A very special tribute to the music of Bob Dylan, honoring Dylan’s storied 1966 concert - long the Dylan bootleggers' favorite, and released legit by Sony on CD in 1998. Critic Dave Marsh reviewed it in Creem magazine, writing "It is the most supremely elegant piece of rock 'n' roll music I've ever heard” The recording includes Dylan's now-legendary confrontation with a heckler calling out "Judas" from the audience.

Elizabeth Cotten was a true original and among the most influential guitarists to surface during the roots music revival era. Turning her instruments upside-down to play them left-handed, she developed a truly distinctive guitar style and sound. Her song “Freight Train”has become a fingerpicker’s classic.

One of the most original vocal artists to emerge from West Africa in decades, Julia Sarr honed her reputation as a backing vocalist in Paris for Lokua Kanza, Manu Dibango, MC Solaar, and other luminaries. Her and Patrice Larose’s first album, Set Luna (So I’ve Observed), and their recent U.S. concert debut at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall, are unlike anything else from the rich Senegalese and Flamenco traditions.  Hailed by Youssou N’Dour as “the fresh face of African music”, and by The NY Times as a probing source of “introspection” in a revitalized African tradition.

Since landing in NYC two years ago, the Italian classical guitarist Marco Cappelli  (a student of Oscar Ghiglia) started to develop a unique style which includes avant garde compositions, improvisation, live-electronics, hard rock sounds, classic licks, and much more.  This melting pot of sounds, is rarely heard on a classical guitar.  At The Monkey he will present a program of his own through-composed/improvised music using the so-called Extreme Guitar, which has 8 sympathetic steel strings running under the regular 6 nylon strings.

Praised by Gramophone for his "stunning technical skill and unfailing musicality" and characterized by Classical Guitar magazine as "a fully enlightened musician of our time," Michael Nicolella is recognized as one of America's most innovative and eclectic classical guitarists. He will perform music for classical and electric guitar, including works by Steve Reich, J.S. Bach, Hans Werner Henze, Jimi Hendrix and himself.

Kevin Gallagher, winner of both the 1993 Guitar Foundation of America Competiton and the 1997 Francisco Tarrega competition, will premiere his new “avant-pop” group, Electric Kompany. The group arranges, composes and commissions music for rock quartet. For this concert, they will perform compositions by Arvo Part, Jacob Ter Veldhuis, Marc Mellits, and others. www.guitar69.com

Celebrated guitarist, singer, songwriter & producer Daniel Lanois brings his music and experimental film images to NYC for the first time. Glorious pedal steel guitar playing and innovative sonics will make for an electrifying night. Of his last NYGF performance, The NY Times wrote: "In a rare performance playing solo pedal steel guitar, Mr. Lanois, who has produced albums by U2 and Bob Dylan, used the instrument for hovering meditations. Liquid chords welled up behind folky melodies, making music that was expansive yet humble, as if contemplating wide-open spaces."

Guitarist/composer Stephen Griesgraber will present Redhooker, an evening of music for guitar and live electronics. Inspired by his interest in hypnagogia and the altered auditory experiences reflected in various dream states, Stephen will perform music for solo guitar, guitar with live electronics and samples, as well as music for guitar and ensemble. The work will be representational as well as interpretive in its exploration of states of semi and unconsciousness.

A giant in the field of Delta country blues, Charley Patton (1887-1934) was an acknowledged celebrity and seminal influence on musicians throughout the Delta. His music embraced blues, ballads, ragtime, to gospel, and his influence can be heard in the music of Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Son House, and Robert Johnson. Five amazing artists will interpret the music of this great blues figure.

Learn how chamber ensemble Slow Six integrates live audio processing intoits performances via custom applications designed on a Mac using the Max/MSPenvironment.

The Grammy Award-winning guitarist and composer Bill Frisell performs new work for his string ensemble & special guests plus the world premiere of a new, short multi-media piece created in collaboration with visual artist Jim Woodring. Deceptively mild-mannered and soft-spoken, Bill Frisell has been described by Spin magazine as the “Clark Kent” of electric guitar who “coaxes and slams his hovering split-toned ax into shapes of things to come.” Jim Woodring has been called everything under the sun, but we like "Nuts" and "Genius" the best.

Guitarist/composer Alex de Grassi (“The level of de Grassi’s accomplishment is astonishing” wrote Jazziz Magazine) performs music to accompany the 1934 silent film A Story of Floating Weeds. Celebrated Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu weaves a tragic tale of rekindled love, showing how it profoundly changes the lives of a retired actor, his present girlfriend, his ex-lover and the son he never knew he had.

Guitarist and research diver Henry Kaiser joins us to share exciting work captured while exploring the Artic. Henry will discuss how his PowerBook is essential in both his scientific and creative endeavors.

As part of ourAlternative Guitar Summit, we present a tribute to the jazz guitar legend Jim Hall. Each act will perform either Jim Hall compositions, tunes associated with him, or improvisations in his spirit.

A series of alt-guitar music curated by the guitarist/composer/arranger/bandleader Joel Harrison.

A series of alt-guitar music curated by the guitarist/composer/arranger/bandleader Joel Harrison.

What makes steel guitar and Dobro player Cindy Cashdollar's musical journey stand out is a combination of restless creativity and an uncanny ability to understand and add to a wild array of styles. She has worked with the likes of Leon Redbone, Graham Parker, Bob Dylan (on his Grammy winning "Time Out Of Mind" CD), Jorma Kaukonen, Peter Rowan, and the stellar Cajun group BeauSoleil.  As the steel guitarist for eight years with western swing kingpins Asleep At The Wheel, she logged many road miles and won five Grammy Awards.

Among the earliest and most influential Delta bluesmen to record, Skip James (1902-1969) influenced everyone from Robert Johnson to Eric Clapton. These five distinctive artists will honor the musical legacy of this American original in a special tribute concert. www.SonnyLandreth.com  |  www.cindycashdollar.com  |  www.mojomusic.com/alvin |  www.chocolate-genius.com  | www.garylucas.com