Thanks for another great year !

2013 feedback

Click here to read: What the Guitar Festival means to me, by Jacqueline Rodriguez Verduzco, 2013 Organizing Committee

What the audience says:

Jacquie Cattanach Just saying… Muchas gracias por todo. I attended six events and was amazed with the incredible talent of the musicians and also how well this whole event was organized. Thank you to all involved with the organization. Next year, I’ll be buying a pass – can’t wait!!

Amelia Maule To the entire Zihua Guitar Festival Team… hats off, kudos, take a few bows, bravo zulus, and JOB WELL DONE! It was amazing, a truly beautiful treat to the senses; especially the ears. Great job to all of you, including the invisible volunteers, for making such a spectacular event come together. May you sleep well, rest easy, and accept the accolades for all of your hard work. All of your efforts are deeply appreciated. The beauty and joy you help bring with this festival can hardly be touched by words for there are not enough of them. Take a bow, take several, please rest up for I, at least, will soon be ready for next year!

John Sheipe What a great musical week, the chemistry/energy was spot on, the grooves & jams will continue to echo through the streets Bless~ ♥

Nick Fiorante We were there this year and loved every minute of it. This was our second year to be so lucky to attend one of the best guitar festivals around. To the many people who work so hard to put this festival together, God bless and keep up the great job. Cheers.

Brenda Hoskin Last year we opted for a spontaneous trip to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo to attend the International Guitar Festival. We loved it so much, we decided we needed to return this year. We were so impressed last year that we couldn’t possibly see ZIGF delivering the same level of service and quality of music two years in a row. We were dead wrong. With a combination of repeat performances and new musicians, we were just as wowed this year as last…”

Mary Jo Hoffman Loved the festival, every minute of it!

Richard Kenney I think the event is a real attraction on ZIH and I for one hope it continues. Having been there two months ago, I can see the hard work the volunteers supply. But it was very well organized, Catherine Krantz and her crew are to be complimented.

Mike Novotny This is fantastic event. This year´s event was spectacular…this needs to continue and it needs to grow and expand…

Jane Keleman We had the pleasure of volunteering for this event and enjoying the musical wonder of these talented people! We’ll be back next year. Thank you!

ZIGF FAQ

Where can we buy tickets?
TICKETS will be available the week before the festival (next week) at La Hija del Capt restaurant and El Pueblito restaurant in downtown Zihuatanejo… the easiest way is to buy tickets at the door of each event (Concerts and Bars shows are 1st come 1st serve, so having a ticket does not guarantee a seat … the Gala dinner shows require advance reservations and having a reservation guarantees a seat)

… The Opening Concert Sunday March 3 will be on Playa Madera — the entire beach and there will be tickets and passes for sale there …

Concerts $150 pesos cover charge
Bar Shows $100 pesos cover charge
Gala Dinners / Gala Cocktails $200 peso cover charge
All Access Platinum Passes $900

Where is the Opening Concert?
The Opening Concert will be held on Playa Madera, on the sand, in Zihuatanejo. There are three public access entrances to the beach, with walkways. You can´t miss it, we will have the entire beach cordoned off. We will have table seating for 500 (no need to bring a blanket). We will have 10-15 participating restaurants offering a variety of delicious and affordable food in a row of food stands (final restaurant list will be posted the week before the festival), we will have a beer tent with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink service, and we will have four hours of incredible international music. Each artist will perform 2-3 songs. Cover charge is $150 pesos per person, doors open at 6, show starts at 7, ends at 11. Seating is 1st come, 1st served but we are hoping to have plenty of room so there is no need to show up hours early.

We will have a Ticket Sales table selling tickets and All Access Platinum Passes starting at 5:30pm.

Who is going to play?

Click Here to see the program.

Click here to see the Lineup.

What are Gala events?
Galas require advance reservation. Gala shows are at fine dining establishments and patrons usually dress up. Gala shows are usually Gala Dinner shows (the exception is Capella, which is a Gala Cocktail with tapas) … Shows are two hours (7pm – 9pm) and dinner is served, usually a set menu with 2-3 choices, patrons are expected to dine. Galas have a $200 pesos cover charge, food and drink is additional. Menus and prices will be listed on the website the week before the festival — Capella has a maximum capacity of 80, the others 100-120, Gala events usually sell-out and advance reservations are strongly suggested. For reservations:

Villa Vera Puerto Mio – Monday, March 4: Tel. 755 553 8167, frontzih@raintreeclub.com

Loma del Mar – Tuesday, March 5: Tel. 755 555 0460, ayb@lomadelmar.com

Bistro del Mar – Wednesday, March 6: Tel. 755 554 8333, bistrodelmar_rest@yahoo.com

Capella Ixtapa, Thursday, March 7: Tel 755 555 1100
Fb.ixtapa@capellahotels.com

Coconuts, Friday, March 8: Tel 755 554 2518, reservations@coconutszihua.com

The 10^th Annual Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival is pleased to announce our 2013 line-up of invited artists. Musicians will be traveling to our idyllic beachside town from Mexico, the US, Canada, Poland, Spain, Cuba, Japan and Brazil! Our 2013 program has been released! Click here for our calendar of events… more details to come!

