New York Guitar Festival Kicks Off With Tribute to Memphis Minnie

The 20th annual New York Guitar Festival has a long-standing tradition of paying homage to the cultural impact and musical legacies of iconic guitar players. This year, the festival opens with a tribute to influential blues artist, Memphis Minnie. This free outdoor event takes place Saturday, June 1 at 7 pm at Brookfield Place’s Waterfront Plaza in lower Manhattan.

The concert will feature musicians across an array of genres, and will include: Marc Ribot, Rafiq Bhatia, Rachael & Vilray (featuring Lake Street Dive’s Rachael Price), Nicole Atkins, Binky Griptite, Kaia Kater, Jontavious Willis, Toshi Reagon, Brandon Ross, Amythyst Kiah, Alsarah and the Nubatones, Brandee Younger, Abdoulaye Alhassane Toure, Banning Eyre, and, Grammy Award-winners, Vernon Reid and Fantastic Negrito.

Elegant, stylish and tough as shoe leather, she epitomized everything the world loves about America’s most enduring folk music.

Banning Eyre

Memphis Minnie was a gifted Delta Blues guitarist who was one of the first to use electric. She pioneered a sound that influenced generations of music to come, including Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, The Rolling Stones, and Cream. Her song “When The Levee Breaks,” written about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 was later covered by Led Zeppelin.

Additional 20th Anniversary New York Guitar Festival events will be announced soon.  Stay up to date at www.newyorkguitarfestival.org

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