Fasten your seatbelts as Grammy Award-winning songstress and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens and Italian jazz maestro Francesco Turrisi take you on a musical voyage of discovery from Africa and the Middle East across to Europe and the Americas. The duo discovered a shared creative ground after their paths crossed a few years back, spanning gospel, jazz, blues, country and folk, and this is their first nationwide tour of Ireland.

Giddens’ debut album was described by the Guardian as a “solo debut of phenomenal vocal power, effortlessly jumping between gospel holler, tender folk song, and lachrymose country ballad". Her star continues to rise with US TV performances on The Late Show and The Tonight Show, and the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Bluegrass and Banjo.

The powerhouse singer’s versatility is matched by accordion and piano player Francesco Turrisi. Dubbed the “musical alchemist”, his lyrical, culture-bridging collaborations include early music, Balkan jazz and contemporary ensembles as well as performing with such luminaries as Bobby McFerrin, Dave Liebman, Wolfgang Muthspiel, The King’s Singers and flamenco master Pepe el Habichuela.

Rhiannon Giddens, voice/fiddle/banjo
Francesco Turrisi, percussion/accordion