2012 Adelaide International Guitar Festival Announces Attendance Numbers

Following the success of his first Festival in 2010, Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan has again hit a top note with the 2012 Adelaide International Guitar Festival blitzing the previous Festival's box office record by more than 25 per cent.

The fourth Adelaide International Guitar Festival certainly earned its stripes as the most significant festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, including 18 International Artists from the United States of America, Croatia, Bosnia, Brazil and Korea, plus 70 of the best Australian musicians. The Festival finished on a high on Sunday as Billy Bob's All Star Jam rocked through the night.

Adelaide International Guitar Festival Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan said "I am blown away by the way audiences and artists alike, truly immersed themselves in the Festival experience."

"The Festival Centre had an incredible energy throughout the four days with international guest artists hanging out with guitar makers and audiences. There was a fantastic atmosphere.

"We received unanimous feedback from all artists that this year's Festival truly was an incredible celebration of the instrument and that this festival is a true stand out," he said.

2012 Adelaide International Guitar Festival highlights included:

• ·         The legendary John Scofield impressed the opening night crowd with his distinctive musicianship.
• ·         New York's charismatic Punch Brothers played to a packed house in the Festival Theatre on Friday night and then made a special guest appearance in the Space Theatre on Sunday night. They fell in love with South Australia and audiences fell in love with them.
• ·         Quintette, featuring the formidable Australian String Quartet joined by the stellar line-up of international soloists Edin Karamazov, Ana Vidovic, Simon Powis and Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan.
• ·         American maestro Jason McGuire's and the San Francisco based company Caminos Flamencos received standing ovations atThe Spirit of Flamenco.
• ·         The extraordinary guitar virtuoso Ana Vidovic who captivated audiences with her exceptional talent.
• ·         The electric Coopers Late Night Triple Bill featuring Harry James Angus, Tinpan Orange and Roscoe James Irwin featured special guest guitarist Ben Edgar taking time out from his tour with Gotye to be part of the Festival.
• ·         Three sold out shows plus all workshops, master classes and meet the maker sessions were at capacity over the four days.

Adelaide expat and Australian National University School of Music student Andrey Lebedev took out the coveted first prize of $10,000 and a Jim Redgate guitar valued at $16,000 in the 2012 International Classical Guitar Competition. This year's competition attracted a bevy of entrants from across the globe with guitarists hailing from Germany, France, Italy, China and Thailand, as well as Australia.

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and Artistic Director Douglas Gautier said "I applaud Slava and our International Guitar Festival team on delivering another a high calibre event that continues to draw such fine international musicians to our part of the world, many of which who performed in Australia for the very first time."

"Some strong bonds have certainly been established with artists and guitar enthusiasts from all over the world and I eagerly await the 2014 Adelaide International Guitar Festival," he said.

Adelaide International Guitar Festival returns in 2014 with Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan back at the helm from (insert dates).

The Adelaide International Guitar Festival thanks its supporters the State Government of South Australia, Fox Creek Wines, Marsh Australia, The Hills Cider Company, Coopers, Adelaide City Council, Jim Redgate Guitars, InterContinental Adelaide, ABC 891 and Classic FM, The Adelaide Review, Bang & Olufsen, Hyde Park Press and koush with eco:board.