It’s been 25 years since Eric Clapton run curated his first “Crossroads” festival, and there were fine performers he chose for this celebration of blues over the years, yet the two-day event of 2023 seemed to be the most impressive in terms of featured artists. Some of those, like Joe Bonamassa, appeared there previously and don’t surprise anyone; others, like Samantha Fish, are new to the line-up; but while various combinations of musicians are invariably interesting, a few of those pairings are truly special. And all of it is to be released on November 29th as a four-CD and two-Blu-ray box set.
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2023
Among those who graced the stage of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on September 23rd and 24th of last year were SANTANA and John McLaughlin who paired up for a stunning take of John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” that marked the 50th anniversary of their “Love Devotion Surrender” album, Stevie Wonder who joined Clapton on “Crossroads” for the first time ever, and Roger McGuinn who delivered several gems from THE BYRDS repertoire. The presence of these alone would feel enough to make the forthcoming offering arresting – still, there are much more interesting performances on there.
CD 1 – September 23rd, 2023:
1. Groovy Goddess – Sonny Landreth
2. Every Night Is Saturday Night – James Bullard
3. Give Your Love To Someone – Else Judith Hill (with Eric Gales)
4. Habits – Gary Clark Jr.
5. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning –
THE DEL MCCOURY BAND, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas & Bradley Walker
6. Walk On Boy – Sierra Hull
7. Today I Started Loving You Again – Bradley Walker
8. Always On My Mind – Bradley Walker & Eric Clapton
9. Fall Like Rain – THE DEL MCCOURY BAND (with Eric Clapton)
10. Smokestack Lightning – Eric Gales, Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
11. Layla – Eric Gales, Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
12. Put That Back – Eric Gales, Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
13. Going Down – Eric Gales, Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
CD 2 – September 23rd, 2023:
1. Sideways – Citizen Cope
2. I Put A Spell On You – Samantha Fish (with Eric Gales & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram)
3. Breaking Up Somebody’s Home – Joe Bonamassa
4. Ain’t Nobody’s Business But My Own – Taj Mahal
5. Early In The Morning – Taj Mahal
6. Texas Flood – Jimmie Vaughan (with Gary Clark Jr.)
7. Sweet Home Chicago – Jimmie Vaughan
8. Redemption Day – Sheryl Crow
9. The Waiting – THE WALLFLOWERS
10. Turn! Turn! Turn! – Roger McGuinn(with THE WALLFLOWERS)
11. Eight Miles High – Roger McGuinn (with Eric Clapton & THE WALLFLOWERS)
12. Bluebird – Stephen Stills (with Eric Clapton & THE WALLFLOWERS)
13. Gimme All Your Lovin’ – ZZ TOP
CD 3 – September 24th, 2023:
1. Medley: Fur Elise / Foxy Lady – Robert Randolph (with Eric Gales & Joe Bonamassa)
2. Son’s Gonna Rise – Citizen Cope (with Robert Randolph)
3. Kokopelli – Kurt Rosenwinkel
4. If The River Was Whiskey (Divin’ Duck Blues) – Keb’ Mo’ (with Taj Mahal)
5. Memories Of Mother And Dad – Molly Tuttle & Sierra Hull
6. Intro – Marcus King
7. It’s Too Late – Marcus King
8. Honky Tonk Hell – Marcus King
9. Landslide – Marcus King (with LITTLE BIRD)
10. Rice Pudding – Marcus King
11. Valentina – Daniel Santiago & Pedro Martins
12. How Could We Know – Daniel Santiago & Pedro Martins (with Judith Hill)
13. Carried Away – H.E.R.
14. Best Part – H.E.R.
15. Hold On – H.E.R.
16. Are You Gonna Go My Way – H.E.R.
17. Salt Creek – Molly Tuttle & Sierra Hull
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2023
CD 4 – September 24th, 2023:
1. The Healing – Gary Clark Jr.
2. Our Love – Gary Clark Jr.
3. Don’t Worry Baby – LOS LOBOS
4. The Storm – Eric Gales
5. My Favorite Mistake – Sheryl Crow (with John Mayer)
6. The Last of Us – Gustavo Santaolalla
7. Jingo – SANTANA
8. A Love Supreme – SANTANA (with John McLaughlin)
9. It Makes No Difference – Eric Clapton
10. I Shot The Sheriff – Eric Clapton
11. Crossroads – Eric Clapton (with Stevie Wonder)
Blu-ray 1 – September 23rd, 2023:
1. Intro – Bill Murray
2. Groovy Goddess – Sonny Landreth
3. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning –
THE DEL MCCOURY BAND, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas & Bradley Walker
4. Walk On Boy – Sierra Hull
5. Today I Started Loving You Again – Bradley Walker
6. Always On My Mind – Bradley Walker & Eric Clapton
7. Fall Like Rain – THE DEL MCCOURY BAND (with Eric Clapton)
8. Every Night Is Saturday Night – James Bullard
9. Give Your Love To Someone Else – Judith Hill (with Eric Gales)
10. Redemption Day – Sheryl Crow
11. Smokestack Lightning – Eric Gales, Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
12. Layla – Eric Gales, Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
13. Put That Back – Eric Gales, Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
14. Going Down – Eric Gales, Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
15. Habits – Gary Clark Jr.
16. Breaking Up Somebody’s Home – Joe Bonamassa
17. Early In The Morning – Taj Mahal
18. Texas Flood – Jimmie Vaughan (with Gary Clark Jr.)
19. Sweet Home Chicago – Jimmie Vaughan
20. The Waiting – THE WALLFLOWERS
21. Turn! Turn! Turn! – Roger McGuinn (with THE WALLFLOWERS)
22. Eight Miles High – Roger McGuinn (with Eric Clapton & THE WALLFLOWERS)
23. Bluebird – Stephen Stills (with Eric Clapton & THE WALLFLOWERS)
24. Gimme All Your Lovin’ – ZZ TOP
Blu-ray 2 – September 24th, 2023:
1. Intro – Bill Murray
2. I’m So Glad – Bill Murray (with Eric Clapton)
3. Medley: Fur Elise / Foxy Lady – Robert Randolph (with Eric Gales & Joe Bonamassa)
4. Kokopelli – Kurt Rosenwinkel
5. If The River Was Whiskey (Divin’ Duck Blues) – Keb’ Mo’ (with Taj Mahal)
6. Intro – Marcus King
7. It’s Too Late – Marcus King
8. Rice Pudding – Marcus King
9. How Could We Know – Daniel Santiago & Pedro Martins (with Judith Hill)
10. My Favorite Mistake – Sheryl Crow (with John Mayer)
11. Son’s Gonna Rise – Citizen Cope (with Robert Randolph)
12. Hold On – H.E.R.
13. Are You Gonna Go My Way – H.E.R.
14. Salt Creek – Molly Tuttle & Sierra Hull
15. Don’t Worry Baby – LOS LOBOS
16. The Healing – Gary Clark Jr.
17. Our Love – Gary Clark Jr.
18. The Last of Us – Gustavo Santaolalla
19. Jingo – SANTANA
20. A Love Supreme – SANTANA (with John McLaughlin)
21. It Makes No Difference – Eric Clapton
22. I Shot the Sheriff – Eric Clapton
23. Crossroads – Eric Clapton (with Stevie Wonder)
