Epiphone and Marcus King Revive the El Dorado Acoustic, Chris Daughtry 20 Years Unplugged, Bryan Adams Bare Bones Acoustic Residency, Tim McGraw Pawn Shop Guitar, Molly Tuttle
Verve and Universal Music Group 2026 Acoustic Sounds, Newport Folk Festival has come to a close for another year, The Wild Festival in Sussex, Local Shows
Marcus King Just Reclaimed His First Guitar And It Only Gets Better From Here For Acoustic Music
Marcus King’s first guitar, a gift from his father, has been reborn as a collectible piece. Here’s what you should know about Epiphone’s new Marcus King El Dorado and an equally impressive week for acoustic music:
Epiphone has announced the Marcus King El Dorado, a limited edition signature acoustic that pays tribute to one of the brands earliest electric guitars and the deep connection it has to Marcus King himself. King has spoken publicly about the influence the guitar had on him as a young musician and the connection to his El Dorado record, which was named after the guitar and released earlier this year. This new signature model, however, isn’t just a cash grab at King’s fame or an attempt to rehash the past. It’s a genuine love letter to the guitar itself: a square shouldered dreadnought with an all-solid rosewood back, sides and spruce top. Inside you’ll find a mahogany neck with a comfortable modern C shape, a 1970s Japanese headstock style and a compensated bone saddle. The blackpins and custom inlay work on the headstock include an outline of South Carolina and a tri-star graphic representing Tennessee, King’s home state and where the guitar was made. Even the pickguard on this Marcus King El Dorado has been recreated to look like his original vintage guitar. Plug it in and you can hear the L.R. Baggs Element Bronze pickup that has been expertly incorporated into the design, a great feature for gigging musicians who need to get their sound on stage quickly and efficiently. It’s all a great look and feel that represents King’s deep connection to this guitar and the legacy of the El Dorado record.
Check out more photos of the new Epiphone Marcus King El Dorado:
Which makes sense, actually, because King and his band just released Darling Blue slash No Room For Blue, the second half of the record store day exclusive project that has since been released across all platforms, and are currently on their way to a massive October tour with Mumford and Sons. It’s a fitting statement for a musician who has spent a good part of the year looking back at one of his most influential records and working on acoustic music for a large part of the last year, not to mention the tour that includes both his own show and the Mumford and Sons tour. It’s the sort of of full circle moment that acoustic music fans all over the world are sure to appreciate.
Catch Marcus King and his band on tour in the following cities:
Aug 20: Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena (with Zach Top)
Aug 21: Allentown, PA – PPL Center (with Zach Top)
Aug 22: Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater (with Zach Top)
Aug 26: East Hampton, NY – The Clubhouse Hamptons
Aug 28: Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
Sep 11: Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Sep 12: New York, NY – Summerstage in Central Park
Sep 13: Ithaca, NY – State Theatre of Ithaca
Sep 15: Burlington, VT – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Sep 18-20: Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues and Brews Festival
Sep 20: Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena (with Mumford & Sons)
Sep 22: Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater (with Mumford & Sons)
Sep 23: Madison, WI – Kohl Center (with Mumford & Sons)
Sep 29: Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater (with Mumford & Sons)
Oct 1: The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (with Mumford & Sons)
Oct 2: Bossier City, LA – Margaritaville Resort Casino
The good news is King is far from the only act to release a new acoustic related record or tour announcement this week. Chris Daughtry has announced a 20 Years Unplugged fall tour that looks to take his band’s early post-grunge catalog and rework it into an acoustic set while celebrating two decades of music making. It’s a tricky way to look back at your catalog but one that I think will be sure to impress given the strength of Daughtry’s material. Details on the tour, including specific song titles and set ideas, can be found at the link below along with our thoughts on the show.
Bryan Adams has also announced a new leg of his Bare Bones Acoustic Residency at the Wynn Encore Theatre in Las Vegas beginning October 28 with five dates through November 1. A residency format allows for a deeper connection to fans in ways a standard arena tour simply can’t, not to mention the ability to provide the same show, in the same venue, for fans night after night. It’s the sort of approach that makes perfect sense for a rock icon looking to reconnect with fans and offer a stripped down performance that few can experience outside of in-person. It’s also a great way to see the city of Las Vegas in a way most people don’t typically see it.
Tim McGraw has a busy summer planned out with his Pawn Shop Guitar stadium tour, with dates across the country and the new title track already out and available for fans to enjoy. A return to the road in general, particularly the long road trips between shows, is nothing new to McGraw who has had quite a long and storied career that has included tours that have stretched far and wide. The new single, however, is a nice touch that has helped highlight the more acoustic side of the musician while giving fans a different look at his work. Presale information for the tour, as well as more details about the route, can be found at the links below for any fan looking to see a show. Another story about the summer tour can be found at the link below that gives more background on the tour.
