The award-winning Justin Adams and Mauro Durante will appear in Kendal later this month.
The dup won the fusion category at the Songlines Music Awards last Thursday and are set to play Brewery Arts on May 26.
Adams is best known for collaborating with Robert Plant in his band The Sensational Spaceshifters, but has also worked with international artists like Tinariwen, Rachid Taha, and Juldeh Camara.
“To be honest I wasn’t expecting to be musically knocked out like I was in the south of Italy,” said Justin describing his first encounter with Mauro Durante.
Mauro leads the music ensemble Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, who have played festivals all over the world and even featured in their own concert at the BBC Proms.
The two artists met at the La Notte della Taranta (The Night of the Taranta) festival in the Salento region of southern Italy which celebrates the popular folk music and dances of Pizzica.
“When Mauro and I started to play together it felt natural,” said Justin. “We come from playing in big bands and found that there was something nice about just playing our own personal style, just the two of us.”
The duo’s last album, Still Moving, combines elements of blues and rock from Justin’s background, with the traditional folk elements from Mauro’s.
“It’s music that you can immediately feel within your body and immediately want to start moving to,” added Mauro. “Every show is different because our dialogues with the instruments are free to go wherever they want to.”
“I wouldn’t say there are any other bands like us,” added Justin. “It’s raw and it’s emotional.”
Justin explained to Mauro (who has never played in Cumbria), how Kendal is a “really special part of the world associated with the romantic poets”.
“For me, an arts centre, like Brewery Arts where there are people you can trust with a high level of curatorship, that’s crucial,” said Justin.
Justin Adams and Mauro Durante play the theatre stage with doors at 7.30pm.
“If you’re interested in real cutting edge music you should come and check it out,” Justin added.
To book, visit www.breweryarts.co.uk
