Kent State University at Stark will present Guitar Weekend, a three-day festival for guitar enthusiasts, Oct. 31 - Nov. 2.
Free and open to the public, the event is a celebration of all styles of guitar playing and features some of the most respected guitarists nationwide.
Organized by Kent State Stark’s Music Department, Guitar Weekend hosts a series of concerts during the three-day span.
Performances
The Dan Wilson Trio
Thursday, Oct. 31
7 p.m
114 Fine Arts | Rehearsal Hall
Kent State University at Stark
Join us opening night for the Dan Wilson Trio. Lead guitarist Dan Wilson has performed with the legendary Van Morrison, three-time Grammy nominated jazz organ legend Joey DeFrancesco, as well as many other nationally and internationally recognized musicians.
Jim Campilongo, Luca Benedetti and The Shootouts
Friday, Nov. 1
7:30 p.m.
The Auricle
201 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton
Celebrate First Friday in downtown Canton with a free show featuring guitar legends Jim Campilongo and Luca Benedetti, as well as honky-tonk rockers The Shootouts.
Telecaster master Jim Campilongo has been performing since the 1970s with wide variety of notable artists, including Norah Jones, Bright Eyes, Cake, Nels Cline and Gillian Welch.
Luca Benedetti performs in a wide variety of roots, jazz, country and Americana-inspired projects, including his collaboration with Campilongo: Jim Campilongo & Honeyfingers. Their latest album, “Last Night, This Morning”, was hailed by Vintage Guitar as “a brilliant record with magic and artistry” and by Guitar Player magazine as “...a hoedown throwdown that looks to be one of the top guitar records of the year.”
The Shootouts, headed by Ryan Humbert, blend high-energy honky-tonk and traditional country music mixed with touches of Americana and western swing. They marry a blend of Roy Orbison and Bob Wills with the barn-burning sounds of Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives and Dwight Yoakam. The combination offers a welcome throwback to sounds that flowed out of Nashville, Texas and California in country music’s golden years.
Community Concert
Saturday, Nov. 2
12 p.m.
114 Fine Arts | Rehearsal Hall
Kent State University at Stark
The Community Concert features Kent State Stark students and Canton McKinley High School Guitar Program students under George Dean.
Duende // Krystin O’Mara and Ethan Miller
Saturday, Nov. 2
7 p.m.
114 Fine Arts | Rehearsal Hall
Kent State University at Stark
Join us on the final night for Duende, a collaboration of guitarist Krystin O’Mara and saxophonist Ethan Miller. A unique duo representing a fresh, new direction in contemporary classical music, Duende performs traditional classical repertoire with influences from Spanish, flamenco, jazz, Brazilian and world music, as well as commissioned works.