A guitar show and music festival celebrating the art, science, and passion behind the guitar's most enigmatic incarnation!

For one weekend in September, Arvada CO becomes the center of the archtop guitar universe. This unique festival is the only one of its kind and features over 30 of the world's premier guitar builders showcasing their work, along with world class players, teachers and clinicians offering player workshops and concerts around Olde Town Arvada.  Over 60 hours of music and 30+ different workshops and clinics will be hosted by various local businesses over the weekend, all within walking distance, creating the most unique guitar-focused music festival in the country.

Schedule Of Events

September 8, 2023

Hilton Garden Inn

5:00 - 7:00pm: VIP and Luthier Welcome Reception
5:00 -5:45pm: Taylor Roberts
6:00 - 6:45pm: New West Guitar Group
7:00 - 7:30pm: Taste of Philly - Jimmy Bruno and Larry Tamanini

Silver Vines Winery (Public)

7:30 - 8:30pm: Corey Christiansen Trio with Ron Bland (bass) and Jim White (drums)
9:00 - 11:00pm: NYC Invasion!  Ed Cherry and Rodney Jones, featuring Gianni Bianchini (Organ), Drew Morell (Bass) and Todd Reid (Drums), Rafael Rosa, Ron Jackson and many more special guest guitarists!

La Dolce Vita Coffee Shop (Public)

7:00 to 9:00pm: Gypsy Jazz Jam hosted by Michael Isabell and the Hot Club of Olde Town

Olde Town Square Stage (Public)

6:00 - 7:30pm: Ryan Chris and the Roughcuts
8:30 - 10:00pm: Chris Daniels and the Kings with Freddi Gowdy

Arvada Elks Beer Garden (Public)
6:00 - 10:00pm: Soda Blue

Bluegrass Coffee and Bourbon (Public)
6:00 - 10:00pm: The Decaf Muchachos

September 9, 2023

Hilton Garden Inn Seminar Room

9:00 to 10:30am: The History and Architecture of the Archtop Guitar with Howard Paul and Tom Ribbecke
10:30 - 12:00pm: The Physics of Archtop Guitars with Tom Nania
12:00 - 1:00pm: These Go To Seven! The Do's and Don'ts, Whys and Why Nots of 7-String Guitars
Women in Jazz Guitar Panel with Beth Marlis, Jocelyn Gould, Lisa Lui and Jamie Stillway
2:30 - 3:30pm: New West Guitar Workshop - Playing Together
3:30 - 4:30pm: Bruce Forman
4:30 - 5:30pm: Rodney Jones

Classroom 119 at the Hilton Garden Inn

11:00 - 12:00pm: Doug Martin
12:30 - 1:30pm: Barry Greene
2:00 - 3:00pm: Zakk Jones
3:30 - 4:30pm: Davy Mooney

Classroom 122 at the Hilton Garden Inn

10:00 - 11:00am: Larry Tamanini
11:30 - 12:30pm: Mark Tonelli
1:00 - 2:00pm: Pat Bergeson
2:30 - 3:30pm: Nate Lopez
4:00 - 5:00pm: Wayne Wilkinson

Classroom 124 at the Hilton Garden Inn

10:30 - 11:30am: Corey Christiansen
12:00 - 1:00pm: Jocelyn Gould
1:30 - 2:30pm: Ron Jackson
3:00 - 4:00pm: Rafael Rosa

Classroom 126

11:00 - 12:00pm: Brad Rabuchin
12:30 - 1:30pm: Tim Lerch
2:00 - 3:00pm: Wayne Goins
3:30 - 4:30pm: Beth Marlis

Community Bank Outdoor Stage (Public)

1:00 - 2:00pm: The Jive Bomberz
2:30 - 3:30pm: Some Kind of Blues Band
4:00 - 5:00pm: New West Guitar Group
5:30 - 7:00pm: Tony Monaco and Fareed Haque featuring Brian Claxton

Hilton Garden Inn Main Stage (Public)

1:00 to 2:00pm: Ted Ludwig and Friends
2:30 to 3:30pm: Concord Jazz Guitar Collective Revisited - Howard Alden, Jimmy Bruno and Frank Vignola
4:00 to 5:00pm: Sean McGowan Trio feat. Drew Morell and Todd Reid
5:30 to 6:30pm: Jamie Stillway
8:00 to 11:30pm: Benedetto Artist Showcasefeaturing: Rodney Jones, Howard Alden, Corey Christiansen, Barry Greene, Jocelyn Gould, Beth Marlis, Ron Jackson, Howard Paul, Jackson Evans, Wayne Goins, Davy Mooney, Wayne Wilkinson and Taylor Roberts with Todd Reid (drums) and Ron Bland (bass).
Hunter Bay Coffee (Public)

Guitar Demos

11:30 - 12:30pm: Marchione Guitars with John Storie
12:30 - 1:30pm: D'Arcy Blake Guitars with David Blake
1:30 - 2:30pm: Eastman Guitars with Mark Tonelli
2:30 - 3:30pm: Ryan Thorell Guitars with Lance Ruby
3:30 - 4:30pm: Tim Reede Guitars

