Acoustic Guitar Village

Dear friends

we are still working on the final closing details of the event, with the awareness and joy of the success of Cremona Musica International Exhibitions and Festival: the data on admissions and attendance are being processed, but from the first findings there is talk of a growth in 20-30%!!
This is truly a strong increase compared to the 2023 edition!
Cremona Musica confirms itself once again as the most important event dedicated to quality music and musical instruments in Italy and leader in Europe.

The Acoustic Guitar Village is the most vital salon and undisputed protagonist of all the events on the live stages, within the daily fair area and in the afternoon and evening events in the historic center of Cremona.
The expansion of the guitar offer, with the presentation of the Electric Sound Vintage area, has undoubtedly brought even more vitality and presence of enthusiasts of six strings and vintage instruments.
It was extraordinary to be able to visit and experience the history of the guitar in an entire pavilion, from classical to modern acoustic, to vintage, to high-end electric lutherie.
Historical exhibitions of ancient instruments and vintage memorabilia of modern rock integrated perfectly, once again electing Cremona as a permanent research laboratory in the construction and presentation of high-end stringed instruments, from Stradivari to today with projection into the future.
Many models and innovations presented by the various manufacturing and distribution companies, as well as many instruments exhibited by master luthiers, present both in the Luthiers’ Row and in the special room dedicated to classical luthiers belonging to the Italian Lutherie Association. In the next edition we will always pay attention to the stations dedicated to them.

Equally successful was the presentation of other plectrum and plucked string instruments, with the mandolin the absolute protagonist, both in the exhibition area and on the stages, and the presence of many Italian and foreign plectrum orchestras and ensembles. Cremona Mandolini in Mostra grows year after year thanks to the constant work of maestro Carlo Aonzo.

16 participants in the Lutherie Masterclass, masterfully conducted by American luthiers Jason Kostal and Michael Bashkin who addressed interesting and complex insights into the construction of the acoustic guitar; 10 participants in the Mandolin Masterclass conducted by maestro Carlo Aonzo and 13 participants in the banjo workshop conducted by the virtuoso Jens Kruger confirm the Acoustic Guitar Village as an important training laboratory, for a growth of knowledge at the service of construction and performance techniques, but also for better preparation when purchasing an instrument.

The exhibition area of the stands, with the various companies present and the return of very important brands, and the Luthiers’ Row, with many beautiful instruments on display including guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, charanghi, etc., were vital and full of presentations and meetings. The satisfaction of the exhibitors was palpable, with many musicians trying out and commenting on the new creations.
Even the room dedicated to the classical luthiers of the Italian Lutherie Association it was very lively and popular, with evident satisfaction from the luthiers and the public present.

During the three days we remember an infinite series of events, with more than 300 printed musician badges: 4 non-stop live stages which saw the 2024 edition of the New Sounds of Acoustic Music competition for emerging artists, the 11th edition of the Italian Bluegrass Meeting ( 18 bands for 70 musicians), the demos and performances of the Open Stage and the increasingly extraordinary review of ensembles and mandolin orchestras of the Classic Stage and individual exponents of classical guitar.

Many thanks to those who brought their contribution and commitment: exhibitors, collaborators, teachers, musicians, communication partners, technical partners and the public; it was an edition of great growth, which rewarded the efforts in the presentation and elegance of the areas as well as the leap in quality in the communication and promotion of the event.
Thanks to the Management and Staff of the Cremona Fair for the great work in organizing and setting up the areas, to Carlo Aonzo and Giulia Alliri for the commitment and success of Cremona Mandolini in Mostra, to Danilo Cartia for the coordination of the 11th Italian Bluegrass Meeting , to Leo Petrucci, Martina Gozzini and Lorenzo Frignani for the exhibitions of historical instruments, to Massimo Ottini for Cremona Musica Downtown Giovani, to Achille Zoni for “Charango Presente” and to the Staff of our Association, including “heroic” sound engineers, for the organization and excellent coordination of the entire AGV.
A special mention and thanks to our technical partners of the highest level: Exhibo spa for the presence of Neumann microphones on all live stages and for the Special Night at the Auditorium of the Violin Museum for which they were impeccable partners; the Acus-sound Engineering audio systems and amplifiers, always present and perfect on the stages, and the technical accessories supplied by Teknosign, high-level professional audio equipment.

We are ready to increase our commitment and that of the Management of the Cremona Fair for another successful edition in September 2025.

We conclude with the memory of the two unforgettable evenings and the afternoon for young people in the historic center of Cremona: the Special Night in the Auditorium of the Violin Museum on Friday evening, with the performances of the trio The Kruger Brothers, of Cristiano Lui’s accordion with the voice by Annalisa Biancofiore and the Duo De Bonis who thrilled the entire audience of the Auditorium, a unique location in the world!
And then Cremona Musica Downtown on Saturday evening in the Cortile Federico II in Piazza Duomo, where we admired Carlo Aonzo’s mandolin duetting with Luca Zanetti’s accordion, the performance of the great Preston Reed, and again the Kruger Brothers offering their virtuoso program of bluegrass music and otherwise.
The event for young musicians from Cremona and beyond, which took place in Piazzetta Coppetti, Cremona Musica Downtown Giovani, was very popular and continues to grow. It is an event that will have more and more of our attention, to bring together and bring out young acoustic guitar performers and acoustic bands, placing them in an international context like Cremona Musica.

At this point, thanking once again all the actors of the Acoustic Guitar Village 2024 in Cremona Musica, let’s meet at the next edition in September 2025, see you soon!

www.facebook.com/acousticguitarvillagecremona and https://www.instagram.com/acousticguitarvillage_cremona/

For further information you can contact us on +39 0187-626993 and write to info@armadilloclub.org

Best wishes,

Staff at Armadillo Club APS Cultural Association – Sarzana Italy