The New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival has some big news this year-- it's now in partnership with Samantha Fish, one of the most prominent cigar box guitar players performing today. The rebranded Samantha Fish Cigar Box Guitar Festival is a cultural and musical celebration of handmade stringed instruments happening January 15-18 at Chickie Wah Wah and the Howlin' Wolf.

The four-day event begins at Chickie Wah Wah with performances from 7-10:30p on that Wednesday and Thursday, and continues on Friday (afternoon/evening) and Saturday at the Howlin' Wolf (2-11p).

The focus of the event is to celebrate the great music and rich cultural history of the cigar box guitar and similar homemade instruments. Historically, Western pioneers, Civil War soldiers, rural farmhands, street singers and other resourceful musicians found ways to build these expressive devices from household items and random hardware. Many musicians throughout the world are currently using them to record and perform live, making the unique instruments and their sound a staple of today’s Americana music scene.

Samantha Fish, of course, headlines on both Friday and Saturday nights. Other performers include April Mae & the June Bugs, John Mooney, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, Joanthon Long, Waylon Thibodeaux, Johnny Sansone, Jimbo Mathus, Sugarcane Jane, John Nickel, Cigar Box Serenaders, Steve Arvey, and Cash O'Riley. Workshops, demonstrations and interviews will comprise the educational component of the event.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the New Orleans Blues Society. Full info available at samanthafishcigarboxguitarfestival.com.