A guitar show and music festival celebrating the art, science, and passion behind the guitar’s most enigmatic incarnation, the archtop!

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!

GET TICKETS NOW

Music Performances and Workshops: Beginning Friday night at 7:30 PM through Sunday afternoon at various locations.
SCHEDULE | ARTISTS

ARCHTOP EXPO:
Saturday 10:00 – 6:00
Sunday 10:00 – 4:00

For out-of-town guests, we recommend staying at the hotel for convenience, it will sell out though so make reservations soon. The train is running regularly to the heart of Olde Town Arvada from Downtown Denver’s Union Station, so you could stay downtown and take the train without having to have a car and worry about parking. Uber and Lyft are prolific and inexpensive options in our area as well.