Florida Cigar Box Guitar Festival at Summer Crush

Summer Crush Winery, widely known for its unique venue and diverse music scene, is proud to announce the 3rd Annual FLORIDA CIGAR BOX GUITAR FESTIVAL.

The day will include two of the nation’s premier Cigar Box Guitar acts; Ben Prestage, and the Steve Arvey band, PLUS special guests and a one-time event: The areas hottest string band, UPROOT HOOTENANNY, playing all Cigar Box instruments for the very first time! You won’t see that again anytime soon! The day also includes several Cigar Box instrument vendors and a free musicians workshop with Steve Arvey!

So what is a Cigar Box Guitar? Simply put Cigar Box instruments are literally made with old cigar boxes, but it goes deeper than that. The first trace of such instruments dates back to 1840-1860 when cigar manufacturers started using smaller boxes to ship about 20-50 cigars instead of the previous larger crates that shipped hundreds. In addition to guitars, cigar boxes were turned into all varieties of stringed instruments including fiddles, mandolins, basses (and their cousin the Diddly Bow), by handy folks who most often could not afford a manufactured instrument. The cigar box guitar was integral in the rise of jug band music and even more importantly - the blues. The great depression saw a resurgence in the home building of these instruments, especially in the rural south, followed by a waning with the introduction of cheaper mass-produced instruments. Today it’s not just cigar boxes that are used to make the instruments, builders often use ammo boxes, shipping boxes, old bedpans, hub caps, and anything else that works.

Recently, however, there has been a revival of interest in Cigar Box instruments, called the Great Guitar Box Revolution. It has resulted in a growing number of talented musicians, especially those wanting to play the Delta Blues in its purest form, as well as home builders, and primitive luthiers.

Cigar Box Festivals have become popular nationwide, with some of the biggest in the Ozarks, Huntsville, Ala., York, Pa., and Clarkdale, Miss. Now Summer Crush is proud to be added to that map with the Florida Cigar Box Festival right here on the Treasure Coast.

The day’s lineup includes the manager of the American Cigar Box Association, Steve Arvey, with his Steve Arvey Band, from Bradenton Fla. Steve is an accomplished blues musician, even having played the Crossroads Stage in Chicago and backing several Blues greats. He is also the director of the Florida Blues Festival in Bradenton. Steve will be leading a free afternoon workshop for those who wish to attend. There will be Cigar Box instrument vendors on hand too, so you can purchase one and get a lesson from one of the greats! www.stevearvey.com

Also on stage will be Florida legend, Ben Prestage. Ben, who was taught the blues by his grandfather, a Mississippi sharecropper, grew up in rural Florida and picked up the appreciation for the banjo from a winemaking and bluegrass playing neighbor. Ben moved to Memphis as a busker (street performer) with these skills in his bag. Influenced by other buskers, Ben soon added drums and the diddley-bow to get the attention of the tippers. Ben’s unique style and seemingly impossible talent has earned him three consecutive years of top 4 finishes in the International Blues Challenge, as well as, being the only two time champion of the Lyon/Pitchford Award for “Best Diddley-Bow Player,” and being, "The Most Unique Performer" at "The Songwriters' Showcase of America!” www.benprestagemusic.com

Finally, one-time-only and only at Summer Crush, see hard-touring kickass grass band, UPROOT HOOTENANNY, as special guests playing all Cigar Box instrument for the first time ever!. UPROOT HOOTENANNY is an acoustic powerful, energetic, fast-paced crowd favorite wherever they play. This special one-time performance has to be seen and heard to believe. No one knows exactly what will happen when the guys are all on Cigar Box axes, but we do know it will be unforgettable, fast-paced, and a blast! You thought you’ve seen Uproot Hootenanny before, but none of us has ever seen this!

Steve Arvey kicks the day off at 11 am. The artists rotate performing throughout the day until 5 pm. (11-12 and 4-5 pm: Steve Arvey Band. 12-1 and 2-3 pm: Ben Prestage. 1-2 and 3-4: Uproot Hootenanny). Steve Arvey leads the workshop at 2:30-3:30 pm. For great food, Creative Chef will be serving their delicious favorites. Food is not included in the ticket price. Summer Crush will have its popular beverages; Handcrafted Florida wines, wine slushees, sangria, and wine-based cocktails (like Margarita, Rum Punch, Bloody Mary, Sea Breeze & more) and more than 30 local microbrew and select beers and ciders.

As with all our events: No off-premise coolers, food, or beverages of any kind, including water is allowed. We will have everything you need, including free ice and water. Also, No Tailgating policy is strictly enforced.

There are several other fun things to do besides listening to great music all day, like a wine tastings in the winery tasting room and browsing the unique gift shop, and games like; 9 hole disc golf course through the vineyard, giant lawn checkers, giant 4 in a row, lawn shuffleboard, giant Jenga, several corn hole games, hula hoops and more.

Tickets: $10