Although one wouldn't expect it from their current musical style, the Mexican duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela became acquainted at the end of the last century on the metal scene. But searing guitar riffs were exchanged for acoustic sounds, and hot Mexico City for green Dublin, where Damian Rice soon discovered the twosome. After they were the warm-up act for this Irish singer-songwriter, things soon took off for the two guitar virtuosos. In 2010 Rodrigo Y Gabriela were headliners at the Glastonbury Festival, a rare achievement for a fully acoustic act. But with their magnificent technical ability, unheard of speed and rhythmical diversity, the duo really plays their guitars, the audience and each other. Fierce battles are fought and well-known evergreens, like Stairway To Heaven, are given a Latin touch. At North Sea Jazz they will be accompanied by C.U.B.A., a thirteen-member orchestra from Havana, with whom the duo has already released their fifth studio album, Area 52.
