Zihuatanejo Journal

7th Annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival Announces Line-Up

By Catherine Krantz

7th Annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, March 17- 20, 2010,  Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

A week of guitar music in paradise, Zihuatanejo’s popular music festival that has been gathering enthusiastic fans among artists and audiences alike for seven years, comes back in 2010 with great music for a good cause. The non-profit festival has become known for showcasing world class music in intimate venues in a lovely seaside location. The internationally acclaimed musicians come to beautiful Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, from all across the globe. They are solo performers, duos and trios of guitarists, representing a wide variety of genres from Americana, blues, classical, flamenco, funk, jazz, rock, salsa, and more. They will be performing for four days of concerts and live shows in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, twin cities that have together in one, all the glitz of a first rate resort town with the charm of an authentic Mexican village. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo has two championship golf courses, is ranked second in the world for sailfishing, and has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. There are a wide array of accommodations from budget to five star, and culinary delights from traditional and authentic Mexican to inspired international fare that is second to none. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is a wonderful beach destination and there is no more perfect time to visit than when the streets are full of music.

The ZIGF is a non-profit community sponsored festival, all organizers are volunteers and the musicians perform for free. A percentage of proceeds each year go to support local arts and culture projects in the community. This years’ beneficiary is the Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture) in Zihuatanejo, a city program that offers free courses to the citizens of Zihuatanejo in art, theater, dance, and music, and is raising funds to build a cultural education center in Zihuatanejo. Due to economic concerns, the 2010 guitar festival will be smaller than past years’ events. (Past year’s festivals have hosted as many as 30 plus live shows and four concerts, two of which are always free to the public, one of those for upwards of 1000 of Zihuatanejo’s school children.) 2010’s event will be smaller in scope but will still have four days of live music; plans are to be back to full size in 2011. Cover charges are from $100 – 250 pesos ($8-20 USD) per person, events are in Ixtapa, and Zihuatanejo, in the center of town and on the beach.

• Opening Concert Dinner Show Wednesday March 17, 2010 – 7pm Gian Frank Center, Ixtapa in Plaza Ixpamar, 250 pesos
• Musicians Jam Concert Thursday March 18, 2010 – 6pm – La Gaviota, Playa La Ropa, Zihuatanejo, 150 pesos
• Closing Concert Dinner Show Friday March 19, 2010 – 7pm – El Pueblito, Central Zihuatanejo, 250 pesos
• 2 Dinner Shows Saturday March 20, 2010, – 7pm
  • Coconuts Restaurant, Central Zihuatanejo, 100 pesos
  • Caprichos Grill, Central Zihuatanejo, 100 pesos

Confirmed 2010 Artists

Jose Luis Cobo (Zihuatanejo, Mexico)

Zihuatanejo’s own poet lauréate and Zi­huatanejo International Guitar Festival Ambassador. Local legend who has re­corded and performed across Europe and Mexico but prefers to entertain his loyal following at his legendary Zihuatanejo bar, El Canto de la Sirena, named after his popular song.

Eric McFadden (San Francisco, USA)

“McFadden is a master of guitar and man­dolin, a 25-year veteran who waltzes the dark, eerie corridors between Jimi Hen­drix and Django Reinhardt.” -Jonathan Zwickel, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Oc­tober 2004. “The overdriven tones McFadden conjures by amplifying an ancient Gibson archtop (as well as a classical nylon-string) are as unique as his Gypsy-jazz-inspired trills and carnival-noir tales of sin and re­demption. McFadden has been an under­ground sensation for years – finally gaining recognition playing mandolin and guitar with George Clinton’s P-Funk All Stars from 2000-2004 and Eric Burdon & The Animals 2005-2007.” -Jimmy Leslie, Guitar Player Magazine, October 2005. www.ericmcfadden.com

Los Pistoleros (Dallas, USA)

Taking time from their solo careers, recording artist-guitarist Kevin Schaelling, vocalist-guitarist Jason Hatch, and Flamenco guitarist Michael Stacy, have joined forces to form the eclectic Texas based musical group “Los Pistoleros.” Los Pistoleros performances include both instrumental compositions and guitar accompanied vocal stylings with selections from Jazz, Pop, Rock, and Flamenco music. With the combination of romantic Flamenco guitars, burnin rock riffs and powerful vocals, a Los Pistoleros performance will surely leave you with a truly genuine musical experience! Viva!! Viva! Viva

Roger & Valerie Scannura (Malta, Spain; Toronto, Canada)

Roger and Valerie Scannura of the group Ritmo Flamenco are Nuevo Flamenco at it’s finest. Guitarist Roger Scannura, and dancer/choreographer Valerie Scannura have received wide exposure on world and Hispanic press and radio across the country and overseas. They have thrilled sold-out audiences in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe. Their brand of authentic, high-energy flamenco has garnered them rave reviews wherever they have played. They have performed for dignitaries, Prime Ministers and ce­lebrities. Their latest CD No­che Flamenca has been very successful with songs from it being picked by Nike for World Cup 2005 and Shakira’s new MTV show. Most recently Roger and Val­erie Scannura played an opening recital for world-renowned flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia at Massey Hall in Toronto. www. ritmoflamenco.ca

JL Stiles (San Francisco, USA)

Hanging out in the blazing New Orleans heat, studying with Chinese Mathematicians and drifting into oblivion on opium and psychedelics, JL Stiles knew his music was more than a sideshow to a brilliant career in the outer reaches of theoretical math. JL Stiles has a mind that sees music in a similar way to how J.S. Bach saw music, however, Bach never played the blues.

Doug Towle (Vancouver, Canada)

A searing mix of Salsa, Latin Jazz and Spanish Guitar. A Guitar Player Magazine 2009 Superstar, Doug Towle is one of Canada’s premier guitarists. Flawless technique and amazing speed combine with a sophisticated sense of melody to make him one of the finest players of our time.

Nick Vigarino (Seattle, USA)

“You shouldn’t miss this experience. It’s cut and dried…this guy kicks a$$.” – Musician Magazine. Vigarino radiates an unpredictable fervor with slashing slide guitar, powerful vocals, funky licks, modern lyrics, and his “slop-jar Delta funk” blues. He consistently captures and then rivets listeners with precise, passionate performances. Nick has released three original CD’s, is found on 12 CD’s of other artists, 8 compilations, and one film soundtrack. He has performed in 13 countries, and has been nominated for 27 Blues Awards (winning 14, including Best Slide Guitar, Performer of the Year, and Best Acoustic Blues Guitar 2008 – Washington Blues Society).

Bebo Whitehead (Nashville, USA)

Originally from Virginia, Bebo played with the Hogbear band for twenty years. He spent a couple of years playing at The Lone Star Café, The Other End and Folk City, in NYC. In 1987, he moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting, there he played lead guitar for Johnny Carver (Yellow Ribbon) and solo in the area’s clubs and honky-tonks. He started a band called the Forkin’ Litz’s, which released one CD. Currently Bebo is lead guitarist with Dr Hook featuring Ray Sawyer and also plays solo and lead guitar for other artists in the Nashville area. He is working on a third CD as well as producing projects for other artists.

Tickets available at the door of each event. See www.zihuafest.info or email info(at)zihuafest.info for more information. Visit the You Tube Channel to see Videos of 2010 Selected Artists and Past Festival Performances: www.youtube.com/zguitarfest