Wall to Wall Guitar Festival Take Two
Welcome to the Wall to Wall Guitar Festival
Welcome from Mike Ross
Dear Friends,
Whether you are joining us for the first time or are a returning alum from the inaugural 2005 festival, and whether you're from here or from points far beyond Champaign-Urbana and East Central Illinois, it's my great pleasure to welcome you to Krannert Center and W2W, Take Two. I hope you enjoy every minute of your time with us, from start to finish, in this immersive exploration and celebration of all things guitar.
We've been imagining Take Two since the fabulous closing moments of the first festival, and I want to thank everyone who's helped make Take Two a reality. First and foremost are the incredible guitarists themselves and their gifted collaborating artists—they are the heart and soul of the festival, its driving inspiration. David Spelman, the festival's brilliant artistic advisor, has been a tireless champion of the guitar worldwide and a joyously creative collaborator and friend. Our terrific community and campus partners have enthusiastically embraced the festival and have helped us engage across all walks of life. And scores of Krannert Center staff members have gone above and beyond to make the festival the most memorable experience possible for musicians and audiences alike—it is a privilege to work with them.
Moreover, the festival simply could not happen without the core financial support of the University of Illinois and the tremendous generosity of our many festival sponsors, locally as well as statewide and nationally. Please join me in applauding each of them all for their investment and enthusiasm.
Finally, thanks to each and every one of you for choosing to spend time with us. I hope you find the experience to be an exhilarating one, and I look forward to sharing the ride with you.
All good things,
Mike Ross
Director, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Welcome from David Spelman
Hello again!
It's great to be back in Champaign-Urbana. While two years have passed since the first Wall to Wall Guitar Festival, my memories are vivid: Taj Mahal and Abdoulaye Diabate's impromptu collaboration in the Tryon Festival Theatre; Vernon Reid sitting-in with David Tronzo and Sex Mob at Stage Five; and Juan Martin and Mamadou Diabate finding common ground between flamenco and West African music in an unplanned, after-hours jam (with Dan Zanes and others sitting on the floor, in awe). Even so, I expect Wall to Wall, Take Two, will be even more exciting and full of surprises, as this biennial exploration of the guitar's story continues to grow. In fact, the success of this festival and its sister festival in New York has inspired a new festival half-way around the world that will launch this fall in Adelaide, Australia.
Mike Ross once told me that Krannert Center is not just a facility, but an idea-at once a public square, a sanctuary, a classroom, and a laboratory. I love that view and it's inspiring to work with him because he practices what he preaches. In fact, the whole team at Krannert Center embraces this philosophy. They are a pleasure to work with and second to none.
As you'll notice, this year's festival features returning artists, as well as many new faces. They come from all over the US, as well as Africa, India, Brazil, Iraq, Spain, England, and France. I can't sufficiently express my gratitude to each of them for embracing this unlikely and ambitious idea of a guitar summit on the prairie.
Helping to organize this festival continues to be a great privilege.
David Spelman
Artistic Advisor, Wall to Wall Guitar Festival
Artistic Advisor, Adelaide International Guitar Festival
Founder & Artistic Director, New York Guitar Festival®
