12th Annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival to be held, March 6 – 15, 2015, in beautiful Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
A week of live music in paradise, the Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival comes back in 2015 with more incredible music in a beautiful beach front setting. Over twelve years, this non-profit festival has become world renowned for showcasing world class music and creating a unique environment that has delighted American, Canadian and Mexican tourists every year. The internationally acclaimed musicians come to sunny Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, from all across the globe. This year, invited artists will be coming from as far away as Pakistan, Argentina, Australia, Cuba, Spain, Switzerland, and as close as Mexico, the US and Canada. They will be solos, duos and trios performing blues, classical, flamenco, rock, pop, jazz, and more. The ZIGF offers a week of beach concerts and gala shows in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.
A great vacation destination for the entire family, 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, great for snorkeling, surfing, sun bathing or swaying in a hammock. 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. Event cover charges are very accessible, from $150 – 250 pesos ($10-20 USD) per person, with week-long passes available for around $1500 pesos ($110 USD) and special VIP passes available for around $3,300 pesos ($250 USD), free to the public events are also held, events are held nightly from March 6 – 15, 2015.
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. The festival is a well-loved annual event in Zihuatanejo and the entire community gets behind it.
Last year the ZIGF was able to raise over $10,000 dollars in a campaign on crowd funding site Kickstarter and the successful fund raising campaign enabled the festival to purchase airline tickets for invited artists. This year the festival hopes to raise $12,000 dollars and promotion is well underway. Pre-sales tickets at discounted rates, plus a wide variety of perks for backers are being offered, like signed guitars, dedicated songs, music downloads, private events for backers, and other VIP perks in a campaign called, “ZGuitarFest 2105, Let`s throw a party on the beach!” Go to the festival website www.zihuafest.info to link to the Kickstarter campaign and see what you´ve been missing!
The 12th Annual ZIGF is pleased to announce the 2015 lineup:
Asif Sinan (Contemporary Fusion – Jazz & Indian Classical, Sufi) Karachi, Pakistan Asif Sinan is a quintessential World Musician who has brought together the genres of of Jazz, Indian Classical and Sufi Music. A summa cum laude graduate in Music, Asif has been trained in both Jazz and Indian Classical since the age of 13. Sinan has collaborated with many international artists and has also had the honor of representing Pakistan and performing at International forums in UK, USA, Germany and UAE. Sinan is also an IVLP Alumnus which is the most prestigious program hosted by the US State Department. His first solo album is near completion and will be released soon.
Axemunkee & Mary Zoo (Rock) Boston, USA / Switzerland AXEMUNKEE: Selected by Brian May of Queen to win his famed “Red Special” guitar, Catherine Capozzi (Boston, MA) is a genre bending guitarist/composer who tours throughout Europe and around New England in the U.S. A. Her style combines elements of majestic psychedelia, hard rock, surf music, Middle Eastern music, and Parisian swing. Catherine’s composition “Acid Django” is featured in the History Channel’s hit program, American Pickers. She was also featured in Guitar World as part of the ‘Female Guitarists You Should Know” Series.
MARY ZOO: Originating from the Boston underground rock scene, Swiss native Christine Zufferey is touring in support of her new CD “Like sunshine after rain”. Her unique folk alternative style comes to life as she performs songs in English and French, on her acoustic or twelve string guitar. Depths and colors of her subtle arrangements range from electric to floaty, melancholic to eerie and are evident in the acoustic, sober and raw quality of her performances. In addition to her original material, Christine interprets a set of Edith Piaf songs that she performs solo or as a duo with Catherine Capozzi (Axemunkee).
Bobby Hamrick (Country, Singer Songwriter) Nashville, TN USA Bobby Hamrick is an acoustic guitar player from Nashville, Tennessee. He has performed around the United States and Europe and appeared on TV shows like Conan O’Brien, The Bachelor, and ABC’s Nashville. He is a staff songwriter with Sony Music Publishing in Nashville. He has written two Top 40 hits (‘Home to Me’ by Sarah Darling and ‘Baby Come On With It’ by Natalie Stovall) and several other songs recorded by artists in the US and Canada.
Duo Agogo (Brazilian choro music) Melbourne, Australia Guitarists Adam May and Paul Carey are Duo Agogo. The Melbourne guitarists perform traditional Brazilian choro music as well as original compositions inspired by choro but created from a uniquely Australian perspective. Adam and Paul have been performing and recording together as a duo since 2009, and have performed from festival and conservatorium stages to the gritty back lane bars and clubs around Australia. Both musicians have lived, studied and travelled in Brazil, bringing a wealth of knowledge and understanding to their music. Their live show is a fiery display of one of the first truly Brazilian instrumental music forms.
The Croweaters (Folk, Country, Rock, Jazz) San Francisco, CA, USA The Croweaters have been asserting their particular brand of acoustic anarchy in the San Francisco speakeasy scene close to five years, now. Guitarists Phil “Philbillie” Milner and Dave Newman fuse together Folk, Country, Rock, Jazz and even Psychedelic improv with their brand of hollow-body havoc. Both masterful guitarists, Philbillie and Dave are also fine singers whose take on American music classics and their own original songs are fun-filled and Groovy.
