International Guitar Night in Kent will bring together the world’s foremost acoustic guitarists to perform in the city’s Kent’s Spotlight Series.
The show is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan 21 at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St.
San Francisco-based guitarist, Brian Gore founded International Guitar Night in 1995. Each tour, a new cast of guitar luminaries comes together for an evening of solos, duets and quartets that highlight the virtuosity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar, according to a city of Kent news release.
For International Guitar Night’s 22nd year of touring, featured artists include Italy’s Luca Stricagnoli, Vietnamese classic guitarist Thu Le, Hawaiian slack key guitarist Jim “Kimo” West and Gypsy Jazz guitarist Lulo Reinhardt.
With a huge online following (over 200 million views of his music videos), and with bookings in every corner of the globe, Stricagnoli has been hailed as a phenomenon and a guitar prodigy. Stricagnoli has brought his unique style of re-arranging rock classics for acoustic guitar, played on self-invented instruments to over 20 countries.
Le is an international, award-winning classical guitarist and certified guitar teacher. She began playing at the age of 4 under the guidance of her father. She had the honor of being the youngest-ever student admitted to the prestigious National Conservatory of Music in Hanoi. She has graced stages around the world, performing as a soloist and hosting successful master classes. This will be her International Guitar Night debut.
West is one of the world’s foremost Slack Key guitar players, garnering millions of streams on Spotify and Pandora. He is a 2021 Grammy winner for his CD “More Guitar Stories” and a 2019 Grammy nominee for his album “Moku Maluhia.” His work as long-time guitarist for internationally renowned funnyman, Weird Al Yankovic, garnered West four Grammys and a Billboard #1 CD debut. This will be West’s second time joining the International Guitar Night tour.
Reinhardt, the grand-nephew of the legendary Gypsy Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, has carried on the family tradition while incorporating new Latin rhythms, a style he calls Latin Swing. Known for his strong percussive playing and lightning solos, he is the most revered member of International Guitar Night, having appeared with four previous lineups in addition to hosting this year’s edition.
Tickets are $28 for adults, $26 for seniors and $15 for youths. Tickets may be purchased online at kentarts.com, by calling 253-856-5051 or in person at the Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N. Hours for phone and in-person sales are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Box office is closed on Sunday.
According to King County mandate, people ages 12 and over must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter all Spotlight Series performances. Additionally, masking is required.
Spotlight Series is presented by the Kent Arts Commission and Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and partially funded by 4Culture, WESTAF, National Endowment for the Arts, and a variety of business and individual sponsors. The International Guitar Night performance is sponsored by Sponsored by Pete and Pat Curran through the Kent Community Foundation.
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