Warren Haynes, Rosanne Cash, John Leventhan, Bill Frisell and more join lineup for celebration of Reverend Gary Davis

The New York Guitar Festival is hosting a series of tribute performances, celebrating the work of blues guitar legend Reverend Gary Davis. The series of 12 songs will premiere with one performance a day until 15 May, kicking off at 4 PM EDT. The first performance, a version of the song Tryin’ To Get Home by Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, is already online. Take a look above.

Warren Haynes is the latest name to join the event, which also includes names such as Bill Frisell, Brandon Ross and Larkin Poe. The full list of performers and their corresponding broadcast dates is below:

Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal – Monday, 4 May
Amythyst Kiah – Tuesday, 5 May
Fantastic Negrito – Wednesday, 6 May
Bill Frisell – Thursday, 7 May
Dom Flemons – Friday, 8 May
Sonia de los Santos – Saturday, 9 May
Jorma Kaukonen – Sunday, 10 May 10th
Kaia Kater – Monday, 11 May
Brandon Ross – Tuesday, 12 May
Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams – Wednesday, 13 May
Warren Haynes – Thursday, 14 May
Larkin Poe – Friday, 15 May

The performances will all premiere on the New York Guitar Festival’s YouTube Channel.

Reverend Gary Davis performed on the streets of Harlem from the late 1940s until his death in 1972. He recorded many influential albums, and made several notable festival appearances. His students included David Bromberg, Stefan Grossman, Dave Van Ronk, and Bob Weir. New York Guitar Festival’s Artistic Director David Spelman said about the project, “Listening to, and sharing, music has been a lifeline for so many people during this period of social isolation. We hope this project will spread the joy, and shine a light on the remarkable music and resilient life of Reverend Gary Davis.”

While access to the festival’s videos is free, organisers used the opportunity to urge people to donate to the MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund.

For more guitar news, click here.