Diego García “El Twanguero” (Spanish finger style, Latin-Twang) Madrid, SPAIN (ZIGF 2013) Latin Grammy winner, songwriter, and guitarist Diego García “El Twanguero” presents his acclaimed new album blending Latino-Twang & American roots music: “Argentina Songbook” (Warner Music). This Spanish guitar virtuoso and pioneer of the Latin-Twang genre that inspired his nickname has played this unique style of music all around the world. El Twanguero has shared stages with acclaimed latin artists such as Juanes, Calamaro, Fito Paez, Bunbury, Diego El Cigala, Mercedes Sosa, and much more. The late Gabriel Garcia Marquez proclaimed him as a “guitar master.”
Hogan & Moss (Scorch Folk) Marfa, TX, USA Hogan & Moss perform original songs with a blistering take on 1930s rural America. Percussive rhythm guitar and furious fingerpicking. Intensity, passion and an Appalachian root. Jon Hogan’s arrangements of traditional and old-time country songs are drawn from the original recordings of mountain music, circa 1920 – 41. Maria Moss grew up in Houston, but spent her childhood summers immersed in the music and culture of the south. Later, on the Gulf Coast, she continued to develop her unique, hard-driving finger-picking style. In 2007, after a severe illness guitar took center stage again, and since then she’s been a full-time musician.
Jim McCormick (Country) Nashville, TN, USA (ZIGF 2005) Jim McCormick recently celebrated two #1 songs on the Billboard country charts: Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride,” which spent 3 weeks in the top position, and Brantley Gilbert’s “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” the second most-played song of 2012 at country radio, according to Billboard. McCormick’s songs also have been recorded by Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Jamey Johnson, Randy Travis, Ronnie Milsap, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood, Rodney Atkins, Julianne Hough, and many others. His new 2013 album, the Middle of the River, is available on iTunes or at jimmcormicksongs.com
Kristin Sweetland (Folk/Rock) Toronto, Canada (ZIGF 2006) Kristin Sweetland is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, photographer, and international touring road warrior. She has released multiple CD’s and EP’s and won an award from Folk Music Ontario’s “Songs of the Heart” competition. Hailed as one of Canada’s “hottest guitar players” Sweetland has performed at major festivals across Canada, the United States and Europe, serving as emcee at many Canadian festivals and arts events. Her latest musical project is an instrumental duo called “Captain Dirt & The Skirt” with bassist/violinist Lyndell Montgomery. She is also currently working on her first book of photography titled “Adventures In Sweetland” scheduled for release in Fall 2014.
Magela Oquendo Romero (Guitarra Clásica) La Habana, Cuba A graduate of the Instituto Superior de Arte (Havana) in 2009 with title of gold. Magela received master classes from: Leo Brouwer, Joaquín Clerch, Álvaro Pierri, Ricardo Gallén, Marco Tamayo, Franz Halsz, Víctor Pellegrini, among others. She gives recitals in the most important rooms in Cuba and has participated in diverse and prestigious festivals. She was accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of the East and the choirs madrigalist and Orfeon Santiago (selected by Leo Brouwer) and by the Orchestra of guitars “Sonantas Habaneras”. Integrating this and a Guitar Quartet, she recorded the CD Sonantas Habaneras, Jesús Ortega. She has received several postgraduate degrees and is currently studying her masters.
Morgan Szymanski y Fausto Palma (World Music) DF, Mexico (ZIGF 2014) Fausto Palma and Morgan Szymanski began playing the guitar at an early age while they lived in Valle de Bravo as children. Sharing music and great friendship they have played as soloists and as a duo in more than twenty countries. The tradition of the classical school of Szymanski, merges with Palma´s global influences, such as hindu and Arabic music as well as the blues and rock. Together they collaborate on various projects, dealing with the music from the Baroque period to contemporary music of today. With a repertoire of composers from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Spain as well as the traditions of flamenco, jazz and popular, this pair of virtuoso guitarists share soundscapes that span various musical traditions.
Silvina López & Diego Martín Castro (Música de raíz folclórica Argentina instrumental) Cordoba / Buenos Aires, Argentina “The full moon music” is a new musical proposal of Silvina López and Diego Martín Castro. Two guitars intertwined under the axis of Argentine and Latin American popular concert music, and an original repertoire composed and arranged especially for this project by Diego Martín Castro, combing the rich tradition of Argentine and Latin American folk music with modern and academic music, improvisation, and the prestige of the interpretative School of the Argentine guitar. Quique Sinesi, Miguel el Zurdo Martínez, Gustavo Cuchi Leguizamon, Juan Falú, Atahualpa Yupanqui, Ernesto Méndez and the same Diego Martín Castro, are some of the composers who are a part of this presentation, a personal vision of Argentinian music for concert guitar.
Tres Hombres (Flamenco, Latin, Fusion) Dallas, TX, USA (ZIGF 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013) A unique blend of Flamenco, Pop, Rock, and Lite Jazz. Tres Hombres perform original and uniquely arranged instrumental guitar music. Taking time from their solo careers, Kevin Schaelling, Michael Stacy, and David Gallegos, have joined forces to form the eclectic Texas based guitar trio Tres Hombres.
Tres Hombres performances include trio, duet, and solo instrumental guitar compositions with selections from jazz, pop, rock, and flamenco music. The combination of romantic Flamenco guitars and burnin acoustic rock riffs, a Tres Hombres performance will leave you with a truly genuine experience! Viva! Viva! Viva!
