Eric Clapton announced the return of his Crossroads Guitar Festival for September 26–27 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The seventh edition of the charity event already boasts a stacked lineup that reads like a who’s who of modern blues and rock guitar.
The Lineup So Far
Clapton will perform both nights, joined by a roster that mixes Crossroads veterans with notable first-timers. Returning players include Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Billy Gibbons, Buddy Guy, Sonny Landreth, John Mayer, Del McCoury Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Jimmie Vaughan.
Meanwhile, four artists will make their Crossroads debuts: Trey Anastasio, Tommy Emmanuel, Julian Lage, and Pete Townshend. That’s a wide stylistic spread — from Anastasio’s jam-band improvisations to Lage’s jazz-inflected fingerstyle and Townshend’s power-chord legacy. Consequently, this edition looks like one of the most diverse Crossroads lineups yet.
Austin Connection Runs Deep
Holding the festival in Austin makes geographic sense for the blues. The city produced Stevie Ray Vaughan, nurtured Gary Clark Jr.’s early career, and remains the hometown base for Jimmie Vaughan. Furthermore, Texas blues has always been one of the genre’s most vital regional traditions — from T-Bone Walker’s pioneering electric work through Albert Collins’ ice-cold Telecaster tone.
Moody Center, which opened in 2022, seats roughly 15,000. The previous Crossroads festival also took place in the building — a sign that Clapton found the right home for the event.
Tickets and the Bigger Picture
Tickets go on sale Friday, April 3 at 10 a.m. local time through Ticketmaster. Guitar Center will also set up an on-site experience with gear demos from Fender, Gibson, Martin, PRS, and Ernie Ball.
Additionally, Crossroads Guitar Festival celebrates the 28th anniversary of the Crossroads Centre Antigua, the addiction treatment facility Clapton founded in 1998. Every festival since has raised funds for the center, making this more than a concert — it’s a sustained philanthropic effort that uses guitar music as its vehicle.
For blues fans, the takeaway is straightforward: the biggest guitar-centric festival in the world returns this fall with multiple blues heavyweights confirmed. No word yet on whether additional artists will be announced, but given past editions, expect the lineup to grow before September. Past Crossroads lineups have featured B.B. King, Robert Cray, and Bonnie Raitt among dozens of other guitar legends.
Nevertheless, what makes Crossroads unique in the festival landscape is its focus on the instrument itself. Every act shares the stage, trades licks, and sits in on each other’s sets. It’s a collaborative format that echoes the blues tradition of cutting contests and jam sessions — just scaled up to arena proportions.
More details at crossroadsguitarfestival.com.
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