Community

2nd Annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival Announces Line-up

For a second year, guitars come back to paradise for a week of live music in Zihuatanejo, April 3-10, 2005.

With an impressive line-up of international artists from across Mexico, the US, Canada, England, Ireland, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Japan, the benefit festival hopes to raise twice as much as 2004. Created to celebrate music, promote tourism in Zihuatanejo and raise funds for music education, last year’s festival raised over $12,000 US dollars with a percentage being set aside in trust to be used by the newly founded Escuela de Musica de Zihuatanejo, which hopes to build a music school in Zihuatanejo.

The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, governed by Mexican registered non-profit association ZI GUITAR FEST AC, is a non-profit, fully sponsor-funded event which uses the funds generated from festival and fund raising events to cover the costs of flying in international musicians and operating expenses with a percentage of its festival proceeds being set aside to further music education in Zihuatanejo. The festival committee is comprised of music and Zihuatanejo loving volunteers, and the musicians themselves provide their services for free. From the proceeds of festival fund raisers held monthly for the last six months and through the generous support of local businesses and individual sponsors, ZI GUITAR FEST AC, has been able to invite over 20 international musicians to Zihuatanejo to play in April. “Last minute miracle sponsors” are still being sought for additional artists wishing to attend, but that are coming from locations deemed too expensive for the small non-profit festival to accommodate, (three from Brazil, three from Serbia and one from India). After months of collecting submissions (deadlines were December 15, 2004) from a wide range of talented musician from across the globe, the organizing committee of the Zihuatanejo International Guitar festival is proud to announce 2005’s selected artists. An overwhelming amount of submissions poured in and artists were chosen based on talent, diversity of genre and most importantly, enthusiasm for the aims of the festival:

Mark Selby & Tia Sillers (USA) - A multi-faceted and multi-talented duo with a great range of stellar songs under their belts. Mark is a guitarist/ singer/ songwriter and recording artist on Vanguard records whose songs have been nominated for and have helped win Grammys. Tia is an incredible singer/ songwriter who with the song "I Hope you Dance", has won every award possible (BMI, Billboard, ACM, CMA, Grammy, NSA) for song of the year. Both members of this duo have put out four #1 records for the country, rock and blues charts.

Bebo Whitehead (USA) - A 15+ year veteran of Nashville, TN, Bebo has done the circuit with the likes of Bo Diddley and James Cotton, The Amazing Rhythm Aces and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. His latest CD, "Whisky, Cigarettes, Guitars and Train Songs," was produced by Wayne Neuendorf.

Juan Gaspar (Mexico) - A native of Puebla, Mexico , Juan’s music studies began with violin at the age of seven in New York ’s Julliard School of Music. He later changed to guitar and continued studies through the 1970’s and into the mid-80’s in the Puebla Conservatory of Music. During his career as classical concert guitarist, Gaspar has given recitals all over the Mexican Republic and in various U.S. cities.

Steve Denyes (USA) - Steve, with a blend of American roots music, "one part Woody Guthrie, one part Steve Earle, one part Johnny Cash," is a North American Folk Alliance Showcase Artist, a six-time NACA Showcase Artist, a two-time San Diego Music Awards "Best Acoustic" nominee and a San Diego Reader "Best Country" nominee. Steve was with us during the Inaugural Guitar Festival 2004 and we couldn’t be happier to have him back again.

Josie Kuhn (USA) - Singer/guitarist/songwriter Josie Kuhn writes from the heart, whether she is writing about the joys or pain of love, Mexican cantinas or the plight of the Native Americans. Having toured extensively and shared bills with Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Steve Forbert, Eric Anderson and many other notables, Josie has just put out her special "Zihuatanejo" theme CD. Josie, too, was with us during the Inaugural Guitar Festival 2004.

Goh Kurosawa (Japan) - Having interest in various genres such as Latin, Classical, Jazz, Asian, Brazilian, Tango, North Indian, Free Improvisation, Rock and Afro-Beat music, has led Goh to become equally versatile on acoustic and electric guitars. In recent years, the music of the Balkans has had deep impact on Goh. His music blends the Oriental with the Western.

Richard Smith and Stephen Trovato (USA) - A Full Professor and Chair of the Studio/Jazz Guitar department at Thornton School of Music at USC, Richard Smith has built a strong reputation as a jazz sideman and session guitarist with Richard Elliot, Kirk Whalum, Rick Braun, Mark Antoine, Dan Siegel, Freddie Ravel and Warren Hill. His own records have established him as a veteran of the contemporary jazz world - with strong chart action and critical success on every one of his nine solo releases. Studio/Jazz Guitar Department colleague Steve Trovato has an exciting career in several facets of the music industry. As a multi – stylist, Steve is versatile and highly knowledgeable in all popular genres of guitar music.

