James Burton is attempting to make history today at the James Burton International Guitar Festival by gathering the most acoustic guitars and unplugged electric guitars played in unison for a five-minute period.Guinness record attempt at guitar fest today | shreveporttimes.com | The Times
The 2 p.m. record attempt could land participating guitarists a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Organizer Janie Landry said the response has been overwhelming. “One of the last times we checked, we had at least 500 entries and people can still register even on the day of the festival.”
Today’s events begin at 9 a.m. with a guitar talent showdown, showcasing the talents of area youths ages 6 to 21 at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum.
A concert this evening will feature performers like Grammy Award-winning guitarist Steve Lukather and Jennifer Batten, perhaps most recognizable as the blond Mohawk-wearing lead guitarist for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Dangerous” tours.
The line-up will also feature Junior Brown, Nokie Edwards, Shreveport’s own Kenny Wayne Shephard and more.
The theme is “A Tribute to Elvis” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of when Elvis Presley called James Burton and asked if he would put together a band as Elvis made his return to live performance and touring.
“In honor of that anniversary, we’re asking each performer to perform their favorite Elvis song in addition to their own songs,” Landry said. “We’re also celebrating James’ 70th birthday and the fact that he’s still working in the industry is significant. So, we’re having a party in Festival Plaza.”
