CrossroadsGuitarFestival2007.jpg|230px]]
| caption = [[Eric Clapton]] and [[Bill Murray]] kicking off the Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2007
| location = 1999: [[New York City]]<br>2004: [[Dallas, Texas]]<br>2007, 2010: [[Bridgeview, Illinois]]<br>2013: [[New York, NY]]<br>2019: [[Dallas, Texas]]<br>2023: [[Los Angeles, California]]
| years_active = 1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2019, 2023
| dates = Summer
| genre = [[Blues]], [[country music|country]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]]
| website = http://crossroadsguitarfestival.org/ [Official website]
}}

The '''Crossroads Guitar Festival''' is a series of [[music festival]]s and [[benefit concert]]s founded by [[Eric Clapton]]. The festivals benefit the [[Crossroads Centre]] founded by Eric Clapton, a [[Drug addiction|drug treatment center]] in [[Antigua]]. The concerts showcase a variety of guitarists, selected by Eric Clapton personally. To the 2007 audience, Clapton declared that each performer was one of the very best, and had earned his personal respect.

The first concert was held on June 30, 1999, at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]], and there again in 2013. The 2004 concert was held at the [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]] in Dallas, while the 2007 and 2010 festivals were held at [[Toyota Park]], [[Bridgeview, Illinois]], just outside Chicago. The festival returned to Dallas in 2019 at the [[American Airlines Center]].

==1999 festival==
The first Crossroads Benefit concert was held at [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City|New York]] on June 30, 1999. It was held under a different title which was Eric Clapton & Friends In Concert: A Benefit For The Crossroads Centre At Antigua. The first official Crossroads Guitar Festival did not happen until 2004.

=== Performers ===
Some performers at the 1999 Concert were [[David Sanborn]], [[Sheryl Crow]], [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Mary J Blige]]. Backup musicians included [[Nathan East]] (bass), [[Steve Gadd]] (drums) [[Andy Fairweather Low]] (guitars), [[Tim Carmon]] (keyboards) and Dave Delhomme (keyboards). Back-up vocals were by [[Tessa Niles]] and [[Katie Kissoon]].

==2004 festival==
Held at [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]] stadium in [[Dallas, Texas]], from June 4, 2004, to June 6, 2004. A two-disc [[DVD]] containing 250 minutes of footage of the 2004 concert was released in the same year.<ref name=festival_2004>{{cite web|url=http://www.crossroadsguitarfestival.org/ |title=Crossroads Guitar Festival : June 4-6, 2004 |access-date=2015-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405113453/http://www.crossroadsguitarfestival.org/ |archive-date=April 5, 2004 }}</ref> This became the first official Crossroads Guitar Festival even though the 1999 concert had a different title. It was also the first benefit concert under the Crossroads Guitar Festival name.


==2004 Fesitval==
===Performers===
===Performers===
Some performers at the Crossroads Guitar Festival such as [[Jeff Beck]], [[Pat Metheny]], [[Neal Schon]], and [[Styx (band)|Styx]] were not included on the DVD.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-4}}
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* '''[[Eric Clapton]]'''
* [[Eric Clapton]]
* [[B.B. King]]
* [[Johnny A.]]
* [[Bo Diddley]]
* [[Vishwa Mohan Bhatt]]
* [[Ron Block]]
* [[Joe Bonamassa]]
* [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]]
* [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]]
* [[Doyle Bramhall II]]
* [[JJ Cale]]
* [[Larry Carlton]]
* [[Robert Cray]]
* [[Steve Cropper]]
* [[Sheryl Crow]]
* [[Bo Diddley]]
* [[Jerry Douglas]]
* [[David Honeyboy Edwards]]
* [[Rocky Frisco]]
* [[Vince Gill]]
* [[Buddy Guy]]
* [[Buddy Guy]]
* [[Carlos Santana]]
* [[Dan Tyminski]]
* [[David Hidalgo]]
* [[David Hidalgo]]
* [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]]
* [[David Honeyboy Edwards|David "Honeyboy" Edwards]]
* [[Eric Johnson (guitarist, born 1954)|Eric Johnson]]
* [[David James]]
* [[B.B. King]]
{{col-4}}
* [[Doyle Bramhall II]]
* [[Sonny Landreth]]
* [[Jonny Lang]]
* [[Robert Lockwood, Jr.]]
* [[John Mayer (musician)|John Mayer]]
* [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]
* [[Robert Randolph (guitarist)|Robert Randolph]]
* [[Duke Robillard]]
* [[Duke Robillard]]
* [[Eric Johnson]]
* [[Carlos Santana]]
* [[Hubert Sumlin]]
* [[Hubert Sumlin]]
* [[J.J. Cale]]
* [[James Taylor]]
* [[James Taylor]]
* [[Susan Tedeschi]]
* [[Derek Trucks]]
* [[Dan Tyminski]]
* [[Steve Vai]]
* [[Jimmie Vaughan]]
* [[Joe Walsh]]
* [[ZZ Top]]
* [[David Johansen]]
{{div-col-end}}

