On April 4th and 5th, 20+ local and regional guitarists will perform at East Village Arts of Birmingham in two packed evenings of experimental, improvisational and diverse music.

We spoke with East Village Art’s President and Founder LaDonna Smith to learn more about the East Village Arts Guitar Festival.

East Village Arts Guitar Festival, a two-day celebration of local music

What: East Village Arts Guitar Festival
When: Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 | 7PM to 10PM
Where: East Village Arts of Birmingham, 7611 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35206
Tickets: $10 at the door | BYOB

Originally scheduled in mid-March, the East Village Arts Guitar Festival was postponed due to the recent severe weather—but the show must go on.

On April 4th and 5th, East Village Arts of Birmingham will host performances from more than 20 guitarists both local and regional, including:

Killick & Klimchak
Holland Hopson
Joan Mills
Joe D Nelson
Jim Fahy
Rodney Hasty
Patrick Stone
Jasper Lee
Da’de ‘u’U
David Black

Rumi
Mary Foshee
Clifford McPeek
Taylor Rouss
Rami Noureddini
Taylor Hollingsworth
Jupiter
Kris Gruda
John English
Jeff Arnal

During the festival, guests will be led on a “round-robin” tour of the facility to hear from each of the evening’s performing artists, followed by acts on stage.

“[East Village Arts] is quite an informal space, so guests can move around as they please, bring their own drinks—they can even bring snacks or snacks to share. It’s a community art space, so you never know what to expect!”
LaDonna Smith, Founder and President, East Village Arts

Bonus: At the East Village Arts Guitar Festival, guests can see the Alabama Art Casting exhibition’s metal sculptures, including 100-pound guitars and basses made of cast iron.

About East Village Arts of Birmingham

Located in East Lake on 1st Avenue North, East Village Arts of Birmingham is a non-profit artist collective founded by LaDonna Smith in 2019.

“My dream for East Village Arts was inspired by the East Village neighborhood in Manhattan. When artists like Allen Ginsberg began moving to East Village in the mid-21st century, others began looking at the Village with renewed interest.

We hope that by encouraging and celebrating local artists, East Village Arts can help anchor the growth of Birmingham’s East Lake neighborhood.”
LaDonna Smith, Founder and President, East Village Arts

Inside East Village Arts, you’ll find a communal exhibition and performance space that hosts concert series, writing workshops, local artist showcases and much, much more.