2nd Annual Canadian Guitar Festival

The 2nd Annual Canadian Guitar Festival kicks into high gear on July 22nd at the Odessa Fair Grounds, just 11 kilometres west of Kingston (near Highway 401). The theme of this year’s three-day outdoor celebration is “Virtuosity Meets Song”. Featuring many of the world’s most prominent guitarists, and in keeping with the theme of this year’s festival, many of these virtuosi are also adept vocalists.

This year’s festival is headlined by the Algerian-born French guitarist, Pierre Bensusan, who graced Southern Ontario last April with a sold-out tour in support of his album Altiplanos, released last year on the Favored Nations label founded by Steve Vai. With Germany’s guitar giant Peter Finger; New Zealand’s Andrew White; one of the living godfathers of Bluegrass, America’s Dan Crary and the only two-time U.S. Fingerstyle guitar champion, Canada’s Don Ross, it might appear that we have the makings of an event better suited to Athens than Odessa. But new friendships, mutual respect and camaraderie among the players and fans are the thrust of this truly international celebration of music.

Our own Olympic games happen on the final day of the festival as the 2nd Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Championship hits the main stage with 24 players from across the globe competing for top honours and over $12,000 in prizes. With only 24 spots to compete in this prestigious event, there is a rapidly growing alternate list just in case one or two of the competitors grow weak in the knees from the pressure. Some of last summer’s competitors were a bucket of nerves…some even needed a bucket!

The three day outdoor festival can accommodate upwards of 5,000 people on the 20 acre Odessa Fair Grounds, an area that boasts food vendors, a local farmers’ market, camping areas for tents and RVs, an outdoor hockey rink with a children’s play area, and indoor plumbing. Both men’s and women’s showers are available onsite. There is also a licensed area for cool beverages courtesy of Brick Breweries. If camping is not your thing, there are many fine hotels/motels and B&B’s in nearby Kingston.

For directions, schedule and ticket information, please visit: www.canadianguitarfestival.com

For media inquiries, please contact:

Planet3 Communications – Adrienne Lloyd & Melanie Muroff

tel: 416.922.4459 - email: [email protected]