Eric Clapton In The U.S.A.

Christmas came early for Eric Clapton’s U.S. fans this week as Slowhand announces a March/April routing capping with two star-studded Crossroads Festival nights in New York City.

Photo: Matthew Lamb
F.M. Kirby Center For Perf. Arts, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

This is one of those rare instances where the finale is making as much news as the tour itself. Set for April 12-13 at Madison Square Garden, the 2013 Crossroads Guitar Festival Presented By Chase will feature Clapton along with a stage-load of talent. As always, the festival benefits Clapton’s Crossroads Center in Antigua, a treatment and education center for people suffering addiction problems.

While schedules for individual Crossroads nights have yet to be nailed down, here’s the guest list as it stands so far, laid out in easy-to-follow alphabetical order:

Albert Lee
Allan Holdsworth
The Allman Brothers Band
Andy Fairweather Low
B.B. King
Blake Mills
Booker T.
Brad Paisley
Buddy Guy
Citizen Cope
Dave Biller
Doyle Bramhall II
Earl Klugh
Gary Clark Jr.
Jeff Beck

Photo: John Davisson
Crossroads Guitar Festival, Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.

Jimmie Vaughan
John Mayer
John Scofield
Jonny Lang
Keb’ Mo’
Keith Urban
Kurt Rosenwinkle
Los Lobos
Quinn Sullivan
Robbie Robertson
Robert Cray
Robert Randolph
Sonny Landreth
Taj Mahal
Vince Gill

“The Crossroads Festival is the realization of a dream for me, to gather a group of amazingly talented musicians to perform on one stage,” Clapton said. “The Crossroads performers are all musicians I admire and respect.”

The festival will also feature “The Guitar Center Road To Crossroads Exhibition.” Located on Madison Square Garden’s terrace level, the exhibit will include the “Legends Guitar Walk” featuring some of the most valuable guitars in rock. Free to all festival ticket holders, the exhibit opens 6:30 p.m. April 12, 6 p.m. April 13.

Photo: John Davisson
Crossroads Guitar Festival, Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.

As to the tour, the routing shows Clapton opening in Phoenix in mid-March. Stops along the path to Crossroads include Houston, Nashville, Atlanta (Duluth), Raleigh and Pittsburgh.

March 14 – Phoenix, Ariz., US Airways Center
March 16 – Houston, Texas, Toyota Center
March 17 – Austin, Texas, Frank Erwin Center
March 19 – Dallas, Texas, American Airlines Center
March 20 – Oklahoma City, Okla., Chesapeake Energy Arena
March 22 – Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Arena
March 23 – New Orleans, La., New Orleans Arena
March 26 – Jacksonville, Fla., Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
March 27 – Duluth, Ga., The Arena At Gwinnett Center
March 29 – Hollywood, Fla., Seminole Hard Rock Live
March 30 – Hollywood, Fla., Seminole Hard Rock Live
April 2 – Charlotte, N.C., Time Warner Cable Arena
April 3 – Raleigh, N.C., PNC Arena
April 5 – Uncasville, Conn., Mohegan Sun Arena
April 6 – Pittsburgh, Pa., Consol Energy Center
April 12 – New York, N.Y., Madison Square Garden Arena (Crossroads Guitar Festival)
April 13 – New York, N.Y., Madison Square Garden Arena (Crossroads Guitar Festival)

Photo: AP Photo
Crossroads Guitar Festival, Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.

Chase having its name on Crossroads means the company’s credit card customers get first dibs via a presale beginning Nov. 26 at 12 p.m. and running through Nov. 29 at 10 p.m. All times Eastern Standard.

General onsales for the Crossroads Festival and tour begin Nov. 30. Visit EricClapton.com and CrossroadsGuitarFestival.com for more information.

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