New York Guitar Festival Podcast

The New York Guitar Festival opened today. This is the place to be if you're crazy about guitars. But if can't attend, and even if you don't go hog wild at the sound of six strings, this podcast is the ticket.

The New York Times wrote that the festival "includes more than two dozen concerts, seminars and other events at sites around the city. Most will spotlight guitar titans past and present."

The concert opened today with a tribute to Bruce Srpingsteen's dark 1975 album, "Nebraska." Festival performers wil include Michelle Shocked, Meshell Ndegeocello, Mark Eitzel, Mark Ribot, Vernon Reid, Gary Lucas and others.

You should be aware, before you start writing me an angry e-mail, that these podcasts -- so far there are seven -- are not just recordings of performances. At least not the one I've had time to listen to, episode two (12/23) (the numbers change as new ones come out but the link here highlights the right selection), which was released in advance of the festival's opening. This six-minute podcast is built around a wonderful story about the famous Spanish guitarist Pepe Romero, with his lovely plaing in the background.

I'll provide more information as the festival continues, but if the first of the festival's podcasts is any guide, these will be well worth downloading.

podcastroundup@gmail.com