Guitar icon Slash founds blues festival for charity

The world's best-known guitarist with a top hat has launched his own blues festival. Rock legend Slash from Guns N' Roses is set to take his new festival on tour across North America later in 2024.

With the so-called S.E.R P.E.N.T. fest, the 58-year-old rock legend wants to campaign for tolerance and equality and take a stand against racism and war.

Slash, who performed with "Barbie" star Ryan Gosling ("I'm Just Ken") at the Oscars last Sunday, is set to be supported by blues greats such as Warren Haynes, Christone Ingram aka Kingfish, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish and Larkin Poe.

"The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour is a celebration of blues and rock‘n’roll music, and a celebration of unity and togetherness in these uncertain and divisive times," said Slash, whose real name is Saul Hudson and who has also been active as a solo artist for years.

The title S.E.R.P.E.N.T. is said to stand for "Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N' Tolerance". A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charitable foundations, including the organisation War Child.

In May, Slash will also release his first blues album, on which the Guns N' Roses rocker will be supported by stars such as Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Iggy Pop, Chris Stapleton and Demi Lovato.

But before he devotes himself fully to the blues, Slash is heading out on tour with singer Myles Kennedy and his hard rock band The Conspirators. As part of "The River Is Rising" tour, the guitarist is set to play more than 30 concerts as part of a tour across Europe, Asia and South America and North America.