Huntsville is home to some pretty awesome and original annual activities.

For example, did you know that the Rocket City could also be called the Cigar Box Guitar City?

That’s because your very own Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment hosts the world’s longest running Cigar Box Guitar Festival. How exciting is that?!

Cigar Box Guitars & More

The 10th Annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival will kick off the evening of May 30, 2014 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm, and then continue May 31 from 12:00 – 9:00 pm.

Guys!— That is less that two weeks from now! So mark your calendars and get your strings tuned.

This event will have it all— live music, folk art, food, and of course cigar box guitars! But the best part is that you don’t have to know anything about CBGs to have fun.

The good folks over at Lowe Mill have gotten some impressive experts to offer workshops so you can sign up to build your own and start playing.

There will be accessories and kits with all the parts you need to get started! And anyone will tell you that the hardest part of learning to play is picking out your favorite cigar box among all the beautiful selections!

Festival Performance Line-Up

Friday night performers are music legends Microwave Dave and Justin Johnson.

Saturday’s line-up features:

John and Patrick Nickel (the dudes behind the success of Nickel CBG)

Matt Crunk

Justin Johnson

April Mae and the June Bugs

Johnny Lowebow

Earl Williams

Hymn for Her

Ben Prestage

CBG Basics

I thought y’all might appreciate some CBG basics, so here’s a quick list of some fun facts to encourage you to check it out.

Here goes:

The essential parts of a 3-string CBG are the cigar box used as the resonator, the neck also called the fret board, the strings, and the tuners at the top. That’s it!

CBGs can be made in several varieties: 3-string, 4-string, basses, and can even be modeled after mandolins, dulcimers, ukuleles, and banjos.

CBGs can be made in several varieties: 3-string, 4-string, basses, and can even be modeled after mandolins, dulcimers, ukuleles, and banjos. CGB guitars are tuned in the key of G. This makes them super easy to tune by ear as well as learn to play.

People started making CBGs back in 1840! Those these were not as complex as the ones you’ll see next weekend.

In CBG slang the fret board is called the “broomstick” which refers to times when people used a broom handle for the fret board.

Location: Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville

Dates: Friday, May 30 through Saturday, May 31, 2014

Cost: FREE, but $2 parking donations are accepted

Find Cigar Box Festival on Facebook.

About the Author: Sharon Singletary

Ok, lets just get this out of the way now: Sharon hates cheese. No she is not allergic, and yes she knows you are judging her already. But look at the brightside, this just means more cheese for you! Sharon is a Huntsville native (well Hazel Green is close enough) and proud graduate of Auburn University. She obtained a BA in Art History and minor in technical writing; because research papers just didn’t provide enough outlets for her need to research and write about it. But basically she loves art and performance, and of course talking about it on her blog Art For a Hungry Sharebear. After landing a sweet job with Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment as Historian and Assistant Gallery Coordinator, Sharon has been pleased to rediscover Huntsville, and appreciates how much the art and music scene in her hometown have grown. There is always so much going on she can’t decide what to do, and that’s how she likes it.