Eric Johnson is among the stars of the summer music season.

Another world-class guitarist arrives in Sardinia for the Cagliari summer music festival.

The announcement was made by Nicola Spiga, artistic director of Forma e Poesia nel jazz, who, after the great success of Tommy Emmanuel, continues in the footsteps of the six-string masters.

On July 11th, Eric Johnson, the Texan ace of the six strings and one of the most extraordinary rock instrumentalists of the last forty years, will appear on the stage of the Arena in Fiera in Cagliari for a concert that promises to be one of the highlights of the next Sardinian music summer.

Born in 1954, Eric Johnson's talent, already recognized in the early 1980s by illustrious colleagues who compared him to Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix, emerged in all its completeness with his debut album, "Tones", in 1986, hailed as a "majestic debut" by Guitar Player magazine, which dedicated the cover to him, and rewarded him with a Grammy Award nomination for the song "Zap".

The consecration came four years later with the following "Ah Via Musicom", a platinum album which contained "Cliffs of Dover", the song with which the Austin guitarist won the Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

To date, he has released seventeen albums under his own name, in addition to those with other artists, such as "Eclectic" with Mike Stern, and the second platinum "G3 Live" with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

An extraordinarily gifted guitarist, pianist, and prolific singer-songwriter, Eric Johnson has been celebrated by critics and magazines, such as Rolling Stone, which included him in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of the 21st century.

Combining technique, lyricism, and a unique sonic palette, he has received eight Grammy nominations and collected awards and wins in various polls and magazines.

Among his many accolades are lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats, Musician magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century" list, and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Hall of Fame.

Opening the event will be another exceptional virtuoso who has been gaining the favor of the most prestigious international audiences for several years, Sicilian guitarist Matteo Mancuso in a trio with Riccardo Oliva on bass and Gianluca Pellerito on drums.

It will therefore be a night dedicated to the guitar in all its nuances, ideally bringing together two generations of great performers.

Born in 1996 and raised in the province of Palermo, Matteo Mancuso approached music as a child under the guidance of his father Vincenzo.

After studying classical music at high school and graduating in jazz guitar from the Palermo Conservatory, he made his name at a very young age with the trio SNIPS, winning over social media audiences with a version of "The Chicken" that racked up millions of views.

In 2019 he began his collaboration with Yamaha Guitars, participating in the NAMM in Los Angeles, the Young Guitar Festival in Bangkok and some masterclasses in Russia.

The following year he founded the trio with Stefano India on bass and Giuseppe Bruno on drums and began to give space to his composing vein by presenting his first original songs: from here began the first intense live activity in Italy and Europe, which will develop in 2021 and 2022.

With the new lineup, with which he will be the protagonist in the capital, in 2023 he released his first album under his own name, "The Journey", followed by an intense live activity between Europe and the United States.

This year's "Route 96" is available in Italy since February 20th. It features artists such as Steve Vai, Antoine Boyer, and Valeriy Stepanov, and confirms Matteo Mancuso's signature style: impressive technique, melodic flair, and expressive freedom spanning jazz, fusion, and beyond.

An unmissable and eagerly awaited concert for all guitar lovers.

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