Adelaide Guitar Festival is ready to rock with first shows this weekend

Adelaide Guitar Festival 2021 kicks off an electrifying program of Australia’s top musicians with its first shows this weekend marking the festival’s return as an annual event.

Friday night’s entertainment will feature the sold-out flamenco spectacular The Andalusian Guitar and Brink Productions’ The Bridge of San Luis Rey starring recent Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon Award winner Paul Capsis in the Space Theatre until July 24.

More than 50 guitarists of various experience levels have been taking part in the Guitar Winter School’s classical intensive this week, with tutorials and workshops culminating in a performance in the Dunstan Playhouse on Saturday.

A Classical Celebration will see the Adelaide Guitar Festival Orchestra join a line-up of world-class local musicians including Oliver Fartach-Naini, Slava and Sharon Grigoryan, Manus Noble, Mike Bevan and Alain Valodze.

The opening weekend’s free events include Yamaha Come & Try Sessions in the Dunstan Playhouse Station Foyer (July 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24), while regional touring program On the Road will visit Edithburgh, Yorke Peninsula, on Saturday.

Adelaide Guitar Festival Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan:

We are very fortunate to have so many extraordinary guitarists living right here in Australia, and this year is the perfect opportunity to celebrate their artistic excellence with a selection of inspiring performances and unique collaborations.

As always, we will shine a light on the guitar’s ability to star in any genre of music – everything from classical and jazz to rock, blues & roots and flamenco. It’s going to be a spectacular few weeks as we explore all the magnificent possibilities of this instrument, and the musicians who have spent years and even decades honing their skills.

In the second week, acclaimed folk duo Hussy Hicks will bring their emotive lyricism and energetic enthusiasm to a double bill with Liz Stringer, a versatile songwriter and instrumentalist who has just released her sixth studio album, First Time Really Feeling. Stringer is stepping in for singer-songwriter Lecia Louise, who is no longer able to attend due to travel restrictions.

Their performance in the Dunstan Playhouse on Friday, July 16, will also feature students from Adelaide Guitar Festival’s Blues & Roots Winter School, which runs from July 12-16.

Chart-topping blues & roots musician Ash Grunwald will present soulful songs from his extensive back catalogue and most recent releases in Dunstan Playhouse on Saturday, July 17. With five ARIA award nominations across nine studio albums, Grunwald will present an intimate concert experience supported by renowned local musician Nick Kipridis and the debut of his new side project History of Trees.

Tickets are completely sold out to headliner show The Stones’ Sticky Fingers, while a limited number of seats are still available to Music @ the Maj event Archie Roach – Tell Me Why at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Friday, July 16. On the Road will visit Eyre Peninsula with free live music at Tumby Bay (Saturday, July 17) and Cleve (Sunday, July 18).

In the third and final week, Adelaide Guitar Festival will showcase some of South Australia’s most respected bassists with The Lowdown – a celebration of the bass guitar across funk, jazz, rock, experimental and country in the Dunstan Playhouse on Saturday, July 24.

Adelaide’s own international cabaret star Carla Lippis will make her first Adelaide Guitar Festival appearance, performing her sultry vocals with a backing band including guitarist husband Geoff Crowther on Friday, July 23. Lippis will share the Dunstan Playhouse stage with a world premiere collaboration between homegrown jazz guitar giants Hugh Stuckey and James Muller.

Over in Port Adelaide, free event Guitar chestra – presented by OSCA in partnership with experimental musician Matthew Timmis – will feature a unique celebration of electric guitar across four performances at Hart’s Mill on Saturday, July 24, and Sunday, July 25.

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM:

Continuing Adelaide Guitar Festival’s growth, we are extending our ambition this year to become an annual event while also expanding our calendar of community engagement and outreach programs. We are committed to sharing our love of this wonderful instrument – and the great musicians who play it – with audiences across South Australia, and we greatly value their ongoing support.

In light of interstate travel restrictions, the prestigious Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition has moved to an online format. The winner, to be announced on July 25, will take home $10,000, a coveted Jim Redgate guitar valued at $23,000 and an invitation to perform at next year’s Adelaide Guitar Festival.

Adelaide Guitar Festival runs from July 4-25, with more information and tickets available at www.adelaideguitarfestival.com.au.

The Department for Innovation and Skills through the Music Development Office and the South Australian Tourism Commission through Events South Australia are the major sponsors of Adelaide Guitar Festival On the Road.

Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni Said:

Adelaide Guitar Festival was a fantastic component of South Australia’s world-class creative and cultural festival calendar. The Marshall Government is proud to financially support the Adelaide Guitar Festival On the Road and increase the opportunity for regional audiences to enjoy some of Australia’s finest musical talent.

Adelaide is the first and only UNESCO City of Music in Australia. As the leading winter guitar music event in Adelaide, Adelaide Guitar Festival is proud to celebrate and contribute to this status as a UNESCO City of Music.


Season Details

Venue: Adelaide Festival Centre
Date: 4-25 July, 2021

For more information click HERE

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *