Eric Clapton 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival Gets Release
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Gary Clark Jr., Eric Clapton and Jimmie Vaughan at the 2023 Crossroads Festival (Photo by Thomas K. Arnold, used with permission)
Eric Clapton has released a new live album and concert film documenting the 2023 edition of his Crossroads Guitar Festival. The title, available in various configurations, including 4-CD/2-Blu-ray, 6-LP vinyl, 2-DVD (and streaming with Dolby ATMOS mix), arrived on November 29, 2024, via Rhino. The various editions are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Clapton hosted and curated the seventh installment of his festival on September 23 and 24, 2023, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It notably marked the event’s return after a four-year break, selling out on both days. Once again, Clapton carefully assembled a powerhouse cohort of influential guitarists representing various eras and styles. The impressive lineup joining Clapton included Stephen Stills, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Eric Gales, H.E.R., Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Los Lobos, John Mayer, The Marcus King Band, Taj Mahal, Roger McGuinn, John McLaughlin, Santana, The Wallflowers, and many more. Bill Murray served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.
Watch Sierra Hull and Molly Tuttle perform the bluegrass classic “Salt Creek”
The two evenings’ sets rotated between blues staples, American Songbook classics, and generational rock ‘n’ roll anthems including “Layla,” “Eight Miles High,” “The Waiting,” “I Put a Spell On You,” and “I Shot the Sheriff.”
McGuinn was joined by Clapton by Clapton and the Wallflowers to perform a Byrds classic.
Watch Gary Clark Jr.’s performance of “Habits”
Related: Our review of one of the concerts
Watch emcee Bill Murray introduce Clapton, who then performs “It Makes No Difference,” written by Robbie Robertson for The Band
Clapton was joined by none other than Stevie Wonder for “Crossroads.”
Related: Clapton led an all-star tribute to Robertson on October 17, 2024
And here’s Bonamassa, Gales and McLaughlin on an extended workout…
Listen to many more performances below.
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2023 Track Listing
CD 1
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 – Samantha Fish & Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
CD 2
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
Watch a fan video of Stills joining Clapton and the Wallflowers on Buffalo Springfield’s “Bluebird”
CD 3
1. FÜR 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. with John Mayer & Kenny Wilson
16. ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY – H.E.R.
17. SALT CREEK – Molly Tuttle & Sierra Hull
CD 4
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 Santaolallad
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
Watch a fan video of “A Love Supreme”
Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival continues a legacy of its own, beginning with the first iteration in New York in 1999 and carried through Dallas, TX in 2004, Bridgewater, IL in 2007 and 2010, New York in 2013, and Dallas, TX in 2019. As always, all profits benefited The Crossroads Centre Antigua, a treatment and education facility for chemically dependent persons founded by Clapton.
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI saw this in the comments for the Bluebird clip on YT, and while agreeing with the other comments here, I thought it was loving, kind, respectful–and yet very true.
Always remember Stephen at his peak, through Buffalo Springfield and all the incarnations of his brilliance there after. So many masterpieces created with excellence & presented with such expertise. Like everyone who has gone before & those present [and] still to come, let us celebrate the gift they shared with us, when they were unsurpassed. Let us lend them respect for that gift, when time wears down the senses & ravages those talents. We shall all have to lay down our weary tune at some stage and when that time comes, let us reflect on love & appreciation.