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Crossroads Festival Update: Things To Know Before You Go

Eric Clapton’s third Crossroads Guitar Festival takes place this Saturday 26 June at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. Gates are scheduled to open at 10AM, but could open a bit earlier. Music on the main stage will begin at 12PM. An exclusive line of themed merchandise has been created especially for the 2010 Festival. A number of different t-shirts and other items will be available along with a limited edition silk-screen print by Firehouse Kustom Rock Art. Firehouse, artists Chuck Sperry and Ron Donovan, also created the limited edition print for the 2007 event which has become a collector’s item. Following the festival, merchandise will be sold online via the official website, crossroadsguitarfestival.com. All proceeds from sales of Crossroads Guitar Festival merchandise go to Crossroads Centre Antigua.

A Festival Village, hosted by Guitar Center, will feature over twenty guitar-centric exhibitions including guitar manufacturers, amplification and gear brands. It will be open to those holding festival tickets from 10AM to 6PM. Food and beverages will be located throughout the Village based on a "Taste of Chicago" theme. As festival goers move from exhibitor tent to exhibitor tent in the Guitar Center Village, they can take part in the Village Raffle, with all proceeds going to Crossroads Centre Antigua.

Guitar Center will also be bringing along its "Legends Collection" of vintage guitars including Eric’s "Blackie" Fender Stratocaster, his cherry red Gibson ES-335, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s "Lenny" and other rare instruments. They’ll be on display in the Festival Village.

For those unable to attend, the official website, crossroadsguitarfestival.com, will have updates and photos throughout the day. The festival will not be broadcast live on radio, television, nor on the internet.

Since its inception in 2004, Eric’s vision for the Crossroads Guitar Festival was to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can have fun and jam together for the benefit of a good cause. Like the 2004 and 2007 Festivals, profits from the 2010 event will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Eric Clapton for chemically dependent persons. The facility will have a tent in the Guitar Center Village so attendees can better understand the charity and its work. You can also find out how to get involved and support the Crossroads Foundation beyond the festival, a cause that Eric has called the most important work of his life.

IMPORANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL
• Toyota Park is located at 7000 S. Harlem, Bridgeview, IL. Click here for directions to Toyota Park, including by public transportation.
• Gates are officially scheduled to open at 10AM, but might open sooner.
• The Festival’s Guitar Center Village will be located at the main gate of Toyota Park and will be open from 10AM to 6PM.
• Music on the main stage is scheduled to begin at 12PM, as printed on the ticket. It’s suggested you be in your seat at least 15 minutes before so you don’t miss any of the action.
• Toyota Park is a non-smoking facility. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas in the plaza between Gates A, B and C.
• No coolers, outside food or beverages. Food and drinks will be available in the Festival Village and within the venue. Water fountains are located throughout the stadium on the main concourse.
• No folding chairs. For those with general admission tickets, it is ok to bring blankets and towels to sit on.
• No umbrellas.
• No banners, signs, flags, posters, pictures etc. or sticks or poles to display them as they can obstruct the view of other guests and interfere with their enjoyment of the event.
• Smartphone cameras and point and shoot-style cameras without detachable lenses are permissible; NO professional or semi-professional cameras with changeable lenses will be allowed inside the venue.
• Audio / video recording is not allowed.
• Tailgating is permitted at Toyota Park before events. Post-event tailgating is not allowed.
• No re-entry.

CURRENT CONFIRMED 2010 CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL LINEUP (UPDATED 23 JUNE)
Lineup is subject to change without notice
Albert Lee
Allman Brothers Band Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band w/ Allman Brothers Band/Gov’t Mule guitarist Warren Haynes & friends
BB King
Bert Jansch
Buddy Guy
David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos
Doyle Bramhall II
Earl Klugh
Eric Clapton
Gary Clark Jr.
Hubert Sumlin
James Burton
Jeff Beck
Jimmie Vaughan
Joe Bonamassa
John Mayer
Johnny Winter
Jonny Lang
Keb Mo
Pino Daniele
Robert Cray
Robert Randolph
Sheryl Crow
Sonny Landreth
Stefan Grossman
Steve Winwood
Vince Gill
ZZ Top

About Crossroads Centre at Antigua:
The Crossroads Centre at Antigua is an international, non-profit facility founded by Eric Clapton. Crossroads Centre provides treatment and education to chemically dependent persons, those with other compulsive addictive behaviours, their families and significant others. Eric founded the 36 bed residential facility because he saw a great need for the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction in the Caribbean, as well as around the world. To do this, he has personally invested his time and money to make it a reality. Crossroad Centre’s mission is to provide quality care and treatment that is both affordable and accessible. In keeping with this, a foundation based in the United States and a charitable trust in the United Kingdom raise funds to help support those who are unable to afford treatment.

IMPORTANT LINKS:
Crossroads Guitar Festival presented by T-Mobile myTouch – Official Website Homepage
Guitar Center Village – List of exhibitors, Gutiar Clinics and Information
Toyota Park – Official Website
Toyota Park – Directions and Parking Information
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