Bryant Park

WNYC's John Schaefer hosts a two-day celebration of global guitar culture, with guests ranging from the well-known like Louis Cato, leader of The Late Show Band, to the emerging, like the 16-year old phenomenon Marel Hidalgo, who will perform a tribute to Ernest Ranglin & The Jamaican Jazz Songbook. The festival culminates on July 4, celebrating American blues traditions in a special concert for America's birthday.

Day Two Lineup

Grammy-nominated bluesman Jontavious Willis keeps the sound of traditional blues alive without sounding like someone trying to copy Robert Johnson.  He has a soul singer’s croon, and an effortless sense of swing to his guitar playing.  Growing up steeped in the long history of West Georgia blues, Willis has an encyclopedic ability to play everything from Delta to Chicago blues.

Jackie Venson is a native of Austin, Texas, and she brings the sounds of Texas blues to listeners around the world, first through her live streaming during the pandemic and then through her recordings, which incorporate the sounds of funk, jazz, and pop.  She has an annual residency at “Austin’s Home Of The Blues,” Antone’s. 

Louis Cato leads the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a job that requires a musician who can play anything and be able to turn, musically speaking, on a dime.  Being an entertainer himself is also an important part of the deal.  Cato is most often seen with a guitar, but it’s just one of a number of instruments he plays, and he’s gained a lot of attention for his songwriting as well, a catchy blend of soul, blues, jazz, pop, and less easily identifiable sounds.  His last appearance on the NYGF resulted in a memorable, sold-out set; we are eager to see what he has in store for us this time.