Perhaps no other artist has more going on than International Guitar Night with the latest 27th anniversary tour announcement, including a North American leg that sees the world tour featuring a stellar lineup of acoustic talent. Alexandr Misko takes the stage from Russia in a modern fingerstyle set while Taimane brings a new look at the ukulele from Hawaii. Thu Le and Lucas Imbiriba join in with their classical and flamenco roots from Vietnam and Brazil respectively. It’s a tour that spotlights the guitar as a universal instrument, played in unique ways all over the world. A full set of dates for the North American leg can be found at the link below, along with additional information on the 2026 tour in general. The article linked below has additional information on the North American and international tour, including the diverse set of performers that make up International Guitar Night.
When it comes to recordings, Molly Tuttle has had a busy year, releasing her Grammy winning bluegrass set and announcing a new acoustic EP to release September 4 on Nonesuch Records. So Long Little Miss Sunshine follows directly after her announcement for the IBMA Guitar Player of the Year and seems almost timed to the week of the announcement. That’s not uncommon when it comes to Tuttle, however, who has had a long and storied career that has seen her recognized and celebrated by many of the genre’s most enduring institutions. Details on the release, as well as the announcement itself, can be found at the link below.
When it comes to more independent releases, Ben Gallaher has announced the release of his new acoustic project, Taylor Gold, this week on August 7 with a seven song recording of his sophomore record, recorded completely on his Taylor 514. It’s a release that seems to embrace the straightforwardness of the project, using the guitar on which it was recorded as the namesake for the recording itself. Full information on the release can be found at the link below, including additional information on the recording process itself that might be of interest to other musicians.
For those looking for something a bit more classic, Verve and Universal Music Group have announced a 2026 Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue campaign, including a number of titles pressed from the original master recordings. These include classic works from John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald and Stan Getz among other notable names. Acoustic music, recorded well, has a certain appeal that transcends time. Some of it can even stand the test of time multiple times over, finding new audiences with each new pressing. A full list of the titles announced can be found at the link below.
Over in Rhode Island, Newport Folk Festival has come to a close for another year with a variety of highlights that are sure to intrigue folk music fans. From Father John Misty, who was able to sneak in as a last minute performer and debut a few choice tracks from his new acoustic material, to rising star CMAT who delivered a powerful and engaging performance, there’s something for everyone. The weekend also saw an impromptu appearance from folk legend Joan Baez, who joined the other performers on stage at the end of the weekend for a surprise finale that brought the entire weekend to a spectacular close. Rolling Stone has more information on the weekend in general while the link below has local color on the festival from a nearby publication that was also in attendance.
Meanwhile over in England, Into The Wild Festival in Sussex is celebrating its 12th anniversary with an appearance by a number of European acoustic, folk and ambient artists at a unique festival that takes place in the English countryside. The link below has more information on the event and the wide variety of performers that have drawn to this festival that has carved out a unique niche for itself among England’s music festival scene.
Back home here in New Jersey, our August highlights start with an incredible Wine and Live Music with Acoustic Soul at Summit City Farms in Glassboro this Friday, August 7 at 7 PM. There’s something special about a winery that offers music as well as wine for the enjoyment of its patrons. In the Pilesgrove area, the Woodstown Rotary Club has a summer concert series that continues its 2026 season at Marlton Recreation Park on Thursday, August 13 at 6:30 PM with a family friendly, acoustic set. Details on the full concert series can be found at the link below for anyone planning to attend.
In the Shamong area, the Steve Dee Band has a special solo acoustic performance scheduled at the Pic-A-Lilli Inn on Saturday, August 22 at 6 PM. Details on the show can be found at the link below, but make sure to arrive early if you plan on a meal as well. Also in the lower Shore, Cape May’s Slack Tide Brewing Company has singer songwriter Nicki Sbaffoni scheduled for Sunday, August 9 at 3 PM, performing an interactive, request based acoustic set.
Listening room venues continue to provide a number of excellent opportunities to hear acoustic music as well. The Folk Project’s Troubadour series in Morristown has a double billing on Friday, August 7 at 7:30 PM with Carolann Solebello and Kyle Morgan, two folk inspired singer songwriters. They follow up with a similar themed show next Friday, August 14 featuring the acousti-jam country and bluegrass of Ryan Shupe and The RubberBand. The rubberband, in particular, has built a reputation as a bluegrass band that has taken rock and roll and made it their own and provided some of the best bluegrass rock around. Another show not to be missed is guitarist Tal Naccarato’s unplugged solo set at the Springfield Free Public Library on Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 PM. Some of the best listening room shows in the state take place in locations that don’t even sell tickets.
The music continues on the Jersey Shore with the Danksters, usually a high energy reggae band, playing an Acoustic Show at Ship Bottom Brewery on Long Beach Island this Friday, August 14 at 5 PM. It’s always a treat to see a band that typically plays at a higher volume turn things down and explore a more acoustic based set. Shore Bet Duo has one of the busiest schedules in this list, playing at the Brielle House Bar and Grill this Sunday, August 9 before heading up to the Mantoloking Road Alehouse in Brick on Saturday, August 29.
This trend toward acoustic music shows in New Jersey isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon, and we’ll report on it all tomorrow on the radio. Tomorrow we’ll talk about the Marcus King guitar, the national touring prospects and some of the excellent acoustic shows taking place right here in New Jersey this month
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