Tommy Emmanuel live in Menlo Park

Experience Tommy Emmanuel live on September 23rd

Tommy Emmanuel, a highly acclaimed Australian guitarist, is scheduled to perform at The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, California on September 23, 2026. Emmanuel is renowned for his complex percussive style, often described as a one-man band due to his ability to create arrangements encompassing melody, rhythm, and bass lines simultaneously on a single acoustic guitar. His repertoire spans multiple genres including jazz, blues, folk, rockabilly and classical, drawing influence from artists like Chet Atkins – with whom he was mentored – and Merle Travis. He frequently utilizes techniques like harmonics, rapid-fire fingerpicking and percussive body strikes on the guitar itself.

The Guild Theatre originally opened in 1926 as a movie palace during the height of the silent film era. Designed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style by Reid & Reid architects and Walter Ahlschlager, it served as a prominent entertainment venue for decades. After periods of decline and closure, the theatre underwent extensive renovations completed in 2023 following a community fundraising effort led by local residents. The restored venue now hosts live performances across various disciplines including music, comedy and film screenings while maintaining many of its original architectural features.