The Northwest Guitar Festival was created in 1991 by James Reid. It was established in order to provide an opportunity for students and professionals in the region to get together once a year for three days of concerts, lectures, and a competition. The first festival took place at the University of Idaho and subsequent festivals have occurred throughout the region in such cities as Boise, Seattle, Bellingham, Bozeman, Spokane, Lethbridge, Calgary, Vancouver, and Victoria.
The festival has always strived to maintain a strong regional character by featuring mostly guitarists from the region and by restricting its competition to those living and studying in the region. Occasionally, outstanding guitarists from beyond the Northwest have also performed at the festival and past guests have included David Tanenbaum, Marc Teicholz, Gerry Klickstein, and Ana Vidovic among others.
In 2008 the festival will take place in Seattle on April 17-19 and will conclude with a concert by Judicael Perroy at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle. Festival coordinator is Michael Partington who can be contacted at maestropartington@gmail.com.
Competition information can be accessed by clicking here. Registration information will be available soon.
In 2009, the festival will take place in Nelson, British Columbia and in 2010, the festival will return to the University of Idaho in Moscow.
• Full schedule available on the Web at: http://www.myspace.com/northwestguitarfestival
• For further questions email the festival at NWGF2008@gmail.com
