CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is set to launch its highly anticipated 2025-26 season with the return of ELLNORA: The Guitar Festival, running September 4–6. This year marks the 11th iteration of the biennial celebration of guitar artistry, held 20 years after the festival’s debut.
The opening night features four free performances, showcasing emerging talents like blues guitarist Grace Bowers, jazz prodigy Marel Hidalgo, and a genre-blending drag tribute, Bertha: Grateful Drag. The night also includes an innovative collaboration between The Messthetics and saxophonist James Brandon Lewis.
The ELLNORA lineup includes heavy-hitters like Rosanne Cash, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, blues sensation Samantha Fish, and genre-bending guitarist Gary Clark Jr. Classical fusion comes courtesy of Strings for Peace, with Grammy-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin and sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan. Flamenco artist Daniel Casares will also take the stage.
A full schedule is available at krannertcenter.com, and tickets go on sale to the public on August 13 at 10 a.m.