The Adelaide Guitar Festival is turning up the volume for 2025 with the announcement of two standout performances that set the tone for its highly anticipated program: Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti Live in Concert and Consonance: Instrumental Conversations with Guitar.
Marking a world premiere, Physical Graffiti Live in Concert will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s 1975 masterpiece Physical Graffiti. This landmark album will be performed in full, alongside a selection of the band’s greatest hits, in what promises to be an unforgettable, one-night-only event at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday, September 13.
The concert is directed by Warwick Cheatle of the Southern Cross Symphony, who has assembled an all-star lineup of musicians to bring Zeppelin’s ambitious record to life. Adelaide-based talents including guitarist Dusty Lee Stephensen, bassist Kathleen Halloran, keyboardist Paul White, and drummer Danny Leo will handle the instrumentation. Vocals will be delivered by Shaun Holton, Zkye Compson Harris, and Stephensen.
“Physical Graffiti, released 50 years ago, is a masterpiece of critical acclaim,” Cheatle said. “Performing the entire album will be a quest, and an amazing experience for everyone on stage. If you’re a genuine fan of Led Zeppelin, fasten your seatbelts and come on this incredible journey through the band’s ‘multi-faceted diamond,’ where you will hear every song, every line, and every note performed live with elite rock artists and the mighty Southern Cross Symphony.”
The second performance revealed is Consonance: Instrumental Conversations with Guitar, which will take place at Elder Hall on Sunday, September 14. This concert brings together world-class classical performers in a program rich with nuance and history.
Classical guitar virtuoso Aleksandr Tsiboulski will perform alongside violinist Dr Elizabeth Layton, Head of Classical Performance at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. Their program features compositions by Anne Cawrse, inspired by plainchant from the 12th-century composer and philosopher Hildegard of Bingen.
Joining the lineup are Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan and cellist Sharon Grigoryan, performing with the 2025 Adelaide Guitar Festival Orchestra under the baton of Dr Paul Svoboda. This collective includes musicians from the festival’s prestigious Winter School, showcasing emerging talent and seasoned artistry in a single performance.
Festival Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan expressed his excitement about both shows: “In celebration of the album’s 50th anniversary, Adelaide Guitar Festival is thrilled to present Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti Live for one night only at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Featuring some of South Australia’s greatest rock musicians joined on stage by the Southern Cross Symphony, this authentic tribute to one of the best rock albums of all time promises to be an electrifying night not to be missed.
“Exceptional South Australian artists will also feature in Consonance: Instrumental Conversations with Guitar, performing both early and contemporary classical works at Elder Hall. The concert will open with a powerful performance by the Adelaide Guitar Festival Orchestra, including students from our 2025 Winter School. Stay tuned for more exciting program announcements, and I look forward to seeing you at this year’s festival.”
Douglas Gautier AM, CEO & Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival Centre, echoed the enthusiasm: “As Adelaide celebrates its 10th year as a UNESCO City of Music, we are proud to honour the 50th anniversary of Physical Graffiti at the Adelaide Guitar Festival. We also welcome back the much-loved Adelaide Guitar Festival Orchestra, developed through our Winter School, which continues to provide an excellent platform for developing the next generation of guitarists.”
Presented and produced by the Adelaide Festival Centre, and under the artistic leadership of Slava Grigoryan, the 2025 Adelaide Guitar Festival promises a dynamic blend of rock legend tributes and classical refinement. The complete program will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Returning as a key part of the festival, the Guitar Winter School will run from July 7 to 11. This intensive one-week course offers aspiring guitarists the opportunity to study in an intimate, focused environment with some of Australia’s finest guitar players, emphasizing performance skills and technical development.
With these first announcements, the Adelaide Guitar Festival 2025 is shaping up to be a celebration of musical mastery, historical reverence, and creative innovation across genres.
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