The bi-annual festival honors Davey Williams (1952–2019), one of the South’s most original and influential experimental guitarists—a fearless improviser, surrealist thinker, writer, and co-founder of The Improviser music journal. Rooted in blues tradition yet endlessly exploratory, he performed more than 1,500 concerts worldwide and collaborated across genres from free improvisation to rock and avant-garde jazz. Known for his wit, intellect, and boundary-pushing spirit, Davey connected extended guitar technique, Southern musical heritage, and spontaneous composition in ways that continue to inspire artists around the world.

The festival honors Davey’s legacy with a two-night celebration of creative guitar. Featuring an expansive lineup of improvisers and collaborators from across the country, the festival invites audiences into the process through interactive performances, round-robin sets, hands-on instruments, film, and community gathering—keeping Davey’s adventurous, joyful spirit of musical discovery alive.