==2007 festival==
The 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival was held at [[Toyota Park (Bridgeview)|Toyota Park]] in [[Bridgeview, Illinois]] on July 28, 2007. Tickets were estimated as sold out for the 28,000 capacity park in twenty two minutes. A DVD of the concert was released on November 20, 2007.

===Performers===
Eric Clapton played alongside various performers, and there were many one-off collaborations during the show. In order of appearance, the performers on the main stage were
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Bill Murray]]
* [[Sonny Landreth]]
* [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]
* [[Alison Krauss and Union Station]] featuring [[Jerry Douglas]]
* [[Doyle Bramhall II]]
* [[The Derek Trucks Band]]
** joined by [[Susan Tedeschi]] and [[Johnny Winter]]
* [[Robert Randolph and the Family Band]]
* The [[Robert Cray]] Band
** joined by [[Jimmie Vaughan]], [[Hubert Sumlin]], and [[B. B. King]]
* Aaron Loesch (winner of Guitar Center's 2007 King of the Blues contest)
{{col-2}}
* [[John Mayer (musician)|John Mayer]]
* [[Vince Gill]]
** joined by [[Albert Lee]], [[Sheryl Crow]], [[Peter Stroud]] and [[Willie Nelson]]
* [[Los Lobos]]
* [[Jeff Beck]] with [[Tal Wilkenfeld]], [[Vinnie Colaiuta]], and [[Jason Rebello]]
* [[Eric Clapton]]
** joined by [[Robbie Robertson]] and [[Steve Winwood]]
* [[Buddy Guy]]
* Finale featuring Buddy Guy with Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, John Mayer, Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Winter, and Jimmie Vaughan
{{col-end}}

On the second stage at the Festival Village, performers included:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Orianthi]]
* [[Harvey Mandel]]
* [[Jedd Hughes]]
* [[Pete Huttlinger]]
{{col-2}}
* [[Tab Benoit]] and [[Louisiana's LeRoux]]
* [[Jeff Baxter]]
* Todd Wolfe
* [[Tyler Bryant]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc7chicago.com/archive/6891802/ |title=Tyler Bryant &#124; abc7chicago.com |publisher=Abclocal.go.com |date=July 1, 2009 |access-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629054143/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=6891802 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Flophouse
{{col-end}}

==2010 festival==
The 2010 Crossroads festival was again held at [[Toyota Park]] in Bridgeview, IL (outside Chicago) on June 26, 2010.

