The Malibu Guitar Festival is getting ready for its third annual four-day celebration of guitar playing, taking place in the heart of Malibu from May 18-21. Local festival cofounders and co-chairmen Doug DeLuca and John Watkin are spilling over with enthusiasm about this year’s lineup of bands and musicians – a mix of local talent and national and world class performers playing all styles of rock/blues-derived music.
There are four events for which tickets can be purchased: Thursday night all-star charity benefit at Casa Escobar, Friday night “hot licks” with a number of acts, the main event on Saturday with an all-day music festival at Malibu Village beginning at noon and a Sunday morning Rolling Stones brunch also at Malibu Village.
DeLuca said that he can’t “officially” say yet which stars are going to be playing and jamming at the Thursday night all-stars fundraiser, which will raise money for the Emily Shane Foundation, TheraSurf and Karl LaDue Wodakota Foundation. But unofficially, he’s expecting Laurence Juber, an English-born musician most famous for playing lead guitar in Wings from 1978 to 1980.
In addition, Malibu resident and award-winning film composer Marco Beltrami will perform his compositions with a five-piece ensemble; the drummer for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Steve Ferrone, who is also the music director for the festival; young country star Hunter Hayes; Dhani Harrison, son of Beatle George Harrison; and one or two other bands are expected.
This year, for the first time, awards will be given out on Thursday night. Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe will receive a humanitarian award and Robby Krieger, guitarist for the Doors, will receive a lifetime achievement award and “be part of the jam,” according to DeLuca.
The Friday night “Hot Licks” will feature, “Some of the best female guitar players on the planet,” featured in the movie “She Rocks,” including Gretchen Menn, Lari Basilio, and Nik West (Prince’s bass player), and Zepparella. In addition, Steve Vai — voted the 10th “Greatest Guitarist” in the world by Guitar World magazine — will be there, plus Dankrupt, Hollis Brown, local band Karma Dealers and surprise guests.
The main event day on Saturday has a very long talent lineup that includes headliner Mick Fleetwood (of Fleetwood Mac fame) with his blues band; JamTown (with Malibu native Cisco Adler); five-time Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes; acoustic guitar great Tommy Emmanuel; southern rockers The Kenneth Brian Band; The Soft White Sixties; Buzz Wizzards (which includes some of the musicians from Jimmy Kimmel’s house band); Duane Betts (son of Dickey Betts) & The Pistaleers; Zack Zotos; Michael John Hayes; and local bands Lenny Goldsmith & The New Old and Mrs. Gill.
The Rolling Stones Brunch on Sunday morning will feature a presentation on the Rolling Stones by Andy Babiuk followed by Stones songs performed by The Tearaways and Malibu native Daniel Page.
Even before the start of the official festival, the event organizers are getting the community engaged with the Cure Spa Fashion Show, “Guitars and Couture,” with live models and live music on Saturday, May 13. On Tuesday, May 16, popular YouTube guitar teacher Tim Pierce will offer a master class at MGF HQ in Malibu Village next to Wells Fargo at 7 p.m.; and on Wednesday, May 17, there will be a special performance by Wrenn and guests at Soho House, which is free for Soho members and guests.
When asked how they go about booking the acts that perform during the festival, Watkin said, “We keep our ear very close to the ground, listening to artists, and we try to have a good mix of local and headline talent.”
“I try to have every genre and something for everyone,” DeLuca said. “Surf jam, Southern rock, guitar virtuosos, rock and roll, and more.”
Watkin said he and DeLuca decided to focus on guitars when they started the festival because, “If you think about Malibu as a community, many homes have a surfboard, but many more will have a guitar. There are probably more guitar players along our ‘27 miles of scenic beauty’ than anywhere else in the world. The wealthy and the not-so-wealthy all share this common bond of the love of the guitar.”
DeLuca expects festivalgoers to come from all over the LA area, and even a few from out of state, but tries to keep a local flavor and a family friendly atmosphere on the main day.
“The food truck area will be enhanced, there will be a kid’s corner, a beach and a lot of aesthetics,” DeLuca described. “It’ll be a great place to hang out for the whole day.”
For tickets and more information, go to malibuguitarfestival.com
