Rodrigo Y Gabriela

• Genre: Flamenco/Fado
• Hometown: Mexico City
• Rodrigo Y Gabriela Website

About

Ex-thrash metal bandmates turned itinerant musicians, Mexican musicians Rodrigo and Gabriela met in Mexico in the band Terra Acida. Not much later, they gave up their electric guitars, wandered through Europe and settled in Dublin. Inspired by flamenco's technical virtuosity, the duo began playing a fiery (if less mournful) version of flamenco that brings bands like Led Zeppelin and Metallica into the musical fold. The group polished their chops busking in Dublin's Grafton Street and, after gaining a devoted following there, they started seducing audiences outside Ireland. Their first album Foc was named for the Catalan word for fire (perhaps with some double entendres attached). In 2006, they teamed with producer John Leckie (Stone Roses, Radiohead) to record their self-titled international debut.

- Sarah Bardeen