Article Contributed by Mike
Published on December 3, 2025
The New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival will return to the historic New Orleans Jazz Museum, located at 400 Esplanade Avenue, from Thursday, January 15 through Saturday, January 17, 2026. This one-of-a-kind cultural event celebrates the global impact of homemade and improvised instruments, showcasing musicians who transform everyday objects into extraordinary tools of expression. Tickets and information are available at NewOrleansCBG.com.
This year’s festival features a vibrant and eclectic lineup, including Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee Jonathon “Boogie” Long, acclaimed old-time duo Hillary Klug & Meredith Moon, and the dynamic French trio La Durance Blues Band. Also joining the bill are New Jersey Americana favorites April Mae & the June Bugs, along with a dozen additional artists who bring innovation and heart to handcrafted instrumentation.
International artists making their festival debut include German guitarist Michael Malice, Australian bluesman Brett Littlefair, and Dutch trio Three Strings Down. Returning crowd favorites include New Orleans artists Brett Gardner, Mahmoud Chouki, Beth Patterson, Ed Wills & Jerry Dugger, Rumsey Kadar, and Amzie Adams. Additional returning performers include Maryland folk-rocker Skribe, Nashville duo Meg Williams & Travis Bowlin, cigar box guitar pioneer John Nickel, and respected international CBG ambassador Steve Arvey.
Beyond its full performance schedule, the festival will once again host its Thursday Night Symposium, featuring special guest speakers: celebrated Louisiana author, musician, and actor Chris Thomas King; and author Michael Shurtz. Instrument builders are invited to gather on Friday and Saturday afternoons for discussions, demonstrations, and a builder’s contest.
Only 124 all-inclusive tickets will be sold for this intimate three-day event, ensuring audiences enjoy an up-close and immersive experience. All festival programming—including performances, workshops, and symposium events—will take place within the comfortable setting of the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
For tickets and complete festival details, please visit NewOrleansCBG.com.
Throughout American history, resourceful musicians—including pioneers, Civil War soldiers, farmers, and street performers—have crafted expressive instruments using household items and spare materials. Most famously associated with Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta, these homemade devices laid the groundwork for nearly every major American musical tradition.
Today, the term “cigar box guitar” refers broadly to the family of handmade stringed instruments that includes banjos, basses, dulcimers, fiddles, mandolins, diddley bows, and countless hybrid creations. These instruments remain central to modern music-making, with artists around the world using them to record, perform, and reclaim traditional, authentic sound.
Website: https://www.NewOrleansCBG.com
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