Doyle Bramhall II: "Crossroads Is a Beautiful Spiritual Process"

For Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival has never been just another gathering of extraordinary guitarists.

At its heart, he says, the festival exists for something even larger than music—healing.

Music With a Purpose

"Crossroads ultimately means a way to help alcoholics and addicts,” says Bramhall II. “It helps people get treatment and helps families who are going through difficult times. Every time I think of the Crossroads Festival, I think about raising money for Crossroads Centre Antigua—which is why Eric Clapton started the event in the first place. So, to have all the greatest guitar players from around the world joining together to bring joy, light and love to the fans—and then have that money go directly to the Crossroads treatment center—it's a beautiful spiritual process all the way around. Music. Love. Bliss. Joy. Healing.”

Community

"To have all the musicians together in one place over two or three days is something a lot of artists don't get to experience on the road. Everybody who's a peer gets to hang out and talk. It's almost like camp."

Learning to Listen

"I basically spent a year in my bedroom playing eight or nine hours a day,” remembers Bramhall II. “Then, I gave up practicing and took it to the stage. Joining The Fabulous Thunderbirds at 17 years old was a great setup for me to learn how to play with other people, how to listen to other musicians and how to complement them.I wait to hear something and then I respond rather than react to it.”

Family Time

“My daughter, Elle, who is having her album released in January, is singing with me during my set at Crossroads,” announces Bramhall II. “Getting to sing with my daughter—that’s my greatest joy.”

Continue Your Crossroads Journey

There’s still more to watch in Guitar Center's Crossroads 2026 coverage.