===Performers===
In order of appearance. Artists in bold have received star billing in advertisements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com/ |title=Crossroads 2013 |publisher=Crossroadsguitarfestival.com |access-date=December 8, 2012}}</ref> Comedian [[Bill Murray]] emceed.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Kirby Kelley (winner of Guitar Center's 2009 King of the Blues contest)
* [[Sonny Landreth]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^|artists who also performed at the 2004 festival}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*|artists who also performed at the 2007 festival}}
* [[Robert Randolph and the Family Band]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} joined by [[Joe Bonamassa]] and [[Pino Daniele]]
* The [[Robert Cray]] Band{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} with [[Jimmie Vaughan]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} and [[Hubert Sumlin]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}}
* [[Bert Jansch]]
* [[Stefan Grossman]] joined by [[Keb' Mo']]
* [[ZZ Top]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}
* [[Doyle Bramhall II]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} and Faded Boogie joined by [[Gary Clark, Jr.]] and [[Sheryl Crow]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} and [[Derek Trucks]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} and [[Susan Tedeschi]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}}
* [[Vince Gill]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} joined by [[Albert Lee]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}}, [[James Burton]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}, and [[Keb' Mo']]
{{col-2}}
* [[Citizen Cope]] joined by Sheryl Crow
* [[Earl Klugh]] with [[Yonrico Scott]] and [[Joseph Patrick Moore]]
* [[John Mayer Trio]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}}
* [[Buddy Guy]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} with [[Jonny Lang]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}} and [[Ronnie Wood]]
* The [[Derek Trucks]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} and [[Susan Tedeschi]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} Band joined by [[Warren Haynes]], [[Sheryl Crow]], [[David Hidalgo]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}}, [[Cesar Rosas]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}}, and [[Johnny Winter]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} (This set replaced the originally scheduled [[The Allman Brothers Band|Allman Brothers Band]].)
* [[Jeff Beck]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} with [[Rhonda Smith]], [[Narada Michael Walden]], and [[Jason Rebello]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}}
* [[Eric Clapton]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} with [[Steve Winwood]]{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} joined by [[Citizen Cope]] and [[Jeff Beck]]
* [[B. B. King]]{{efn|group=2010|name=^}}{{efn|group=2010|name=*}} with The Robert Cray Band, Jimmie Vaughan and Eric Clapton
* Finale set with many artists returning for a performance of "[[Sweet Home Chicago]]"
{{col-end}}
{{notelist|group=2010}}

==2013 festival==
The 2013 festival was held April 12–13 at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[Manhattan|New York City]].<ref name="ericclaptonmusicnews1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ericclaptonmusicnews.com/crossroads-guitar-festival-12-13-april-2013-madison-square-garden |title=Crossroads Guitar Festival - 12-13 April 2013 Madison Square Garden! |publisher=Eric Clapton Music News |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=December 8, 2012}}</ref>

===Performers===
Performers included:<ref name="ericclaptonmusicnews1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegarden.com/events/2013/april/2013-crossroads-guitar-festival.html |title=Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 |website=Thegarden.com |access-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204110932/http://www.thegarden.com/events/2013/april/2013-crossroads-guitar-festival.html |archive-date=December 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Official DVD performer credits for [[Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013]]</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Albert Lee]]
* [[Alice Smith]]
* [[Allan Holdsworth]]
* [[Allman Brothers Band]]
* [[Andy Fairweather Low]]
* [[B.B. King]]
* [[Beth Hart]]
* [[Blake Mills]]
* [[Booker T. Jones|Booker T]]
* [[Buddy Guy]]
* [[Citizen Cope]]
* [[Dave Biller]]
* [[Derek Trucks]]
* [[Doyle Bramhall II]]
* [[Earl Klugh]]
* [[Eric Clapton]]
* [[Gary Clark Jr.]]
* [[Jeff Beck]]
* [[Jimmie Vaughan]]
* [[John Mayer]]
* [[John Scofield]]
* [[Keb' Mo']]
* [[Keith Richards]]
* [[Keith Urban]]
* [[Kurt Rosenwinkel]]
* [[Los Lobos]]
* [[Matt Murphy (blues guitarist)|Matt Murphy]]
* [[Paul Carrack]]
* [[Quinn Sullivan (musician)|Quinn Sullivan]]
* [[Robbie Robertson]]
* [[Robert Cray]]
* [[Robert Randolph (guitarist)|Robert Randolph]]
* [[Sonny Landreth]]
* [[Steve Cropper]]
* [[Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal]]
* [[Vince Gill]]
{{Div col end}}

==2019 festival==
The 2019 festival was held on September 20–21 at the [[American Airlines Center]] in [[Dallas, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|author= Blistein, Joe |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eric-clapton-gary-clark-jr-bonnie-raitt-2019-crossroads-festival-lineup-814418/ |title=Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Returns With Gary Clark, Jr., Bonnie Raitt |publisher= Rolling Stone |date=March 28, 2019 }}</ref>

