2023 Whidbey Island Guitar Festival

Grammy Award-winning guitarist Eric Tingstad headlines Saturday’s lineup of the 2023 Whidbey Island Guitar Festival. Held this year at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley, the festival will run July 21, 22, and 23. Unlike most festivals that focus on one genre of music, or the majority that prominently feature vocal-led music, this is one of the only festivals in the world to celebrate purely instrumental guitar music from a wide variety of musical genres. It is an inclusive celebration of the guitar and all its relatives from cultures around the globe featuring world-class musicians of the Pacific Northwest.

The entire lineup includes an array of virtuoso musicians in the guitar world. Creator Andre Feriante will be joined by festival regulars Troy Chapman and Keith Bowers. The three days will be filled with some returning faces and some new offerings as well. Hilary Field, Kristi O’Donnell, Milo Peterson, and Gus Denhard have joined them in some previous festivals. Grammy winner Eric Tingstad, Maxi Larrea, Mareceline Keene, and Michael Powers are joining them for the first time.

Conceptualized and curated by multi-instrumentalist Andre Feriante, the inspiration for this festival stems from a desire to bring people from different walks of life and different interests together. It’s also a chance to let the beauty of instrumental guitar shine on its own. It’s an opportunity for fans of one kind of music to experience other styles as well. It’s a chance to expand horizons musically and make new friends in the process. Andre’s hope is to help people find unity, understanding, and peace through music. In a nation that is experiencing increased divisions, music is a universal language that can bring people of all cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds together.

This year’s virtuoso lineup includes:

Friday July 21
7:30pm (one concert with intermission)
Troy Chapman / Baroque Lute / Jazz Guitar
Andre Feriante / Flamenco / Classical Guitar
Marceline Keene with Kristi O’Donnell / Guitar & Bass
Keith Bowers / Jazz Guitar

Saturday July 22
2pm: Andre Feriante’s “Stringstories” / A world of strings
3pm: Milo Peterson/ Jazz Guitar
4pm: Hilary Field / Classical Guitar
5pm: Eric Tingstad / Acoustic Guitar

Sunday July 23
2pm: “Old Men with Lutes”: Troy Chapman, Gus Denhard, Andre Feriante
3pm: Maxi Larrea / Latin / Classical Guitar
4pm: Michael Powers / Jazz Guitar / Ukulele

Tickets and Info: https://www.wicaonline.org/events-calendar-view/2023/7/21/whidbey-island-guitar-festival-2023

Festival website: www.facebook.com/WhidbeyIslandGuitarFestival

Ticket prices

Full Festival Pass
$115 Individual, $200 Couple

Day Pass
$50 Saturday, $45 Sunday

Individual Tickets:

Friday, July 21st
WICA Star: $45
Standard: $30
by request to box office: $20

Saturday & Sunday Each individual Show
Standard: $15

Youth 18 and Under are Free