Guitarmania: Tour Announcement

They come from the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Iceland and Switzerland. Their musical worlds span Blues, Rock, Psychedelia, Alternative, Vintage and Hard Rock. What unites them is a shared passion for the guitar – and that is exactly what lies at the heart of KRISSY MATTHEWS’ GUITARMANIA.

From 22 April to 15 May 2027, British-Norwegian guitarist Krissy Matthews will take his unique live concept on an extensive tour across Europe once again. For the 2027 edition, Matthews has assembled an international line-up bringing together different generations, styles and personalities from the contemporary guitar scene on one stage.

Heading the list of special guests is Eric Gales. For decades, the US guitarist has been regarded as one of the most distinctive players in modern Blues Rock. His unmistakable style combines Blues, Rock, Funk and Soul with extraordinary technical ability and emotional intensity, making him a perfect fit for the spirit of GUITARMANIA.

Also returning are Russell Marsden, singer and guitarist of British rock band Band Of Skulls, Pablo van de Poel, frontman and guitarist of Dutch power trio DeWolff, and Oskar Logi, singer and guitarist of Iceland’s The Vintage Caravan – three musicians who have already become part of the GUITARMANIA family.

Joining them is American Blues Rock guitarist Eric Steckel, whose powerful and uncompromising sound bridges the worlds of Blues and Hard Rock. Swiss guitarist and producer Philipp “Phipu” Gerber also returns to the line-up, while British guitarist Rory Evans completes this remarkable international cast.

At the centre of it all is GUITARMANIA founder and host Krissy Matthews. Despite his relatively young age, the British-Norwegian musician already has more than two decades of stage experience behind him. At just twelve years old, he performed alongside John Mayall. At fifteen, he caught the attention of B.B. King, and only a year later Matthews became the last guest musician to share the stage with the late, great Jeff Healey. Today, he is firmly established on the European Blues and Rock scene and is also a permanent member of the Hamburg Blues Band.

The idea for GUITARMANIA grew out of Matthews’ 2024 album “Krissy Matthews And Friends”. Across 24 tracks, the record brought together around 80 friends and musical companions, including Chris Farlowe, Arthur Brown, Inga Rumpf, Stoppok, Curt Cress, Dennis Chambers, Big Daddy Wilson and Clem Clempson, alongside numerous artists from a younger generation of Blues and Rock musicians.

During the European tour that followed, guest musicians regularly joined Matthews on stage. The energy and spontaneity of those encounters ultimately inspired him to turn the idea into a touring concept of its own.

GUITARMANIA hit the road for the first time in 2025. The concept is as simple as it is effective: rather than following the traditional format of headliner and support acts, GUITARMANIA brings together established artists, individual personalities and contrasting guitar styles for one shared musical experience. Each artist has the opportunity to present their own material and distinctive sound before the boundaries between the individual sets begin to disappear and the musicians come together for the grand finale.

That is where GUITARMANIA truly sets itself apart from a conventional package tour. This is not about pitting guitarists against one another. It is about interaction, contrasting sounds and personalities, and the unique moments that happen when musicians of this calibre share a stage without musical boundaries.

With Eric Gales, Russell Marsden, Pablo van de Poel, Oskar Logi, Eric Steckel, Philipp “Phipu” Gerber, Rory Evans and Krissy Matthews, the 2027 edition brings together eight guitarists with eight very different musical identities. From contemporary American Blues Rock and British Alternative Rock to Psychedelic and Southern Rock, Vintage Rock, Hard Rock and classic Blues influences, GUITARMANIA covers a vast musical spectrum – turning every show into a celebration of the electric guitar and its enduring diversity

KRISSY MATTHEWS' SHOWS 2027

• 22.04.2027 - Hamburg, Germany - Nochtspeicher
• 23.04.2027 - Köln, Germany - Club Volta
• 24.04.2027 - Erfurt, Germany - Gewerkschaftshaus
• 25.04.2027 - Berlin, Germany - Frannz Club
• 27.04.2027 - Frankfurt am Main, Germany - The Bed: Live Music Club
• 28.04.2027 - Münster, Germany - Sputnikhalle
• 29.04.2027 - Joldelund, Germany - Gerds Juke Joint
• 02.05.2027 - Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands - Poppodium Building T
• 04.05.2027 - München, Germany - Backstage Halle
• 05.05.2027 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7 Konzertfabrik
• 06.05.2027 - Nürnberg, Germany - Hirsch
• 09.05.2027 - Milano, Italy - Legend Club
• 10.05.2027 - Chur, Switzerland - Handmade Music Hall
• 13.05.2027- Edinburgh, United Kingdom - La Belle Angele
• 15.05.2027 - London, United Kingdom - Oslo Hackney