MC: Bill Murray
===Performers===
Performers included:
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Alan Darby
* [[Albert Lee]]
* [[Andy Fairweather Low]]
* [[Artur Menezes]]
* [[Billy Gibbons]]
* [[Bonnie Raitt]]
* [[Bradley Walker (singer)|Bradley Walker]]
* [[Buddy Guy|Buddy Guy Band]]
* Daniel Santiago
* [[Derek Trucks]]
* [[Doyle Bramhall II]]
* [[Eric Clapton]]
* [[Gary Clark Jr.]]
* [[Gustavo Santaolalla]]
* [[James Bay (singer)|James Bay]]
* [[Jeff Beck]]
* [[Jeff Beck]]
* [[Jerry Douglas]]
* [[Jerry Douglas]]
* [[Jimmie Vaughan]]
* [[Jimmie Vaughan]]
* [[Joe Walsh]]
* [[Joe Walsh]]
* [[John Mayer (musician)|John Mayer]]
* [[John Mayer]]
{{col-4}}
* [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]
* [[Johnny A.]]
* [[Jonny Lang]]
* [[Jonny Lang]]
* [[Larry Carlton]]
* [[Keb' Mo']]
* [[Nathan East]]
* [[Kurt Rosenwinkel]]
* [[Neal Schon]]
* [[Lianne La Havas]]
* [[Pat Metheny]]
* [[Los Lobos]]
* Pedro Martins
* [[Peter Frampton]]
* [[Robert Cray]]
* [[Robert Cray]]
* [[Robert Lockwood, Jr.]]
* [[Robert Randolph (guitarist)|Robert Randolph]]
* [[Sheryl Crow]]
{{col-4}}
* [[Robert Randolph]]
* [[Ron Block]]
* [[Sonny Landreth]]
* [[Sonny Landreth]]
* [[Steve Vai]]
* [[Susan Tedeschi]]
* [[Styx (band)|Styx]]
* [[Tom Misch]]
* [[Vince Gill]]
* [[Vince Gill]]
* [[Vishwa Mohan Bhatt]]
* [[Citizen Cope]]
* [[Zakir Hussain]]
* [[The Marcus King Band]]
{{Div col end}}
* [[ZZ Top]]
{{col-end}}


Outdoor Venue:
Among the Village Stage performers will be surprise main stage artists, along with special guest guitarists such as Eric Johnson, Joe Robinson, Andy Timmons, Paul Reed Smith, Boscoe France, Bryan Ewald, [[Ryan McGarvey]] and Peterson Brothers, with others. In addition, next-gen guitarists Jacob Reese Thorton and Brotherhood of the Guitar, the Ernie Ball Play Crossroads national contest winner, and Gibson’s G3 trio will make their Crossroads debut on the Village stage.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 August 2019|title=ERIC CLAPTON'S CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2019 ANNOUNCES GUITAR CENTER VILLAGE|url=https://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-news/303-eric-claptons-crossroads-guitar-festival-2019-announces-guitar-center-village|access-date=29 November 2020|website=Whereseric.com}}</ref>


==2007 Festival==
==2023 festival==
The 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival will be held at [[Toyota Park (Bridgeview)|Toyota Park]] in [[Chicago, Illinois]] on July 28, 2007. Tickets sold out for the 28,000 capacity park in around 8 minutes.


A 2023 edition of the festival was held on September 23–24 at the [[Crypto.com Arena]] in [[Downtown Los Angeles]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 May 2023|title=Crossroads Guitar Festival|url=https://crossroadsguitarfestival.com/|access-date=18 May 2023|website=crossroadsguitarfestival.com}}</ref>
===Confirmed Artists===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-4}}
*[[Jeff Beck]]
*[[Doyle Bramhall II]]
*[[Eric Clapton]]
*[[Robert Cray]]
*[[Sheryl Crow]]
*[[Vince Gill]]
*[[Buddy Guy]]
*[[BB King]]
*[[Alison Krauss and Union Station]]
*[[Sonny Landreth]]
{{col-4}}
*[[Albert Lee]]
*[[Los Lobos]]
*[[John Mayer]]
*[[John McLaughlin]]
*[[Willie Nelson]]
*[[Robert Randolph]]
*[[Hubert Sumlin]]
*[[Derek Trucks]]
*[[Jimmie Vaughan]]
*[[Steve Winwood]]
{{col-end}}


