Clapton plans guitar festival

Eric Clapton has lined up dozens of his own guitar heroes for a three-day festival of concerts, workshops and exhibits in Dallas next month. The highlight will be a guitar-rich daylong concert on June 6 at the Cotton Bowl featuring Clapton, Carlos Santana, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Vince Gill, Robert Cray, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and others. Proceeds from the event, June 4 to 6, will benefit the Crossroads Centre Antigua, a substance abuse treatment center Clapton founded in 1997.

Among the displays will be an exhibit of dozens of guitars Clapton and other musicians have donated for a June 24 auction at Christie’s that will further benefit the Crossroads Centre. The “Blackie,” a Fender Stratocaster that Clapton customized himself, is expected to bring $100,000 to $150,000.

The guitars also will be displayed June 8-12 at Christie’s in Beverly Hills.