The Guitar Renegades

The Guitar Renegades is a guitar quintet consisting of guitarists Cristian Perez, Parker Speirs, Jan Knutson, Tommy Holladay, and Connor Holdridge. Their upcoming release How Many Guitars Does It Take? reflects the band’s wide musical interests including jazz, classical music, and pop/rock.

Mixing exciting arrangements and brilliant improvisations, the eclectic collection breathes with originality while retaining the original essence of the songs. A completely original, compelling arrangement of the Django Reinhardt classic Minor Swing, is followed by the Brandenburg Concerto; Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, and even the rock classic Stairway to Heaven, sit side by side with compositions by Simon & Garfunkel and The Beatles. All are tied together by the compelling, fresh arrangements and sonic originality of five guitars interweaving and exploring.

Based in and around the Washington DC area these five working guitarists have come together and by popular demand have made their mark as The Guitar Renegades, performing at venues large and small. Equally at home in the (old) Kennedy Center, the legendary Blues Alley jazz club, and the Creative Cauldron, where they have played to multiple sold out audiences.

While the guitar has been described as an orchestra in itself, the five musicians of The Guitar Renegades blend together so well that they speak as one voice. How Many Guitars Does It Take….at least five and sometimes six!