Diego “El Twanguero” Garcia from Madrid, Spain (2013)

Spanish guitar wizard Diego Garcia is well known in Europe and South America for its genuine mix of styles including traditional Spanish music, tango, flamenco guitar and American roots. Also known as “El Twanguero” Garcia has appeared on stage in Argentina, Spain, France, USA, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba along with his trio or Solo Guitar and has put his guitar to serve such artists as Andres Calamaro, Diego El Cigala, Wyclef Jean, Juanes, Fito Paez, Bunbury and Ely Guerra.

With three albums released under his own name and years of world tours, Diego comes in 2013 with two new projects: Argentina (electric tango featuring Calamaro, Bunbury, Diego El Cigala and Ely Guerra) and Music in Motion, a solo guitar album which unites the styles of South and North America with his personal style of Spanish guitar. Read More »

Ernesto Lunagómez from Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico (2013)

Ernesto Lunagómez is considered the most important guitarist-composer of his generation in Mexico, and has been recognized in national and international guitar competitions.

His compositions have premiered in Thailand, Austria, Italy, Canada, Egypt, Spain, Indonesia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico.

Lunagómez currently chairs the department of guitar and harmonic instrument at the University of Veracruz, is Director of a children’s choir, and has presented their productions ”Flight of Hopes” and “Mixtli” at international guitar festivals in Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico. He also serves as a jury member in national and international competitions. Read More »

Arnaldo Freire from Goiânia, BRAZIL (2012, 2013)

Arnaldo Freire has received several awards including the National Guitar Competition at the Mozarteum Faculty and the National Guitar Competition Souza Lima and was the first musician to perform unprecedented concert premieres for Guitar and Orchestra in Goiás, conducted by Joaquim Jaime by the Symphony Orchestra of Goiânia. Compositions by Achille Picchi and Eduardo Escalante Estércio Marquez were written especially for the guitarist. In Freire’s compositions we see a refined Brazilianness: folk songs, frevos, sambas, waltzes and other colors are mixed with post-tonal techniques, refined counterpoints and unusual instrumentation. His compositions are published in the Arnaldo Freire Brazilian Contemporary Music Guide, edited by CDMC – Brazil / Unicamp, Paris. Read More »

Jenny Kerr & Phil Milner from San Francisco, CA, USA (2004, 2005, 2009, 2009, 2012, 2013)

San Francisco native, Oxford drop-out, and reformed expat, Jenny Kerr is a poetic singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (fingerstyle guitar, clawhammer banjo, harmonica, dobro, piano), who has toured Europe eight times on the country/blues/roots circuit, and headlined festivals in 13 countries.

As roadie for Bob Weir & Ratdog, Phil “Philbillie” Milner traded licks with the likes of Hot Tuna, Los Lobos, Bruce Hornsby’s band and The Black Crows in many a backstage and hotel room jam and also worked for Tracy Chapman, Bonnie Raitt, Primus, Graham Nash, and a few other cool players.
 Now Jenny Kerr’s long-time guitarist, he also engineers and produces her and others’ records, including Guitar Fest performer Amy Cunningham and guitar virtuoso Eric McFadden whose all-acoustic Devil Moon album is a number one pick on CDBaby.com. Read More »

Jose Luis Cobo from Zihuatanejo, Mexico (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Zihuatanejo’s own poet laureate 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 las Sirenas, named after his hit song. Read More »

Josue Tacoronte Otero from Cuba / Querétero, Mexico (2013)

As music director and colaborator in the flamenco genre, Josue Tacoronte Otero has been a part of the Spanish Ballet of Cuba, Spanish folklorico Ballet Proart, and Mexico Flamenco, among others.

 He has participated in various international guitar festivals in Cuba, Spain, Morocco, France, Mexico and Peru.

 He has collaborated on several CD productions as a player and arranger in Josue Tacoronte & SKPAO, Liuba Maria Hevia’s Iluminame, Jorge Peart’s Puntos Suspensivos, pop group Ragazzi’s Paulina Izquierdo & Derechos Reservados and his most recent Brouwer Flamenco. Read More »

Kai & Goh Kurosawa from Japan & Los Angelas, CA, USA (2005, 2013)

Kai Kurosawa is considered by many to be one of the most versatile tap guitarist in the world today. He has developed many unique techniques for various genres of music and is constantly in demand for performances, recordings, and teaching sessions. When it comes to playing melody, chords and bass lines all at the same time, it is no easy task. On top of that Kai’s unique approach allows him to play freely and has been often described as sounding like a pianist.

