News
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival Day One Highlights
21 Sep 19
Heading to the festival today? Please arrive for the time printed on your ticket. Don’t forget, ticketholders get access to the Guitar Center Village from Noon.
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas kicked off at Noon on Friday, September 20th when the Guitar Center Village opened on Victory Plaza. The Village has live performances, guitar clinics, interactive exhibits and more.
Shortly before 7PM, the lights went down for the main event in the American Airlines Center for those in the arena and those at watch parties at U.S. Hard Rock Cafe locations or those tuning in from around the world on Pay-Per-View.
Emcee Bill Murray introduced Sonny Landreth, who has had the honor of being the first performer since the 2007 Festival. After his four-song set, Eric Clapton made his first 2019 festival appearance. He was joined by Andy Fairweather Low, Jamie Oldaker, Steve Gadd, Nathan East and Pedrito Martinez for a five song acoustic set.
Eric dedicated the weekend to his friend, Alan Rogan, who passed away earlier in the summer. Alan was a superb guitar technician and musician who was part of The Who family, working with the band and Pete Townshend from the mid-seventies. He also worked with Eric, George Harrison, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Joe Walsh, Cliff Richard and Tom Petty over his many years in the music business.
During one of the breaks in the music, Melia Clapton announced an exciting new campaign, Turn up for Recovery, which aims to raise awareness and funds for abstinence based recovery. This grassroots movement is for musicians from all backgrounds and experience to hold fundraising gigs to support those struggling with addiction to receive the help they need. To get involved or find out more, visit their website and follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
During his guest appearance on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with Peter Frampton, Eric debuted his new Crashocaster. John ‘Crash’ Matos told Where’s Eric! about it a few weeks back. Check out his interview here.
Jeff Beck wrapped up Day One’s performances with a great set that featured guest appearances by Johnny Depp and Jimmy Hall (pending confirmation).
In conjunction with the Festival, an online auction is taking place with artist autographed t-shirts (including one signed by Eric Clapton and band!) and two guitars owned and personally donated to the auction by Eric Clapton. Head to bidpal.net/xroads or text xroads to 243725 to check out the items on offer. You can also donate to help continue the work of Crossroads Centre Antigua by visiting bidpal.net/xroads or texting xroads to 243725.
Below is a quick recap of Day One. Fans are invited to send their reviews and photographs (and help fill in the blanks in set lists and band lineups) to info@whereseric.com for publication in the Tour Archive and Photo Gallery. There will also be in-depth coverage in the next issue of Where’s Eric! Magazine.
Tonight’s main event can also be viewed at home worldwide on pay-per-view (details here) or at Hard Rock Cafe Watch Parties in the U.S. (details here).
Guitar Center Village Stage presented by Ernie Ball:
12:30 – 1:30 Joe Robinson
1:15 – 1:45 Jacob Reese Thornton
2:00 – 2:30 Paul Reed Smith with Boscoe France and Bryan Ewald
2:45 – 3:15 Ryan McGarvey
3:30 – 4:00 The Peterson Brothers
4:15 – 4:45 Marcus King with Asher Belsky of Gibbon’s G3
5:00 – 5:30 Carla Olson and Todd Wolfe
Main Event in American Airlines Center from approximately 7PM on Friday, September 20th:
Sonny Landreth: Walkin’ Blues, It Hurts Me Too, Instrumental (Title Unknown), Brave New Girl
Eric Clapton with Andy Fairweather Low, Jamie Oldaker, Steve Gadd, Nathan East and Pedrito Martinez: Circus, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out, Tears In Heaven, Wonderful Tonight, Lay Down Sally
Bonnie Raitt, Keb’ Mo’ and Alan Darby – 1 song. Alan played the new Gibson Custom Eric Clapton 1964 Firebird 1 Recreation which is part of the 2019 Crossroads Guitar Collection.
Citzen Cope – 5 songs including Bullet And A Target and Sideways. Gary Clark, Jr. joined for one number
Gustavo Santaolalla – the Argentinian guitarist and composer opened with the Apology Song, followed by a selection of songs from film soundtracks he composed.
Sheryl Crow – 6 song set with guests Bonnie Raitt and James Bay. If It Makes You Happy, Steve McQueen (with Bonnie Raitt), Live Wire (with Bonnie Raitt), Everything Is Broken (with Bonnie Raitt and James Bay), Every Day Is A Winding Road (with James Bay)
Pedro Martins and Daniel Santiago – 3 song set
Kurt Rosenwinkel with Pedro Martins – performed 6 songs. Songs were taken from Kurt Rosenwinkel’s album Caipi and Pedro Martin’s album, Vox.
James Burton and Albert Lee with Jamie Oldaker and Nathan East: That’s Alright Mama, Rock Around With Ollie Vee
Jimmie Vaughan and The Tilt-A-Whirl Band with guests Bonnie Raitt and Billy Gibbons: D/FW, Roll Roll Roll, No One To Talk To (But The Blues), Baby Please Come Home (with Bonnie Raitt), I Ain’t Never (with Bonnie Raitt), Sharp Dressed Man (with Billy Gibbons), La Grange (with Billy Gibbons)
Doyle Bramhall and Gary Clark, Jr: Rock Me Baby
The Marcus King Band: 7 song set including I Just Want To Make Love To You, Hoochie Coochie Man and Goodbye Carolina.
Peter Frampton with Eric Clapton: Georgia On My Mind (Instrumental), Do You Feel Like We Do, While My Guitar Gently Weeps (with Eric Clapton)
Jeff Beck with guests Johnny Depp and Jimmy Hall (pending confirmation): Jeff’s set included Big Block, Isolation (with Johnny Depp), Somebody’s Nobody (with Johnny Depp), Superstition (with Johnny Depp and Jimmy Hall), Little Wing (with Johnny Depp and Jimmy Hall)
Where’s Eric! invites everyone who attended to send their reviews, photos and help fill in set list details and band lineups to info@whereseric.com. They’ll be archived permanently in the Tour Archive and Photo Gallery where they will become a permanent part of Eric Clapton History.
Absolutely no video / audio recording or flash photography. A few quick snaps of the performers on stage taken with a smartphone camera or a small point and shoot that fits in a pocket are okay. Larger cameras – those with detachable lenses or those that don’t fit in a shirt pocket – are not allowed in the venue.