This year’s event boasts a stellar lineup of guitarists from all genres of music, in tandem with the annual Crown Guitar Workshop. A “Crown Preview” party featuring emerging artist Josh Turner launches the festival Aug. 27 at Flathead Lake Brewing Company ($10). Festival concerts begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at the lodge with beer, wine and food vendors available. This year’s line-up features Turner with Jim Messina and his band on Sunday; jazz prodigy Julian Lage with Grammy-winning artist Chris Eldridge of the Punch Brothers, and Argentinean-born composer and virtuoso Gonzalo Bergara with 19-year-old Max O’Rourke, Monday; and Liz Longley and Brent Mason with Jon Herington, Wednesday. Lee Ritenour, Melvin Davis and the Six String Theory winner perform Thursday; and Friday’s Student and Faculty Night includes a band jam. Gates open at 4 p.m. Sept. 3 for the Crown Guitar Finale featuring three full sets by Grammy-artist Dweezil Zappa, rocker Shane Theriot and Andy Aledort and the faculty, who pay tribute to recently passed guitar icons.
