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Luther Dickinson, Taj Mahal, Calexico, Black Dub, Marc Ribot Confirmed for Ellnora

Black Crowes/North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson will serve as the official artist-in-residence at this year’s Ellnora. The marquee guitar festival will take place at Urbana, IL’s Krannert Center from September 8-10. Other acts scheduled to appear include: Calexico, My Brightest Diamond, Richard Thompson, Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub, Marc Ribot, Sharon Isbin, Taj Mahal, the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Adrian Belew, among many others.

Held biennially, Ellnora—The Guitar Festival was launched in 2005 as the Wall to Wall Guitar Festival. The festival’s diverse lineups over the years have included such noted acts as Buddy Guy, Ani DiFranco, Jerry Douglas, Pepe Romero, John McLaughlin, Vernon Reid, Derek Trucks, Kaki King, Andy Summers, The National, Los Lobos and the North Mississippi Allstars.

Dickinson’s varied offerings at this year’s Ellnora will include a reading his late father Jim Dickinson’s soon-to-be-published memoirs, collaborations with both his South Memphis String Band cohort Alvin Youngblood Hart and his Word bandmate Robert Randolph and a slew of additional sit ins and special programs.

“Luther Dickinson is a festival alum,” David Spelman, the festival’s artistic adviser, said in a statement. “His electrifying 2007 performance with the North Mississippi Allstars included a surprise appearance by Jake Cinninger of Umphrey’s McGee and is one of those moments people are still talking about. As we began thinking about an artist-in-residence position, Luther was a natural choice. We’re over the moon that he accepted our invitation.”

Additional acts and more detailed festival information are scheduled for release on June 15, 2011. Please visit EllnoraGuitarFestival.com for more information.

Please click here for an audio taste of Luther Dickinson’s guitar work.