ERIC CLAPTON Announces USA Tour and Fourth Crossroads Guitar Festival

MUSIC NEWS- Eric Clapton has today announced a USA tour that will wrap up with his fourth Crossroads Guitar Festival. The Festival, which has become legendary in its own right for hosting performances and impromptu collaborations from the world’s most legendary guitar players, will take place April 12 and 13 for the first time at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden. See full listing below of artists performing.

Clapton and his band will visit more than a dozen cities across the USA starting on March 14, 2013 (see itinerary below). The tour will end with the two-night Festival where Clapton will gather the past, present and future of guitar music onto one stage for an unparalleled musical event. All profits from the Festival will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Clapton for chemically dependent persons.

Since its inception, Clapton’s vision for the Crossroads Guitar Festival has been to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can have fun and perform together for the benefit of a good cause. This year’s Festival will feature two-nights of musical performances with once-in-a-lifetime guitar collaborations. Known as pioneers in their field, the roster of artists spans old and new. The audience can expect unrivaled entertainment, brilliant guitar work, surprise guests and impromptu jams that are the hallmark of these performers.

This will be the Festival’s first-ever visit to New York and Madison Square Garden.

“The Crossroads Festival is the realization of a dream for me, to gather a group of amazingly talented musicians to perform on one stage,” said Clapton. “The Crossroads performers are all musicians I admire and respect.”

Tickets for the Crossroads Guitar Festival will be offered as an advance sale to Chase customers beginning Monday, November 26 at 12pm EST via www.ticketmaster.com through Thursday, November 29 at 10pm. General Public On-Sale will begin Friday, November 30 at 12pm EST.

Tickets for the Clapton 2013 U.S. Tour will go on-sale beginning November 30, 2012. More info at crossroadsguitarfestival.com

CURRENT CROSSROADS FESTIVAL ARTIST LISTING

(Note: Two Different Nights of Music. Not All Artists Will Perform Both Nights)

Albert Lee
Allan Holdsworth
Allman Brothers Band
Andy Fairweather Low
BB King
Blake Mills
Booker T
Brad Paisley
Buddy Guy
Citizen Cope
Dave Biller
Doyle Bramhall II
Earl Klugh
Eric Clapton
Gary Clark Jr.
Jeff Beck
Jimmie Vaughan
John Mayer
John Scofield
Jonny Lang
Keb Mo
Keith Urban
Kurt Rosenwinkle
Los Lobos
Quinn Sullivan
Robbie Robertson
Robert Cray
Robert Randolph
Sonny Landreth
Taj Mahal
Vince Gill

ERIC CLAPTON 2013 TOUR ITINERARY

Clapton has assembled an impressive band for the 2013 U.S. dates which will consist of long-time touring partners: Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Steve Jordan (drums), Chris Stainton (piano and keyboards), and Willie Weeks (bass), along with newcomers Paul Carrack (organ and keyboards) and Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar). Michelle John and Sharon White will join the touring band again as backing vocalists. The tour will also feature special guests, The Wallflowers.

Thursday, March 14 Phoenix, AZ U.S. Airways Center

Saturday, March 16 Houston, TX Toyota Center

Sunday, March 17 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center

Tuesday, March 19 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

Wednesday, March 20 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena

Friday, March 22 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

Saturday, March 23 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena

Tuesday, March 26 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

Wednesday, March 27 Atlanta, GA Gwinnett Arena

Friday, March 29 Hollywood, FL Seminole Hard Rock Live

Saturday, March 30 Hollywood, FL Seminole Hard Rock Live

Tuesday, April 2 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena