Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino at The Button Factory, August 11th, 2014

From Salento, in Puglia, the very heel of Italy, one of my favourite places in the world. A fantastic night, their music a mix of all the influences you find in Puglia: Arabic drones and percussion, Greek buzuki melodies, Italian romantic ballad. Brilliant musicians, the night culminated in a stage invasion by Dublin-resident Puglinese dancing girls, and two spontaneous encores (after the one official encore). Like many traditional and folk musics, much of this material has its origins in healing rituals and dance. If you're anywhere near Kilkenny, catch them at the Arts Festival there tomorrow night.