The Cigar Box Guitar Festival in Huntsville, Alabama, celebrated its 22nd year with a grand finale at The Orion Amphitheater, honoring the legacy of local blues icon Microwave Dave. This festival, known as the world’s longest-running event of its kind, brought together music enthusiasts and the community for a weekend of creativity and family-friendly activities.
A Community Celebration
The festival kicked off with workshops and performances at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, before moving to The Orion for a memorable conclusion. Attendees enjoyed a Vintage & Vinyl Market, featuring over 40 vendors offering rare vinyl records, handmade goods, and local art. Families participated in hands-on activities, allowing children to build and recycle their own instruments, fostering a love for music from a young age.
Supporting Local Music Education
Organized by Jeff and Tara Mello, owners of the Cigar Box Guitar Store, the festival is a labor of love aimed at supporting the Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation. All proceeds from the event go towards the “Concerts in the Classroom” program, which integrates music into local schools’ curricula, enhancing students’ learning experiences through science, history, and reading.
Honoring Microwave Dave
This year’s festival held special significance as it paid tribute to Microwave Dave, who passed away in February. Known for his contributions to the local music scene, Dave’s legacy was celebrated through a silent auction of artist-decorated cigar box guitars, with proceeds benefiting Huntsville Hospital’s music therapy program.
An Exclusive Finale
The festival concluded with an intimate benefit concert on The Orion’s main stage, featuring Grammy-winning musician Gary Nichols and the renowned FAME Gang of Muscle Shoals. With a limited audience of 300, the concert aimed to raise funds for the Microwave Dave charity fund, continuing his mission of bringing music to children and schools.
As the festival wrapped up, attendees were reminded of the power of music to unite communities and inspire future generations, honoring both tradition and innovation in Huntsville’s vibrant cultural landscape.
Original reporting: Rocket City Now (Huntsville) — read the source article.
