ARIA-nominated flamenco guitarist Damian Wright is slated to appear at Wauchope Arts Hall on Saturday August 12.
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Damian has performed as a soloist at The Rajasthan International Folk Festival, and his flamenco ensemble ‘Bandaluzia’ won the Sydney Fringe Festival ‘Pick of the Festival’ award.
Damian was six when I started playing after his auntie gave him his first guitar.
“Right from the beginning, I was so into the guitar in general, so that meant that I was directed by what I liked to listen to,” said Damian.
“My first class was folk guitar with an old hippie in primary school – she was the only teacher in suburban Newcastle – and from there on, it was a lot of different genres took my interest from rock music, Jimi Hendrix, to the beauty and intricacy of classical guitar.
“My sister loves jazz music so I was exposed to that,” he recalled.
When Damian heard flamenco, he said all the elements became one.
“There’s so much I love about it – the rhythmic aspects. Folkloric music speaks to people very explicitly. It’s music of the earth.
“It combines the gypsy rhythm of Northern India and 1000 years of Moorish occupation of Northern Spain, Christian and Jewish influences, the influence of the classical guitar and most recently the influence of the harmony of jazz.”
Damian says flamenco has always been a progressive music. And he’s looking forward to playing in Wauchope again.
“These kind of intimate regional venues are some of my favourites, with people so willing to listen to whatever they’re presented with,” he added.
Damian loves mingling afterwards and touching base with people.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s John Shand has described him as a captivating solo player.
Tickets for Damian Wright’s solo flamenco recital at 8pm on Saturday August 12 in Wauchope Arts Hall are available online at trybooking.com/290355 or at the door from 7.30pm.
Tickets are $25; $20 for members.
Artist website: www.damianwrightmusic.com