The 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival by Eric Clapton is set to be a live pay-per-view event, marking its sixth edition and the first since 2019. This musical extravaganza will unfold over two days, on September 23rd and 24th, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
WATCH CLAPTON’S CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL
You can catch this captivating experience for $24.99 per day or opt for a two-day special package priced at $39.99, accessible through Nugs.net and PPV.com.
Renowned for its iconic performances and spontaneous collaborations among the world’s most celebrated guitarists, the festival boasts a star-studded lineup, featuring luminaries such as Stephen Stills, Carlos Santana, ZZ Top, Sheryl Crow, Joe Bonamassa, Robbie Robertson, and Roger McGuinn, all sharing the stage with Clapton.
Unfortunately, it was announced on September 19th that the 87-year-old Buddy Guy wouldn’t be able to participate due to a “standard medical issue.” On the same day, it was revealed that Peter Asher would join his frequent touring companion, Albert Lee, on September 23rd. But that’s not all – the festival promises even more musical treats with performances by Jakob Dylan, Gary Clark Jr., Vince Gill, Jimmie Vaughan, Los Lobos, Taj Mahal, John Mayer Trio, Keb’ Mo’, Samantha Fish, Doyle Bramhall II, Andy Fairweather Low, and many others. The festival occurs just a week after Clapton wraps up a brief U.S. tour. If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, you may still find them available through select outlets.
In a YouTube interview posted on May 3rd, Clapton shared his insight into the timing of the 2023 edition. He mentioned, “It was about time. I had watched Jakob Dylan’s documentary, ‘Echoes in the Canyon,’ and there was a section with Steve Stills talking about our adventures in the ’60s. I asked Jakob, ‘Do you think Stephen would be interested in playing again?’ At the same time, I reached out to Carlos and asked, ‘What’s your attitude toward a potential festival?’ He replied, ‘I’d jump into it feet first.’ Having these two historic legends and incredible musicians on board, I knew we had two headliners. I also reached out to Jeff Beck, but sadly, we lost him. I began inviting everyone almost two years ago, and during that time, we lost many great artists, especially Jeff. So, there will be a special memorial segment in the show where his current band will take the stage, and we’ll have guest musicians paying tribute to Jeff’s legacy. I’ll be involved, but I wouldn’t dare try to emulate Jeff.” This heartfelt tribute will be a significant part of the festival, beginning at the
n an interview Clapton posted on YouTube on May 3, he explained the rationale behind the timing of the 2023 edition. “It was kind of about time,” he said. “I had watched [the documentary] Echoes in the Canyon which Jakob Dylan made… and there was a section with Steve Stills talking about our old adventures in the ’60s. And I said to Jakob, ‘Do you think Stephen would be interested in going out and playing again?’ And at the same time I said to Carlos, ‘If there was any likelihood of any festival coming up, what would your kind of attitude be?’ and he said, ‘I’d jump into it feet first.’
CLAPTON’S CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL
“And I had those two people… historic legends, great musicians and I thought we’ve got two headliners. And the other person that [I] would always contact was Jeff Beck. I started inviting everybody almost two years ago, and in that time, you know, we lost so many people, and most of all, Jeff. So there’ll be a memorial part in the show where his current band will be featured and we’ll have guests… try to emulate Jeff. I’ll be involved but I wouldn’t even dare to try to do that.” The segment begins at the 2-minute mark.
In addition to the concerts, Guitar Center, a co-sponsor since 2004 and a strong supporter of the Crossroads at Antigua Foundation, will once again host the Guitar Center Festival Village on-site adjacent to the arena on Xbox Plaza and Chick Hearn Court at L.A. LIVE. Some of the world’s best guitar and gear manufacturers will host interactive exhibits where guitar enthusiasts can plug in and play new products and classic favorites. In addition to the guitars and gear exhibited throughout the Village, Guitar Center will again be exhibiting important selections from its must-see Legends Collection of historically significant guitars, including Clapton’s “Blackie” Strat and cherry ES-335, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Lenny” Strat.