==Trivia==
===Performers===

*The DVD contains an [[easter egg (virtual)|easter egg]] (hidden live track) in the form of Clapton's live performance of "[[Layla]]". To access it, insert the second disc into the machine, select Special Features and press the left arrow until nothing appears to be selected and press Ok or Enter.
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Joe Bonamassa]]
* [[Doyle Bramhall II]]
* James Bullard
* [[Eric Clapton]]
* [[Gary Clark Jr.]]
* [[Judith Hill]]
* [[Sheryl Crow]]
* [[Jerry Douglas]]
* [[Jakob Dylan]]
* [[Andy Fairweather Low]]
* [[Samantha Fish]]
* [[Eric Gales]]
* [[Vince Gill]]
* Ben Haggard
* [[H.E.R.]]
* [[Sierra Hull]]
* [[Christone "Kingfish" Ingram]]
* [[Marcus King]]
* [[The Bros. Landreth]]
* [[Sonny Landreth]]
* [[Albert Lee]]
* [[Los Lobos]]
* [[Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal]]
* Pedro Martins
* [[John Mayer Trio]]
* [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]
* [[Del McCoury Band]]
* [[Roger McGuinn]]
* [[Keb' Mo']]
* Ariel Posen
* [[Robert Randolph and the Family Band|Robert Randolph]]
* [[Kurt Rosenwinkel]]
* [[Santana (band)|Santana]]
* [[Gustavo Santaolalla]]
* Daniel Santiago
* [[Stephen Stills]]
* [[Molly Tuttle]]
* [[Jimmie Vaughan]]
* [[Bradley Walker (singer)|Bradley Walker]]
* [[Stevie Wonder]]
* [[The War on Drugs (band)|The War on Drugs]]
* [[ZZ Top]]
{{Div col end}}

[[Buddy Guy]] and [[Robbie Robertson]] were both announced on the lineup. However, Guy canceled his performance on September 19th because of a medical issue and Robbie Robertson died on August 9, the month prior to the festival.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Crossroads Guitar Festival}}
*[http://www.ericclaptonfaq.com/music-videos/eric-clapton-dvd-easter-egg.html Where's Eric:DVD “Easter Eggs”]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://crossroadsguitarfestival.org/ Crossroadsguitarfestival.org was the official site for the Crossroads Guitar Festival]. It now redirects to Ericclapton.com.
*{{imdb_title|0439523}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101006175918/http://crossroadsguitarfestival.com/2007/ Official site for 2007 concert] (archived)
*[http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/003011.html Eric Clapton announces 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival] 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival to be held in Chicago on July 28
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091176/fullcredits#cast IMDb site for the 2007 festival]
{{festival-stub}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110105195534/http://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-faq/concert-information/crossroads-guitar-festival-2007 2007 set list] (archived)
[[Category:DVDs with hidden tracks]]
* [http://countrymusic.about.com/od/dvdreviews/fr/Crossroads07.htm Review of 2007 Crossroad Guitar Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415141408/http://countrymusic.about.com/od/dvdreviews/fr/Crossroads07.htm |date=2013-04-15 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080624235536/http://www.concertdvdreviews.com/Reviews/Clapton_Crossroads2007.htm Review of DVD for 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival with set list.]

{{Rock festival}}
{{Eric Clapton}}
[[Category:Benefit concerts in the United States]]
[[Category:Rock festivals in the United States]]
[[Category:Blues festivals in the United States]]
[[Category:Folk festivals in the United States]]
[[Category:Music festivals in New York City]]
[[Category:Music festivals established in 1999]]
[[Category:Music festivals in Texas]]
[[Category:Music festivals in Illinois]]
[[Category:Eric Clapton]]

Latest revision as of 03:10, 27 November 2024

Crossroads Guitar Festival
Eric Clapton and Bill Murray kicking off the Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2007
GenreBlues, country, rock, bluegrass
DatesSummer
Location(s)1999: New York City
2004: Dallas, Texas
2007, 2010: Bridgeview, Illinois
2013: New York, NY
2019: Dallas, Texas
2023: Los Angeles, California
Years active1999, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2019, 2023
FoundersEric Clapton
Websitehttp://crossroadsguitarfestival.org/ [Official website]

The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a series of music festivals and benefit concerts founded by Eric Clapton. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center in Antigua. The concerts showcase a variety of guitarists, selected by Eric Clapton personally. To the 2007 audience, Clapton declared that each performer was one of the very best, and had earned his personal respect.