La Dolce Vita Coffee Shop (Public)

2:00 - 3:00pm: Paul Ricci and Mafalda Minnozzi
3:00 - 4:00pm: Mark Tonelli and Doug Martin
4:00 - 5:00pm: Nate Lopez

Marmalade Lounge (Public)

3:00 - 4:00pm: Mason Razavi
4:00 - 5:00pm: Donovan Raitt
5:00 - 6:00pm: Doug Martin and Mark Tonelli

Arvada Center Amphitheater

Arvada Economic Development Association Business Appreciation Event
5:30 - 6:30pm: Reception with Taylor Roberts
7:00 - 7:45pm: Paul Ricci and Mafalda Minnozzi
8:00 - 9:30pm: Frank Vignola's All Star Guitar Nightfeaturing Jimmy Bruno, Pasquale Grasso with Ken Smith, Vinnie Raniolo, and Gary Mazzaroppi plus special guests!

Flights Wine Cafe (Public)

6:30 - 9:00pm: Gypsy Jazz Stagefeaturing Lisa Liu, Michael Isabell and the Hot Club of Olde Town 6:00 - 8:00
Olde Town Pickin' Parlor (All-Access ticket holders included, separate tickets available at the door)

7:00 - 8:30pm: Bruce Forman: From the Pasture to the Future

Silver Vines (Public)

Guitar Demos

12:00 - 1:00pm: William Dotson Guitars with Clint Dadian
1:00 - 2:00pm: D'Ambrosio Guitars with Doug Martin
2:00 - 3:00pm: Maegen Wells with Tim Lerch
3:00 - 4:00pm: Denny Kopp Guitars with Zakk Jones
4:00 - 5:00pm: Tim Bram Guitars with Tim Lerch
5:00 - 6:00pm: Rocky Mountain Guitar Camp with Jim Nichols and Pat Bergeson

7:00 - 9:00pm: Various Artists with Jim White (drums) and Drew Morell (bass)
7:00pm: Zakk Jones
7:30pm: David Blake
8:00pm: Steve Herberman
9:00 - 11:00pm: Organ Trio Madness!with Rafael Rosa, Gianni Bianchini and Brian Claxton, featuring special guests
9:00pm: Rafael Rosa
9:30pm: Tim Lerch
10:00pm: Brad Rabuchin
10:30pm: probably Bruce Forman

Olde Town Square Stage (Public)

12:00 - 1:30pm: Brit & The Boys
2:30 - 4:00pm: Tumbledown Shack
5:00 - 6:30pm: Bear and the Beasts
7:30pm: Graham Good and the Painters

Arvada Elks Beer Garden (Public)

6:00 - 10:00am: Talkbox
Schoolhouse Kitchen and Libations (Public)

1:00 - 3:00pm: Carlos Vizarro
Bluegrass Coffee and Bourbon (Public)

6:00 - 10:00 The Decaf Muchachos

September 10, 2023

Hilton Garden Inn Seminar Room (All-Access pass holders)

10:00 - 11:00am: Pasquale Grasso
11:00 - 12:00pm: Paul Asbell - The Guitar Styles of My Chicago Blues Employers
12:00 - 1:00pm: Jimmy Wyble: Fingerstyle Counterpoint with Beth Marlis, Bruce Forman and Howard Alden
1:00 - 2:00pm: Jimmy Bruno
2:00 - 3:00pm: Fareed Haque
3:00 - 4:00pm: Ed Cherry

Classroom 119 at the Hilton Garden Inn (All-Access pass holders)

10:30 - 11:30pm: Jim Nichols
12:00 - 1:00pm: Frank Vignola
1:30 - 2:30pm: Sean McGowan

Classroom 122 at the Hilton Garden Inn (All-Access pass holders)

11:00 - 12:00pm: Ted Ludwig
12:30 - 1:30pm: Mason Razavi
2:00 - 3:00pm: Donavan Raitt

Classroom 124 at the Hilton Garden Inn (All-Access pass holders

11:30 - 12:30pm: Taylor Roberts
1:00 - 2:00pm: Rich Severson
2:30 - 3:30pm: Steve Herberman

Classroom 126

12:00 - 1:00pm: David Blake
1:30 - 2:30pm: Jamie Stillway

Community Bank Outdoor Stage (Public)

11:00 - 1:00pm: Hazel Miller & The Collective

Hilton Garden Inn Main Stage (Public)

11:30 - 12:30am: Mason Razavi
12:30 - 1:30pm: Wayne Wilkinson
1:30 - 2:30pm: Wayne Goins
2:30 - 3:30pm: Nate Lopez
3:30 - 4:30pm: Ted Ludwig and Lenore McIntyre
4:30 - 5:30pm: Barry Greene and Friends

Hunter Bay (Public)

Guitar Demos
10:30 - 4:30pm

Silver Vines (Public)

Guitar Demos
11:00 - 4:30pm

Date:
September 8-10, 2023

Location:
Hilton Garden Inn Arvada Denver, 5455 Olde Wadsworth Blvd
Arvada, CO 80002

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