Music is like the wide ocean, therefore it has no end. It makes you disciplined and refined, and creates a different and an accomplished individual. Listening to French legend Nicholas De Angelis’s classical guitar masterpiece ‘’Quel ques Notes Pour Anna’’ can create the same joy of listening with Kirk Hammett’s Bass solo, as the musical tastes might differ. The guitar fest 2017 is gala event where all these guitar styles are performed on one stage, and where the guitar music lovers can enjoy a quality time by watching the most experienced and upcoming guitarists and bands perform, both local and foreign. The guitar fest will be conducted for the 7th consecutive year, from 20-26th Jan 2017. Concerts will be performed in Sri J’pura University, University of Peradeniya, Swami Vipulananda Aesthetic Institute, Eastern University, Russian Centre, Colombo, Town Hall, Badulla, and Thirukalamandaram, Jaffna.

‘’This festival is special because we are performing in Badulla and at Eastern University. We are having a concert at Dharmaraja College, Kandy, for school children. Foreign guitarists from Japan and India will be performing with local guitarists. A team of young guitarists from Jaffna will also give performances in the tour’’

Mr. Mohomed Iqbal-Secretary GASL

“The Guitar Festival is a service to our people in Sri Lanka. It has developed a sense of musical awareness among the youth. We hope more young people will take an interest in music and join us’’

Mr. Rohan Silva -President GASL

“Music is a powerful medium that can be used to change the minds of people positively. Guitar Fest concerts can help to develop a cultured society. The vision of the Department goes parallel to the objective of Guitar Association of Sri Lanka. So we are doing this as a joint activity.’’

Mrs.AnushaGokula Fernando- Director, department of Cultural affairs

The newly added musical wizard of the festival will be Aditya Gandhi of India, who has performed across India, Scotland and United States, including venues such as the Guinness Room and Stevenson Concert Hall in Glasgow, and the Calcutta School of Music. Most recent concerts include a solo and chamber performances at Ganz Hall, in Chicago, and Alliance Francaise in Ahmedabad. Yet his most memorable concerts have been in living rooms, whose intimacy has no substitute.

He was awarded the RCS Trust Award in 2010 and 2nd prize at the Calcutta International Guitar Competition in 2012. Born in India, Aditya began his musical journey at quite a late age of 15. He largely self-taught the instrument before completing his Bachelors of Music with Honors from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and his Masters of Music at the Chicago College of Performing Arts under world-renowned guitarist Denis Azabagic.

With all these renowned musicians all set to enthrall the audience with their musical magic, all concerts will be free of charge to the public. Some of the leading guitarist will perform and the concert will have many new faces on stage. All are welcome.

20th Jan2017- University of Sri Jayawardenepura- Nugegoda,
21st Jan 2017- Russian Centre, Colombo 7.
22nd Jan 2017- University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya

23rd Jan - Dharmaraja College Kandy
24th Jan 2017- Town Hall- Badulla, 25th Jan 2017- Swami Vipulananda Aesthetic Institute, Eastern University,
26th Jan 2017- Thirukalamandram, Main - Jaffna.