For the fifth year, Highway 61 Roadhouse hosts the annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival on June 3, featuring workshops, vendors, and live performances by Justin “The Wizard” Johnson and Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch.

BedpanA time-honored craft dating back to the mid-1800s, Cigar Box Guitars found great popularity during the Civil War. Using a hollow box as a resonator and a broomstick for a fretboard, these instruments quickly became the staple of jug bands and early blues composers.

These days cigar boxes are not the only items beings used to create these whimsical treasures. Vendors at the festival display musical creations made out of cookie tins, hubcaps, iron skillets, briefcases, and the ever popular bed pan. In addition, there are a few banjos and fiddles thrown into the mix.

Enthusiasts take turns playing a variety of cigar box guitars in a tent on the parking lot, while guitarist and cigar box guitar expert Justin Johnson performs on the main stage. Inside, cigar box luthiers stand in line at the stage with their creations, waiting their turn for Johnson to check out their instrument. Taking a few minutes before he begins to play, Johnson describes the instrument’s construction and features, followed with a short performance on the instrument.

Swamp Witch GuitarSwamp Witch Guitar

A raffle to win a Swamp Witch Guitar will benefit Six String Heroes, whose mission is to provide guitars and guitar lessons for United States veterans who are suffering from PTSD. The guitar was built and donated by “Pick”, a mysterious custom guitar creator who lives and works in Canada.

Festival organizers Gary Herget and Steve Miles created the festival in 2013, along with the owner of Highway 61 Roadhouse, Bill Kunz. In 2014 the St. Louis Cigar Box Guitar Club was formed and holds a regular meetup on the third Saturday of each month at the Roadhouse from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/smilingdogguitars.

5th Annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival
34 South Old Orchard Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119
(314) 968-0061
www.hwy61roadhouse.com

May 24, 2017Bill Kunz, Cigar Box Guitar Festival, Gary Herget, Highway 61 Roadhouse, Justin Johnson, Matt Lesch, Steve Miles, Swamp Witch Guitar

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  • Welcome to the nation JD. Hope you make it to the fest, I know you'll have a great time if you do.

  • cheers JD.

      Here is the  STH  facebook site  https://www.facebook.com/sixstringheroes

    here  is the SWAMP WITCH GUITAR  video .  http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/2017-st-louis-fest-swamp-witch-...

    Gary  Herget has also supplied a hand crafted  case for the guitar , which will also be adorned  with signatures . 

    more info

    Time: June 3, 2017 from 12pm to 6pm
    Location: Hwy61roadhouse & Kitchen
    Street: 34 S Old Orchard Ave.
    City/Town: St. Louis, MO 63119
    Website or Map: http://hwy61roadhouse.com
    Phone: (314) 968-0061
    Event Type: rootinstrumentsandmusic
    Organized By: smilingdog1 - AKA Steven Miles, Gary Herget and Bull Kunz

  • Just joined CBG Nation Last week. As a Vet. suffering from PTSD and a former first responder Thank you for your support. I think that is great program. Look forward to finding out more about Six String Heroes. Started on my first build and looking forward to festival this weekend I will definitely be there.  

  • Break a leg guys  , I'm excited for ya  .  great to see this in the St Louis news article . ;-)

    GOOD LUCK TO THE TICKET BUYERS . It will  be an honor  to whoever  wins it to have  the signatures  of war vets and service members first responders etc . all over  this very special swamp witch guitar .  I wish i could buy a ticket myself  ;-)

     

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