Bill Murray sings 'Crossroads' with Clapton as the festival opens in Austin
Night one at the Moody Center moved from Clapton and Sonny Landreth through Joe Bonamassa, John McLaughlin and Julian Lage to a closing jam with Tedeschi Trucks Band and John Mayer.
Sep 28, 2026
Credit: Crossroads Guitar Festival (via source)
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival opened its seventh edition on Saturday, September 26, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, with actor and musician Bill Murray singing his own version of "Crossroads" before Clapton joined him on guitar and backing vocals. From there the night moved through a genre-spanning run of pairings: Sonny Landreth with Clapton, Joe Bonamassa with Eric Gales and Marcus King, Julian Lage with Trey Anastasio, John McLaughlin backed by Nathan East, Noah East and Sonny Emory, and a set from Dirk and Amelia Powell.
The night closed with Tedeschi Trucks Band bringing out John Mayer, Clapton and Anastasio for a group jam — the kind of unscripted combination that's made Crossroads more than a package tour since Clapton first staged it in 2004. The festival, held in aid of the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, continued with a second night on September 27 featuring Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, Sierra Hull and Tommy Emmanuel among others.
Credit: The Next Crossroads Guitar Festival (via source)
Why it matters
The real onstage pairings, not just the announced lineup, show how a single guitar festival can connect blues, jazz, bluegrass and rock scenes normally covered separately.
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