London Guitar Festival is one of IGF’s (International Guitar Foundation) 4 or 5 annual festivals held in the UK. IGF is a charitable organisation (non-profit) founded in May 1994.

IGF’s work is defined by the LISTEN.PLAY.CREATE programme which features the guitar as the ideal vehicle for diverse and accessible concert and festival programming (Listen), participatory music making (Play) and an extensive new music commissioning programme (Create).

IGF stages a range of events nationwide including festivals in London, north east (Newcastle & Gateshead) and south west (Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Shrewsbury).

In 42 major festivals since 1994 the festival has featured international artists of the highest quality including: Brian May, Nils Lofgren, Joe Bonamassa, Van Morisson, Jack Bruce, Peter Green (rock & blues), Vicente Amigo, Gerardo Nuñez (Flamenco), José Gonzalez, Newton Faulkner (singer songwriters), Tommy Emmanuel (fingerstyle), Martin Carthy, John Renbourne (folk), Léo Brouwer, David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, the Assads and John Williams (classical).

Two of IGF’s most important objectives are young artist development and the commissioning of new music: 85 new music commissions from mostly mainstream composers including Terry Riley, Sergio Assad, Paolo Bellinati, Philip Cashian, Joe Cutler, Graham Fitkin, Deirdre Gribbin, Gabriel Jackson, Anna Meredith, John Metcalfe, Max Richter, Howard Skempton, Joby Talbot, Kevin Volans and Errollyn Wallen.

IGF has presented 96 world premieres and 135 European and UK premiers of new work.

This year’s London Guitar Festival will feature IGF’s Young Artist Platform, Inspire Platform and London International Guitar Competition 2018. The Final of LIGC will be held on 27 October at Kings Place, a wonderful new concert hall in the centre of London. This concert will also feature Giacomo Susani (LIGC 2016 winner) and Ana Vidovic, one of the world’s foremost guitarists.