As part of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, you have the opportunity to take memories of the festival home with you in the form of a hand-painted guitar by placing a bid in the 2026 Painted Axe Guitar Auction! This year’s guitar will celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary with a custom design by Michael Gauf, artist and co-founder of Painted Axe. Not only is the guitar custom-designed, but it will also be autographed by every performer at this year’s festival!

Proceeds from the 2026 Guitar Auction will benefit the community and educational programs of the Foundation, like the Don “Moose” Jamison Heritage School of Music, the Catapult Fund, Community Partnership Grants, and more!

More auction details coming soon!

About the artist

For more than 20 years, Michael Gauf, owner/artisan of Painted Axe, has been custom painting guitars and gear for festivals, special events, bands, musicians, and charities. He draws upon intuition, imagination, and inventiveness to craft one-of-a-kind branded guitars, conveying a message, feeling, and/or story specific to the commission. Educated and trained as a newspaper editor and then a corporate online risk specialist, Gauf adventured beyond his 9-to-5 professions. Through research, trial and error, and stubbornness, he taught himself to become a copyrighted songwriter and artist. He was awarded art exhibits for his guitars in Indianapolis and Jacksonville, Fla. Painted Axe guitars are highly sought-after collectibles. At the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival the King Biscuit Blues Festival and others, Painted Axe guitars have become part of the event’s fabric. He is proud to call clients: blues man John Lee Hooker Jr. and Biscuit Miller, LA rocker Ronny North, Night Ranger guitarist Keri Kelli, Blues Foundation, BTE Foundation, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Summer Camp Festival, and many more. Born in Peoria, IL., Gauf now lives in St. Augustine Fl. When not in the workshop or paint booth, he’s trying to find a seat at one of many regional music venues.