Goh Kurosawa is recognized as a dynamic guitar instrumentalist throughout the west coast and Japan. He is often referred to as a musical approach to Western knowledge with the Japanese spirit, or in short a “musical wakonyosai.” Occasionally he strives to be as cool as Nyan‐Nyan: his blue eyed white tiger-like cat.

Goh has made appearances by performing and teaching at festivals, universities, clubs, among other live venues in the US, Canada, France, South Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, Brazil, and Japan. Other credits include collaborations with guitar giant Miroslav Tadic (The Grand Mothers Reinvented, David Torn, and Dusan Bogdanovic), Masaki Yamada of the legendary Japanese rock band Loudness, Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Charlie Haden, Kelli Ali (Linkin’Park, Bootsy Collins, and Marilyn Manson) of One Little Indian Records, Alan Paul of the Manhattan Transfer, fingerstyle guitarist Thomas Leeb, modern classical guitarist Roland Dyens, and master percussionist John Bergamo (Frank Zappa’s Abnuceals Emukka Orchestra, John McLaughlin’s Shakti, and Hands On’Semble). Currently Goh resides in Los Angeles, California. Read More »

Kupinski Guitar Duo from Katowice, Poland (2013)

The Polish couple Ewa Jabłczyńska and Dariusz Kupiński completed their postgraduate studies at the Universität der Künste in Berlin and Hochschule für Musik in Weimar in the guitar class of Professor Thomas Müller-Pering. They have been honoured multiple times with prestigious awards and scholarships for artistic achievements. In 2011, their debut CD, Spanish Music, was released. Following the release of their album, this husband and wife duo has been gaining momentum and attracting fans throughout the Europe. Their reputation grows with each concert and master class they give. Read More »

Lige Williamson from Boulder, CO, USA (2012, 2013)

Lige Williamson’s startling vocals and unique approach to stringed instrument playing display a fresh take on the Delta Blues. He has been traveling the continental United States alone in his car, playing music, and discovering what it truly means to have the blues since 2010. Recently, he has been performing in the Denver area, where he is a member of an electronic heavy jazz trio called Drop Odyssey. Lige performs solo, or as a duo with Kyle Stersic, saxophonist, long-time friend, and co-producer of his kick-ass album, I Was Born With Eyes Too Big for My Head. Read More »

Los Pistoleros from Dallas, TX, USA (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)

A unique blend of Flamenco, Pop, Lite Jazz. Los Pistoleros perform original and uniquely arranged cover music both instrumental and vocal. 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! Read More »

Paul Pigat from Vancouver, BC, Canada (2008, 2013)

Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, internationally renowned guitar player Paul Pigat has wowed audiences on four continents. His is a unique mixture of traditional Americana and technical virtuosity. Paul has appeared with an impressive list of artists, including Jakob Dylan, Neko Case, Jim Byrnes, and Brian Setzer, and tours extensively with his two main projects, Cousin Harley and Boxcar Campfire. Paul is also endorsed by Gretsch Guitars and tours as their clinician and workshop instructor. Read More »

Paul Renna from Austin, TX, USA (2012, 2013)

Paul Renna is a visionary singer-songwriter with the extraordinary ability to raise hidden emotions in his listeners, surreptitiously forcing feelings of love, longing, happiness, and heartache from the depths of even the most hard-edged among us. With the release of his highly anticipated new album, Brothers and Sisters, available on iTunes, Renna seems to have broken through to a new plane of existence, exploring the deepest recesses of his heart and soul both lyrically and musically. Read More »

Tom Freund from Venice, CA, USA (2005, 2013)

It’s with seemingly effortless ease which Tom Freund delivers his conversational lyrics and mellifluous melodies, schooled and widely traveled in a variety of genres from heartfelt folk to buoyant pop to boho jazz to rock ‘n’ roll, ultimately coming across as a singer-songwriter with his own distinctive and engaging voice.

His latest The Edge of Venice, produced by John Alagia (John Mayer, Jason Mraz) continues Tom’s California sound with songs featured in NBC’s Parenthood. Collapsible Plans produced by Ben Harper saw the duo perform live on Last Call With Carson Daly. The New York Times calls Tom “an unexpected gem.” Read More »

Son d´Aka from Zihuatanejo, Gro., Mexico (2013)

Son d’Aka has been a treasured mainstay of the Zihuatanejo music scene for the past 8 years. The five core members – Pablo Araujo (guitar), Rafael Garcia (saxophone), Jorge Mejia (percussion, accordian, chorus), Israel Rodriguez (voice auxiliary percussion), Octavio Zenteno (bass & chorus) are from Mexico City and moved to Zihuatanejo to establish themselves as a the premier son cubano (sounds of cuba) band. As they evolved, they have added Caribbean, Veracruzano (jarocho) and other world fusion sounds to create a style that is all their own. Read More »

*** The Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival will be held March 3-10, 2013, in locations throughout Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Venue information, ticket sales and the program will be announced as available in the coming weeks on this website as well as on our Facebook page. ***