January-March 2027

For our 27th annual American tour, International Guitar Night (IGN) founder Brian Gore has assembled another dynamic all-star lineup, featuring ROXANE ELFASCI, one of France’s most celebrated classical guitarists, along with three IGN favorites: Acoustic Rock dynamo LUCA STRICAGNOLI from Italy, mellow Slack Key master JIM KIMO WEST from Hawaii, and the irrepressible Blues slide guitar powerhouse MINNIE MARKS from Australia.

ROXANE ELFASCI

ROXANE ELFASCI is an award-winning French classical guitarist, with a repertoire that ranges from Debussy’s timeless classics to contemporary compositions by Roland Dyens and Philip Glass. She continues the tradition of virtuosic classical players that have graced our IGN lineups.

LUCA STRICAGNOLI

LUCA STRICAGNOLI is well-known to IGN audiences for his amazing arrangements of rock classics on custom designed acoustic guitars. With over 100 million YouTube views, Luca has carved out a unique niche as a dazzling performer who has created new instruments and playing techniques.

JIM KIMO WEST

JIM KIMO WEST leads a double life. In his native Hawaii he is revered for his mastery of Slack Key guitar, and has impressed IGN audiences and concertgoers around the world with his flawless technique and beautiful melodies. In his other life, he is the long-time lead guitar player for Weird Al Yankovich. Go figure.

MINNIE MARKS

MINNIE MARKS was surprised when we first called her in her remote Australian home to join IGN, but once on stage she wowed audiences with her driving blues slide guitar and passionate vocals. Now with worldwide touring under her belt we, and her many American fans, are happy to welcome her back again.

Full Bios

Roxane Elfasci

Roxane Elfasci is a French classical guitarist based in Paris. She completed her musical studies at the Pôle Supérieur de Paris, studying with Jérémy Jouve and Gérard Abiton. Holding degrees in musical performance and musicology, as well as a Diplôme d’État in pedagogy, she now dedicates herself fully to both her artistic career and her students.

In 2020, she signed with the independent label Cosmos Music, and in September 2021, she recorded her debut album, Hommage à Debussy. In October 2022, she released the EP Bach – Organ Sonata No. 4, a duet with Baptiste Erard. The score of her arrangement was published by Éditions Habanera. Her second album, Poésie Française, was released in autumn 2023 and received praise from several outlets, including Radio France, the BBC, and Guitare Classique Magazine. In 2025, she unveiled GLASS GAZE, an ambitious project dedicated to Philip Glass’s piano études, reimagined for two guitars and drums. The album premiered at a sold-out concert at the renowned Café de la Danse in Paris, the day after its release on all major streaming platforms.

Roxane is regularly invited to perform as a soloist or in duo at festivals such as the Arènes Lyriques in Montmartre, Bach à Bacchus in Meursault, Les Musicales de Redon, the Festival de Guitare de Lyon, and the Rencontres de la Guitare d’Uzès. She has appeared on Clément Rochefort’s Génération France Musique and frequently performs live on BBC Radio 3 in London. She is also a prolific guitar transcriber and regularly writes articles for Guitare Classique Magazine. Her YouTube channel, which showcases her work, has attracted over seventy thousand subscribers.

Luca Stricagnoli

Few artists have contributed more to the evolution of the acoustic guitar than Luca Stricagnoli. His vivid re-arrangements of rock songs for fingerstyle guitar have introduced unique new instruments and new playing techniques to audiences around the globe. He has entertained millions of fans, earned praise from the music press, and built a reputation as one of the most unique guitarists in the world.

Luca has nearly a million on-line followers, and his videos have been viewed over 100,000,000 times. He has invented several new kinds of guitars, including the Reversed Triple Neck Guitar, Reversed Slide Neck, and Soprano Guitar. He has appeared on the cover of major guitar magazines and performed in over 20 countries, including two sold-out shows in Tel Aviv in front of 12,000 people. He has performed for Formula 1, Hard Rock Hotel, PUBG Mobile, and many more, in addition to appearing on several television programs. He has been praised by NME, Guitar World, Der Spiegel and La Repubblica, all of whom have been drawn to his unique talent.

Luca was introduced to American audiences in 2017 and 2019 as a member of International Guitar Night, a cross-country tour that brings together four different world-renowned guitarists each year to share their original compositions. Luca received an ecstatic reception and sold more merchandise than anyone in IGN’s 20+ year history.

In Fall 2021, Luca performed his first solo tour in the US, with 20 shows throughout the country that generated ecstatic reviews. He also has tours scheduled in the UK & Ireland, Russia, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, China, and Japan, as well as private events in Mexico, United Arab Emirates and Maldives.

Luca performed with International Guitar Night again in early 2022 and returned in January 2024. He will be returning to IGN for the fifth time in 2027, in addition to his solo touring.

Luca has accomplished an incredible amount in his young career, and he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. He plans to spend the coming years
continuing to grow as an artist and inventor, while using his guitar to spread joy all around the world.

