KRISSY MATTHEWS GUITARMANIA 2026

feat. RUSSELL MARSDEN (UK – BAND OF SKULLS), PABLO VAN DE POEL (NL – DEWOLFF), OSKAR LOGI (ISL – THE VINTAGE CARAVAN), JAX HOLLOW (USA), CONNOR SELBY (UK), PHILIPP “PHIPU” GERBER (CH)
presented by Eclipsed, Musix, Musikreviews.de

KRISSY MATTHEWS, the 33-year-old blues/rock guitarist with British-Norwegian roots, already looks back on more than 20 years of stage experience. At the tender age of just 12, he performed with the “Godfather of British Blues” John Mayall. At 15, he was taken under the wing of blues legend B.B. King, and one year later he became the last guest musician to appear on stage with the great, late Jeff Healey. Over the years, he has built a reputation as one of the finest and most highly respected guitarists on the scene.
Having experienced firsthand how valuable and inspiring it is to learn from the “greats,” he is always eager to introduce the blues audience to new talents.

A perfect example is his current, widely acclaimed success album “Krissy Matthews And Friends” (2024, RUF Records). Across 24 tracks, he brings together a total of 80 musical friends and companions. Among them are renowned artists such as Chris Farlowe, Arthur Brown, Inga Rumpf, Stoppok, Curt Cress, Dennis Chambers, Big Daddy Wilson, Clem Clempson, Siggi Schwarz, and the Hamburg Blues Band – of which KRISSY MATTHEWS is a permanent member. At the same time, the album also features younger colleagues such as Kai Strauss, Miller Anderson, Danny Bryant, Layla Zoe, Vanja Sky, Dani Wilde, and many more. On the European tour following the album release, several of these guest musicians already appeared live on stage. The response from both the audience and KRISSY MATTHEWS himself was so overwhelming that it inspired him to go on tour for the first time in 2025 with five or six of his favorite guitarists under the title GUITARMANIA. The line-up for the next edition in 2026 has already been confirmed:

THE IMPRESSIVE MUSICIANS OF KRISSY MATTHEWS’ GUITARMANIA 2026:

RUSSELL MARSDEN Singer and guitarist of the English band Band of Skulls, who have released five successful albums with chart positions in, among others, the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, and the USA. Their hit “You’re Not Pretty, But You Got It Goin’ On” reached number one on the US Billboard Headseeker Charts in 2009 and is, of course, part of the program.

PABLO VAN DE POEL From the Netherlands, will join the first seven GUITARMANIA shows. As singer, guitarist, and producer of his blues/rock trio DeWolff, he stands for incredibly authentic, psychedelic blues rock in the style of Cream, The Doors, and Deep Purple. His music sounds as if it came straight out of the 1960s and 1970s and has earned the band fantastic reviews and sold-out venues for nearly 18 years. PABLO VAN DE POEL is considered one of the best blues guitarists in the Benelux region.

OSKAR LOGI AGUSTSSON Guitarist of the Icelandic heavy blues/retro rock band The Vintage Caravan. With a selection of his favorite songs from the band’s seven albums to date, he brings a powerful statement to the GUITARMANIA program, influenced by classic rock through to early metal.

JAX HOLLOW The songwriter, singer, and guitarist from Nashville (USA) is one of the most exciting young guitarists to emerge in recent years. Her energetic mix of rock, country, blues, and pop caused a stir in 2021 with her debut album “Underdog Anthems.” She has shared the stage with legendary rock icons such as Billy Gibbons, Rick Springfield, and Sammy Hagar, and has impressed established colleagues like Joe Bonamassa and Melissa Etheridge. The music press recently described her stage presence as “Hendrixian… with a touch of Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen.”

CONNOR SELBY From Essex, England, has been hailed by the British media as the next major star of storytelling blues, not only since signing with Provogue Records in 2023. He was awarded “Young Artist of the Year” at the UK Blues Awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Now 27 years old, he has already shared the stage with The Who, Pearl Jam, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Beth Hart, P.P. Arnold, and Robert Cray, impressing audiences with his virtuosity and deeply moving lyrics.

PHILIPP „PHIPU“ GERBER In his native Switzerland, the press describes him as a blues sorcerer. With his bands Bluedög, Dögz, and the Hardcore Blues Band, PHIPU GERBER has earned an excellent reputation over the years, including tours and concerts with Nazareth, Ten Years After, and Anna Popovic. Known for gritty blues rock with extensive guitar solos and driving grooves, the musician from Solothurn will also thrill audiences at GUITARMANIA 2026.

The foundation of the GUITARMANIA band consists of KRISSY MATTHEWS’ long-time companions GERRY REYNDERS (BE) on drums and SLAWEK SEMENIUK (PL) on bass, who provide the musical backbone for the guests at the highest level.

Audiences can look forward to a program in which each of the six guitarists first presents their own solo songs, before all coming together at the end of the show to share the stage in a joint all-star jam session.

Like no other tour in 2026, KRISSY MATTHEWS‘ GUITARMANIA offers such a wide range of different blues and rock styles, presented by the currently most exciting international guitarists of the new generation. Blues rock and guitar fans will get their money’s worth – and should not miss these fantastic shows under any circumstances!