HUNTSVILLE — It’s time to rock the box.
Cigar box, that is.
The world’s longest-running Cigar Box Guitar Festival fires up today across the Rocket City.
The event is a three-day celebration of music, creativity, and one-of-a-kind experiences throughout Huntsville culminating with a grand finale show at The Orion Amphitheater.
The schedule is:
- Tonight at AVIQ, Casino Night with the Cigar Box Serenaders at 6 p.m.
Kick off our 21st year with a Casino Night at AVIQ, the South’s Premier Audio-Video Equipment Destination. Try your luck at blackjack, roulette, and poker while enjoying live music from the Cigar Box Serenaders of New Orleans. There’ll be delicious bites and plenty of toe-tappin’ tunes. Cash in your casino chips for raffle tickets. Tickets are $50, with proceeds directly benefiting Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation. Limited tickets available. Buy now. AVIQ is at 1833 University Drive NW, Huntsville, across the street from Liquor Express. Click here for directions.
- Saturday at Lowe Mil, 11 a.m. -6 p.m.
Join us indoors at the largest privately owned artists’ community in the U.S., home to The Cigar Box Guitar Store, the only brick-and-mortar CBG store in the world. If you’re a Cigar Box Guitar enthusiast, learn from the pros about playing a CBG and get tips on building their own in free seminars at The Cigar Box Guitar Store, Tangled String Studio and the Huntsville Traditional Music Association. Connect with fellow CBG fans to share your creations or jam together, swap tips on tools of the trade, and get ideas for your next project. Solo cigar box guitar players will show their skills at Kar’s Char Texas BBQ, while Lowe Mill’s 150+ shops will offer specials. All activities are free and will be held indoors.
1-6 p.m. – The Cigar Box Guitar Store (Studio #106) for Shopping, Questions & Festival Merch
11-11:45 a.m. – CBG Builders Seminar: Part 1 (Tangled String, Studio #RR 7)
11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. – CBG Music at Kar’s Char BBQ (Studio #RR 5)
Noon-12:45 p.m. – Behind The Music Q&A w/ Tim Cannon (Huntsville Traditional Music Association, Studio #1038)
1-3 p.m. – Informal Jam & Meet-Up, all instruments welcome (Huntsville Traditional Music Association, Studio #1038)
3-3:45 p.m. – Behind The Music Q&A w/ Brett Gardner (Huntsville Traditional Music Association, Studio #1038)
4-4:45 p.m. – CBG Builders Seminar: Part 2 (Tangled String, Studio #RR 7) - Saturday at Saturn Jive Dance Space, Lowe Mill, 6 p.m.
​Bring your dancing shoes over to Saturn Jive Dance Space, Studio 2008 at Lowe Mill, and get ready to swing dance to the high-energy, genre-bending April Mae & The June Bugs. Performing on traditional and not-so-traditional handcrafted instruments, the band seamlessly blends rockabilly, jump blues, and jazz swing with infectious energy. Don’t worry, there are seats available if you aren’t the dancing type. $15 with 100% proceeds to charity. Limited tickets available. Buy now. -
Sunday at The Orion, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kick off your Sunday with free activities throughout The Orion grounds. There will be music and kids activities, as well as cigar box guitar jam sessions and meet-ups. A wide range of local vendors, including Huntsville’s own Vinyl Record Trail, will be on site, as well as an array of food trucks. All activities are free and will be held under cover in the event of inclement weather. Bring a lawn chair and a reusable water bottle. All other Orion policies, including bag policy and prohibited/allowed items will be in effect. Details here. Enter at the North Gate. Click here for a map & directions.
11 a.m.-2p.m. –Â Kids Build Recycled Instruments, CBG Informal Jam & Meet-Up, Vendors, Food Trucks, Vinyl Record Trail
11:30 a.m. – noon – Miss Calliope under The Dome
12:45-1:15 p.m. – Kids Instrument Jam & Blues History w/ Microwave Dave under The Dome
1:15-2 p.m. – Cigar Box Serenaders of New Orleans under The Dome
2-5:30 p.m. – Gates Closed; Explore the Farmer’s Market & other activities in Mid City, until gates re-open for Finale Concert at 5:30 -
Sunday Under the Dome at The Orion, 5:30
​Bring a lawn chair and soak in the magic of the Finale Concert. Enjoy local vendors, buskers and food trucks and then settle in for a star-studded concert featuring Grammy-winner Gary Nichols and the legendary FAME Gang from FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, plus a few surprise special guests. The FAME Gang’s top-notch musicians will include Kelvin Holly, who toured with Little Richard and has recorded Percy Sledge, Huey Lewis, Neil Young and Demi Lovato, just to name a few; Jimbo Hart, former bassist with Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit; and drummer Justin Holder whose credits range from John Paul White to Keb Mo to Dwight Yokum. The Finale Concert will be held under cover of the weather-protected and acoustically phenomenal Orion Dome. $15 with 100% proceeds to charity.  Buy now.
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