Eric Clapton has announced the return of the Crossroads Guitar Festival, but this one will be in New York City at Madison Square Garden April 12 and 13, 2013.

The Crossroads Fest is a fund raising event that supports the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a drug treatment facility founded by Clapton. The first festival was in Dallas in 2004, but the next two were in southwest suburban Bidgeview at Toyota Park in 2007 and 2010.

The line-ups are huge, with guitar players of varying styles backing each other up in once in a lifetime performances. The list of players is extensive because, as Buddy Guy said when speaking of the 2007 fest, “When Eric calls nobody says no.” So far scheduled to be on the stage at the 2013 festival are:

Albert Lee
Allan Holdsworth
Allman Brothers Band
Andy Fairweather Low
BB King
Blake Mills
Booker T
Brad Paisley
Buddy Guy
Citizen Cope
Dave Biller
Doyle Bramhall II
Earl Klugh
Eric Clapton
Gary Clark Jr.
Jeff Beck
Jimmie Vaughan
John Mayer
John Scofield
Jonny Lang
Keb Mo
Keith Urban
Kurt Rosenwinkle
Los Lobos
Quinn Sullivan
Robbie Robertson
Robert Cray
Robert Randolph
Sonny Landreth
Taj Mahal
Vince Gill

Additionally, a concert tour by Eric Clapton and his band has also been announced but without a Chicago date. I think we can count on one being added soon.