Kelli Ali (England) - Kelli Ali is on a musical journey. With two solo albums under her belt, Tiger Mouth 2001 and Psychic Cat 2004 - One Little Indian Records, and a fistful of sparkling collaborations with such stars as Bootsy Collins, Marilyn Manson and Linkin'Park, Kelli Ali is a singer/songwriter who manages to stay out of the spotlight, preferring to follow her unique musical vision in to shadows. Her songs speak of love, dreams and betrayal and much more. Join Kelli Ali on this part of her journey and blow a kiss to the angel of eternal love peace and rock 'n' Roll!

Nelson Graham (USA) - plays acoustic guitar and sings with a rich, baritone voice highlighting original music in a variety of American styles of grassroots/country/folk. Graham combines a mixture of songs from his experiences of country and city living. Subject matter covers humorous, serious, inspirational, realistic and fun themes.

Jenny Kerr & Phil Milner (USA) - Returning to join us for our second year, Jenny Kerr's musical roots were laid down during the heyday of San Francisco's sound explosion, and she got hooked on music through Muddy Waters, Dock Boggs and Bob Dylan. Always driven hard by her muse, Jenny has honed her skills on finger-style guitar, claw-hammer banjo, harmonica, piano and Dobro to a sharp edge. Talented musician partner Phil "Philbillie" Milner is a long-time guitarist in the Jenny Kerr Band. A fiery, soulful guitarist and singer, Phil is a dynamic showman whose style was forged in the beer Halls, roadhouses and nightclubs of California and Hawaii.

Peter Byrne (Ireland) - Lead vocals and guitar of "The Glass Onion Band," Peter is a self taught guitarist whose varied influences have been James Taylor, the Beatles, Stones, Neil Young, Dylan, John Martin and many more. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Peter is delighted to have been asked to play at this year’s festival and hopes you all enjoy the music and party on....

Steve Glotzer (USA) – has opened shows for a wide range of artists such as Delbert McClinton, Blues Traveler, Dr. John, Larry Coryell, David Grisman, Son Seals, David Wilcox, Sonia Dada Roger McGuinn, John Cowen, Richard Elliott, and more...Steve’s music has also been featured in movies and TV. "Steve offers the listener a world tour of guitar styles from sambas to jazz, blues to classical, bebop to folk, and almost everything in between..." Frank Rubalino, Cadence Creative Music.

Nick Vigarino (USA) - Nick Vigarino is an award winning singer/ songwriter/ guitarist. "Most people put me in the blues genre but I prefer slop jar delta funk." His music is fast, hard and fun and gets people up dancing. Nick wooed the crowds with his strings at the Inaugural Guitarfest 2004 and promises to do the same once again!

Gypsy (Canada) – Latin American Guitar trio plays rumba, flamenco and nuevo flamenco. Gypsy has played festivals across Canada, the US, Japan and Korea.

Ricardo Peña (USA and Mexico) – plays a variety of acoustic guitar based musical styles including Bolero (Cuban-Mexican), Son (Cuba), Trona Yucateca (Yucatan), Blues, American Folk, with influences from Mexico, the Caribbean and America’s Jazz, Blues, Folk and Bluegrass.

Tom Freund (USA) – Travels the world and brings music to people. He recorded a duo album with Ben Harper and was part of the Silos for five years. Talented, versatile (he plays most of the stringed instruments and piano) and critically acclaimed, his solo americana roots rock CDs have won global praise, “Along with Lucinda Williams, Freund is the best singer/songwriter operating today.” – Graham Parker

Kathleen Haskard (USA) – Blues, folk, rock singer/songwriter/guitarist based in London, England. Her publisher is BMG Music and she is currently working on her second album.

Jim McCormick (USA) – Americana, folk, country, blues singer/songwriter /guitarist and regular performer at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, with 3 solos CDs in the last three years and current songs on records from Warner Bros., MCA and Curb.

Curley Cooke (USA) – Seasoned blues musician with 35 years in the music business, Curley was a founding member of the Steve Miller Band and has performed and/or recorded with such greats as Chuck Berry, Jerry Garcia, Ben Sidran, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Freddie King, Boz Scaggs and many others.

Additional submissions are still being processed for select musicians with hopes to include a few more prominent musicians in the classical and traditional Mexican genres. Keep checking back on our website for updates and more information about venues, ticket sales, upcoming events (Final Fundraiser, Live Auction is being held at Rick’s Bar in central Zihuatanejo March 12) and more. HYPERLINK "http://www.zihuafest.info" www.zihuafest.info

Come join us April 3 – 10, 2005 for a fabulous week of live music in Paradise.

Return to Table of Contents