Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Festival

Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Festival – A guitar show and music festival celebrating the art, science, and passion behind the guitar’s most enigmatic incarnation! September 8—10, 2023 – Arvada, Colorado

For one weekend in September, Arvada CO becomes the center of the archtop guitar universe. This unique festival is the only one of its kind and features over 30 of the world’s premier guitar builders showcasing their work, along with world class players, teachers and clinicians offering player workshops and concerts around Olde Town Arvada. Over 60 hours of music and 30+ different workshops and clinics will be hosted by various local businesses over the weekend, all within walking distance, creating the most unique guitar-focused music festival in the country.

Why have an archtop guitar festival? The archtop guitar, from its unlikely beginnings to its current various incarnations, is arguably the most difficult to build and the most rewarding to play of all the guitar styles. Traditionally embraced by jazz guitar players, the archtop guitar’s versatility has also made it a staple instrument across genres for more than a century including country, folk and western swing music, even some progressive rock players have relied on the archtop’s unique voice for their sound. The creators behind these special instruments, and the players who love them, can be found at luthier shows around the world, but there’s never been a show dedicated just to them… until now!

Music Performances:
Beginning Friday, 9/8 night at 7:30 through Sunday afternoon at various locations, all within walking distance from the hotel.
SCHEDULE | ARTISTS | LUTHIERS

ARCHTOP EXPO:
Hilton Garden Inn, 5455 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada
Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday 10 pm – 4 pm

A few words from Andy O’:

The Archtop Guitar, home of Wes Montgomery, Eddie Lang, Charlie Christian,

Pat Metheny and Derek Bailey. Not to mention visiting string slingers Ed Cherry,

Rodney Jones, Frank Vignola, Jimmy Bruno, Fareed Haque and Jocelyn Gould!

Elegant, turbulent, ebullient and a good time for playing and listening.

Olde Town Arvada, center of the Archtop universe September 8-10.

Abi & Andy had a chat with Peter Henriksen who has been INSTRUMENTAL

in making this a going concern getting bigger and better each year.

Peter mentioned outdoor stages will be an added, fun time in the late summer air.

The Olde Town Stage promises a wonderful Archtop haven.

Below is an interview we featured on The Morning Set with organizer and director of the Archtop Guitar Festival, Peter Henriksen.

Original Air Date: 09/07/23

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