There’s a whole lotta talent coming your way in the form of the Guitar Masters tour as axemen Eric Johnson, Andy McKee and Peppino D’Agostino join forces for an acoustic tour beginning in October.
Each guitarist will perform his own set in an evening topped off by all three maestros joining for a finale where the interplay is the thing as the artists work together to turn an already incredible evening into a joyous celebration of exceptional musicianship.
It goes without saying that Johnson is well known to guitar aficionados. Named as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century by Musician Magazine, he is also the recipient of five Grammy noms and is included in Guitar Player’s Gallery of Greats. Johnson appeared earlier this year on the Experience Hendrix tour. In 1996 Johnson appeared with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani on the very first G3 tour.
Peppino D’Agostino is no slouch either. Voted Best Acoustic Guitarist in Guitar Player’s 2007 readers' poll, he has nine previous U.S. CD releases that cover multiple genres, as exemplified by his work with classical guitar artist David Tanenbaum and his collaboration with rocker Stef Burns.
But it’s Andy McKee that’s getting attention. Known for a DIY attitude that includes schlepping his own gear, driving himself to gigs and even collecting his own fee at the end of an evening’s performance, McKee first drew notice through his YouTube videos where he’s accumulated more views then most countries have citizens. Acoustic Guitar awarded him its worldwide silver medal award for finger style in 2008, and the artist averages 150-200 shows per year throughout the world.
McKee also attributes Johnson, specifically Johnson’s “Cliffs Of Dover,” for inspiring him to pick up the guitar. So there’s almost a Hollywood movie-like quality in a tour where the new star gets to play with the man who first motivated him towards excellence.
The Guitar Masters first hook up in Milwaukee for a show at the Northern Lights Theater Oct. 1. Next up is Indianapolis at Clowes Memorial Hall Oct. 2 and then move up to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a gig at The Ark.
Other October stops include Kansas City, Rochester, Minn., Bethesda, Md., Evanston, Ill., Lebanon, N.H. Come January, look for the Masters in California towns San Luis Obispo, Mission Viejo, San Rafael, Visalia, Arcata, Chico and Napa.
For more information on the Guitar Masters tour, click here for Eric Johnson’s website, here for Andy McKee’s web property and here for Peppino D’Agostino’s dot.com abode.