The first concert was held on June 30, 1999, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and there again in 2013. The 2004 concert was held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, while the 2007 and 2010 festivals were held at Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois, just outside Chicago. The festival returned to Dallas in 2019 at the American Airlines Center.

1999 festival

[edit]

The first Crossroads Benefit concert was held at Madison Square Garden, New York on June 30, 1999. It was held under a different title which was Eric Clapton & Friends In Concert: A Benefit For The Crossroads Centre At Antigua. The first official Crossroads Guitar Festival did not happen until 2004.

Performers

[edit]

Some performers at the 1999 Concert were David Sanborn, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan and Mary J Blige. Backup musicians included Nathan East (bass), Steve Gadd (drums) Andy Fairweather Low (guitars), Tim Carmon (keyboards) and Dave Delhomme (keyboards). Back-up vocals were by Tessa Niles and Katie Kissoon.

2004 festival

[edit]

Held at Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas, Texas, from June 4, 2004, to June 6, 2004. A two-disc DVD containing 250 minutes of footage of the 2004 concert was released in the same year.[1] This became the first official Crossroads Guitar Festival even though the 1999 concert had a different title. It was also the first benefit concert under the Crossroads Guitar Festival name.

Performers

[edit]

Some performers at the Crossroads Guitar Festival such as Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny, Neal Schon, and Styx were not included on the DVD.

2007 festival

[edit]

The 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival was held at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois on July 28, 2007. Tickets were estimated as sold out for the 28,000 capacity park in twenty two minutes. A DVD of the concert was released on November 20, 2007.

Performers

[edit]

Eric Clapton played alongside various performers, and there were many one-off collaborations during the show. In order of appearance, the performers on the main stage were

On the second stage at the Festival Village, performers included:

2010 festival

[edit]

The 2010 Crossroads festival was again held at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL (outside Chicago) on June 26, 2010.

Performers

[edit]

In order of appearance. Artists in bold have received star billing in advertisements.[3] Comedian Bill Murray emceed.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q artists who also performed at the 2004 festival
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x artists who also performed at the 2007 festival

2013 festival

[edit]

The 2013 festival was held April 12–13 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[4]

Performers

[edit]

Performers included:[4][5][6]

2019 festival

[edit]

The 2019 festival was held on September 20–21 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.[7]

MC: Bill Murray

Performers

[edit]

Performers included:

Outdoor Venue: Among the Village Stage performers will be surprise main stage artists, along with special guest guitarists such as Eric Johnson, Joe Robinson, Andy Timmons, Paul Reed Smith, Boscoe France, Bryan Ewald, Ryan McGarvey and Peterson Brothers, with others. In addition, next-gen guitarists Jacob Reese Thorton and Brotherhood of the Guitar, the Ernie Ball Play Crossroads national contest winner, and Gibson’s G3 trio will make their Crossroads debut on the Village stage.[8]

2023 festival

[edit]

A 2023 edition of the festival was held on September 23–24 at the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles.[9]

Performers

[edit]

Buddy Guy and Robbie Robertson were both announced on the lineup. However, Guy canceled his performance on September 19th because of a medical issue and Robbie Robertson died on August 9, the month prior to the festival.

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Crossroads Guitar Festival : June 4-6, 2004". Archived from the original on April 5, 2004. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  2. ^ "Tyler Bryant | abc7chicago.com". Abclocal.go.com. July 1, 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Crossroads 2013". Crossroadsguitarfestival.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Crossroads Guitar Festival - 12-13 April 2013 Madison Square Garden!". Eric Clapton Music News. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  5. ^ "Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013". Thegarden.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  6. ^ Official DVD performer credits for Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013
  7. ^ Blistein, Joe (March 28, 2019). "Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival Returns With Gary Clark, Jr., Bonnie Raitt". Rolling Stone.
  8. ^ "ERIC CLAPTON'S CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2019 ANNOUNCES GUITAR CENTER VILLAGE". Whereseric.com. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Crossroads Guitar Festival". crossroadsguitarfestival.com. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
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