Adelaide Guitar Festival features the world’s finest guitar players representing the very best in classical, blues, rock, jazz, flamenco, country and more presented by Adelaide Festival Centre from 12 to 29 September 2024, with performances at Adelaide Festival Centre and Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Celebrating the world’s favourite instrument and a shared love of music and the guitar, Adelaide Guitar Festival hosts guitar fanatics and new fans alike in UNESCO City of Music, Adelaide. This year’s program welcomes guitarists from around the globe and across Australia in the ultimate celebration of guitar.

Adelaide Guitar Festival welcomes legendary guitarists from around the globe including Spanish guitarist Paco Peña, Chinese classical guitar maestra Xuefei Yang and up and coming stars of the stage South Korea’s Deion Cho, Antoine Boyer and Yeore Kim from France and Australia’s own Josh Meader.  Adding to the line-up of international superstars are Chrystian Dozza from Brazil and Rafael Montilla from Spain who join the best and brightest guitarists from Adelaide and across Australia.

In an Adelaide premiere, and only one of two shows being performed in Australia, Adelaide Guitar Festival opens with the majestic Requiem for the Earth with legendary flamenco guitarist, Paco Peñaat Her Majesty’s Theatre. A monumental musical odyssey of passion and redemption, Requiem for the Earth celebrates our glorious planet while reflecting on humanity’s impact on nature.

This hopeful call to action features world-class musicians from Spain alongside the choral power of Adelaide's own Rising Voices and the award-winning Young Adelaide Voices, merging the solemnity of a traditional Requiem with the vibrant energy of flamenco in an unmatched auditory experience. Opening with Brisbane’s inspiring Aurora Guitar Ensemble of 26 young players, this concert will be a festival highlight on a grand scale, with a critical message for our times.

Experience the guitar in its purest form as outstanding artists from around the world bring their distinctive, virtuosic talents to Her Majesty’s Theatre in Travel Guide: A Global Gathering on Friday 13 September. Featuring leading classical guitarist Xuefei Yang, Brazil’s innovative Chrystian Dozza and Australia’s very own global superstars Grigoryan Brothers. Opening with the 80 strong Adelaide Guitar Festival Orchestra joined by Aurora Guitar Ensemble this promises to be a glorious musical journey.

Dunstan Playhouse welcomes two exquisite solo recitals, showcasing the splendour of the classical guitar with South Korea’s Deion Cho who took top honours in 2023’s Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition and Xuefei Yang. Deion is a sought-after soloist on stages around the world and a passionate supporter of contemporary composition. Xuefei is known for her deft innovation, improvisation and ability to combine genres. Listed as one of the top six guitarists of the last century, Adelaide Guitar Festival is delighted to present Xuefei Yang’s South Australian musical debut.

On 14 September, Dunstan Playhouse hosts Antoine Boyer and Yeore Kim as they return to captivate Adelaide audiences with their intimate, inimitable musical chemistry. Having received five-star reviews and standing ovations when they performed at Adelaide Guitar Festival in 2023, Boyer and Kim are set to dazzle audiences once again with their stunning versatility and virtuosity as they glide across jazz manouche, familiar standards and their own enchanting tunes. This year, Sydney’s Josh Meader Trio joins the line-up and is performing in Adelaide for the first time. Firmly based in modern jazz, with nods to pop, funk, hip-hop, bebop and rock, this jaw-droppingly skillful team are rising stars on the global scene.

After decades in London and beyond, South Australian Music Hall of Famer Carl Orr returns to Adelaide for a special performance with Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan and revered jazz legend James Muller, backed by a brilliant South Australian band, in Carl Orr’s London Underground at Space Theatre on 15 September. In addition, Space Theatre hosts a special festival flamenco fiesta, when world renowned Spanish guitarist Rafael Montilla from Paco Peña’s touring company is joined by dancers and musicians from South Australia’s acclaimed Compañia Alma Flamenca to passionately perform on 14 September.

Tickets on sale now. For the full star-studded line up of ticketed and free events at Adelaide Guitar Festival (12 – 29 September) visit adelaideguitarfestival.com.au.

More information from the 2024 Adelaide Guitar Festival edition of WeekendPlus: