Hedges, an extraordinary musician named by Guitar Player magazine as one of the "25 Guitarists Who Shook the World" blended elements of jazz, folk, classical and other styles into a hybrid he applied such tongue-in-cheek labels as "violent acoustic," "heavy mental," and "acoustic thrash."  Paying tribute to the genius of this American original, who died in an car crash in 1997, are three former colleagues: the formidably talented bass guitarist Michael Manring, French Algerian acoustic guitar wizard Pierre Bensusan, and, in a rare performance on Hawaiian slack key guitar, George Winston.

This program explores the legacy of legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix, featuring a trio of progressive guitarists: jazz/experimental guitarist David Torn, classical guitarist/composer Benjamin Verdery and rock guitarist Vernon Reid (of Living Colour, and the Black Rock Coalition).

So here’s the question I was asking myself on Saturday evening, January 26, 2008, especially around the time I hit Albany and it began snowing: What is it about Brazilian guitar music that would make me want to drive six hours down from northern Vermont to Manhattan to watch a marathon of Brazilian guitarists?

The warmth and splendor of Italy has inspired guitarists and composers for five centuries. Our day-long celebration of Italian guitar music, from the Renaissance and Baroque to Berio and the music of today,  as performed by artists includingEliot Fisk,Bill Kanengiser,Connie Sheu,Dale Kavanagh,Emanuele Segre,Jason Vieaux,Nigel North,Hopkinson Smith,Pino Forastiere,The Harlem Quartet, andLionheart.

Silent Films/Live Guitars: Groundbreaking guitarists premiere original film scores for silent comedies by Buster Keaton.

Groundbreaking guitarists premiere original film scores for silent films by Buster Keaton.

Groundbreaking guitarists premiere original film scores for silent films by Buster Keaton.

Big thanks to graphic artist Jason Munn for designing our tenth anniversary festival poster. Check out hiswebsiteto see more of his excellent work.

2012 marks the 30th anniversary of Brian Eno's landmark tribute to the NASA moon landings,Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks. The New York Guitar Festival presents a rare live re-imagining of this masterpiece featuring the Brooklyn ambient ensemble Itsnotyouitsme, legendary NY guitar master Larry Campbell and special guests David Torn, Noveller, Tortoise's Jeff Parker, and Phish's Mike Gordon.

ELLNORA | THE GUITAR FESTIVAL unveils 2011’s stellar artist lineup. Diverse Three-Day Event Makes Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, a World-Class Musical Destination in September.

The label has released reissues, new studio albums. and compilations of seminal acoustic guitar works over it’s four year history, including the acclaimed  three volume ‘Imaginational Anthem’ compilation series. and works by Robbie Basho, Richard Crandell, Harry Taussig, Max Ochs, Peter Walker, James Blackshaw, Sean Smith, Shawn David McMillen, and Ben Reynolds, among others. The label most recently released the 3CD set, ‘Fire in My Bones : Raw, Rare & Otherworldly African-American Gospel, 1944-2007.’ Tompkins Square has received four Grammy nominations.

A Conversation with lutenist Paul O’dette

On February 4th2010 at Merkin Concert Hall, Gyan Riley will be performing an original score to accompany a series of short animations by the artist, music collector and experimental filmmaker Harry Smith.