Jim “Kimo” West

Having never even seen Waikiki, Jim “Kimo” West came right to the tiny village of Hana, Maui in 1985 and spent much of his time there for many years. It was in Hana where he first heard the music of Gabby Pahinui, Sons Of Hawaii, Sonny Chillingworth and Atta Isaacs. Already familiar with alternate tunings, the sound of ki ho’alu became rooted deep in his musical landscape. This warm and engaging fingerpicked guitar style has its roots in 1840’s Hawaii, when Mexican vaqueros first brought guitars to the Big Island of Hawaii.

Kimo is regarded as one of the world’s foremost “ki ho’alu” or Hawaiian “slack key” guitar artists and his music has garnered over one hundred million spins on streaming services and even more on Sirius XM. He is a 2021 Grammy® Winner for his recent CD, “More Guitar Stories” and a 2019 Grammy® nominee for “Moku Maluhia-Peaceful Island”. He is also a 2008 winner of the Hawaii Music Awards and six-time Na Hoku Hanohano (the Hawaiian ‘Grammy’) nominee. He is also a two-time winner of the LA Treasures Award for his efforts in keeping this important acoustic guitar tradition alive. He is a veteran of Hawaii’s famed slack key festivals as well as the So Cal Slack Key Festival every year from 2008 through 2024.

He has shared the stage with almost all the world’s top slack key players at one time or another. He has been a featured performer twice on the acclaimed International Guitar Night Tour as well as the European version, Nacht Der Gitarren.

His numerous CDʻs feature many original compositions as well as inventive arrangements of the genreʻs classic repertoire. His “Guitar Stories” series goes beyond slack key, exploring other genres like West African guitar, Middle Eastern Music and Americana.“Slackers In Paradise” features duets with slack and steel guitar legend, Ken Emerson and his latest CD, “Of Wood and Spirit” is an intoxicating blend of Hawaiian slack key and Americana.

Kimo’s music is also included in the world’s most popular relaxation app, Calm.

His work as long-time guitarist with “Weird Al”, has earned five Grammy’s and a Billboard #1 CD debut for 2015’s “Mandatory Fun”.

Kimo has also worked as a composer for film and TV for many years and maintains a sophisticated private studio in Los Angeles. He has composed music for features films, network TV shows and specials and cable shows. His slack key compositions have been used in a number of features, TV spots, cable, web and in many documentaries.

Minnie Marks

Minnie Marks is not just some blazingly electrified guitar playing freak of nature. She is also a rare triple threat: Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Some say a ‘sonic tsunami’. Impossible to ignore.

Relentlessly gigging across the globe, armed with her old Goldtop slung over her shoulder and a revolutionary Foot Drum at her feet; Marks consistently pushes musical boundaries with her ferocious, mind-blowing, dynamic guitar wizardry and her insanely powerful, soul soaked voice, that roars out her truth through song as if her own life depended on it. Minnie doesn’t just ‘play’ the music; She BECOMES the music. And, if that’s not enough, simultaneously, creates bone marrow shaking grooves with her spare limbs on her Foot Drum kit. Finally all three beasts are married together to forge a mammoth sized wall of sound that must be seen to be believed.

In 2025, Marks’ fierce dedication and unmatched live energy were recognised when awarded the ‘Musician of the Year’ at the Sunshine Coast Music Awards — a new milestone in a career already stacked with accolades. From winning the Bluesfest Busking Competition in 2011, being named ‘Best Guitarist’ at Open Arms Festival, to taking out the ‘People’s Choice Award’ at both Blues at Bridgetown Festival and Nannup Music Festival. Marks is cementing her place time and time again as one of the most unstoppable forces in the scene.

With three studio albums under her belt and one live album recorded in Stuttgart, Germany. Marks’ isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Hang onto your hats, because the best is yet to come: Her next album, due for release in 2026, is already being hailed as her most anticipated and game-changing project yet. You’re going to want to clear your schedule when this one lands. It’s not just an album, it’s a musical explosion that will leave you hanging for more.

Here’s what some of the industry’s finest have to say:

“BADASS.” – Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck)

“One of the most amazing shows of our lives!” – Carl Verheyen (Supertramp)

“HOLY MOLY! Minnie you groove so f**kin’ hard” – Joey Landreth (The Bros Landreth)

“Undeniable virtuosity, energy, and a HUGE personality in every performance.” – Joe Robinson

“She plays guitar like nothing I’ve ever seen before. She’s going to blow the world apart.” – Kim Churchill

“PRODIGY.” – Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus)

“One of the finest young guitar players in the country.” – Julz Parker (Hussy Hicks)

“Damn, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a female shred harder in the flesh.” – Dallas Frasca

“Minnie Marks is an extraordinary performer, I have never seen or heard anything quite like her, Minnie plays guitar, sings and stomps like her every breath depends upon it, her passion and wonderful sense of fun is refreshing.” – Michael Barker (John Butler Trio, Split Enz)

After more than a decade on the road, Marks remains a fearless, stage devouring, genre-defying artist who lives to perform. You’ve been warned. This musical juggernaut is ready for any battlefield, be it a festival or bar room packed like a can of sardines. Buckle up. Her monstrous show DOES NOT disappoint.