Ellnora’s home page describes the three-day festival as a “finger-flying, emotion-soaring, string-shredding guitar explosion.”
That’s strong language, but in those three days C-U will host more than 30 performers from around the world. Each of those performers offer a different flavor and talent, but each of them has one thing in common: exceptional mastery of the guitar.
North Mississippi All-Stars and Black Crowes guitarist Luther Dickinson is the festival’s artist-in-residence this year. Dickinson has been described by Rolling Stone as a “new guitar god” and will be taking the stage with fellow guitar idols Alvin Youngblood Hart and Robert Randolph (who will be joined, of course, by his family band).
These prodigious guitarists do not themselves a festival make, and for Ellnora to pack a punch as advertised there must be plenty more thrilling musicians to be found.
The festival’s first night offers eclectic sounds from Toshi Regan and BIGLovely, Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Toure, producer Daniel Lanois and his Black Dub and the Russ Barenberg Trio. This opening ensemble sets the stage for a fantastic weekend of music, which offers more entertainment than can be listed here.
Highlights for Friday include: Tony Rice, dubbed the Jimi Hendrix of bluegrass; Chris Thile (mandolin player of Nickelcreek/Punch Brothers fame) and Michael Daves, who play “renegade” bluegrass, and earlier this year delighted fans at the Newport Folk Festival; Classic silent films with music from Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo and Marc Ribot (guitarist on Tom Waits’ classic Rain Dogs); and roots legend Taj Mahal with contemporary folk stars Carolina Chocolate Drops and Alvin Youngblood Hart.
On Saturday, Ellnora offers entertainment beginning at 10 a.m. and running through to early Sunday morning. The final day of the festival will feature headlining acts from Robert Randolph and the Family Band, renowned guitarist Adrian Belew, alt-rockers Calexico, Richard Thompson with My Brightest Diamond and one-man-orchestra Noveller. But Sunday will also spotlight a number of local musicians, including the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra (playing with Dan Zanes) and students from Robeson Elementary (who will play with the Homebrew Ukulele Union).
As cliché as it sounds, Ellnora has a little something for everyone. Many of the events are free, giving music fans fewer reasons to miss the festival. To view a full list of performers and a schedule of events, visit www.ellnoraguitarfestival.com or download a full schedule here.
For those still skeptical, check out a Spotify or Grooveshark playlist of Ellnora artists.