Rodrigo y Gabriela at Royal Albert Hall

The sensational Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela grew up listening to Metallica, playing along to heavy rock music, and even forming a heavy metal band in the early 90s. After long hours of practising and busking on the streets of Dublin, the two finally received their break, opening for the likes of Damien Rice and David Gray. But Rodrigo and Gabriela’s days as the opening act are far behind them, having sold 1.2 million albums in excess, headlined at Glastonbury and even performed for Barack Obama at the The White House. Their unique fusion of heavy metal, flamenco rumba and rock attracted thousands to the Royal Albert Hall for an evening we wouldn’t forget.

Set against a backdrop of projected visuals and close ups of their guitar strings, Rodrigo and Gabriela pranced around the stage, guitars in hand, enjoying playing their music as much as we loved listening to it. Their talent is undeniable – Gabriela’s performance seemed effortless as she spun around in circles, strumming and drumming simultaneously in sync with Rodrigo’s lightening-speed flamenco picking. The crowd couldn’t take their eyes off the pair and sang along to the cover of Radiohead’s Creep as though it were the anthem of their lives. The duo could barely contain their excitement as they introduced a very special guest and hero of theirs to the stage – Spanish flamenco guitarist Vincente Amigo, who they sat and played a Celtic number with.

By the end of the night, we were undeniably awestruck by the impressive musicianship we had borne witness to. The set was completed by an energetic performance of the classic Tamacun which encouraged every person in the house to stand up and dance. Inspiring, impressive and innovative – if any musicians deserved this level of success, it’s definitely Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Gemma Whitfield
Photos: Marine Candel

For further information and future events visit Rodrigo y Gabriela’s website here.

Watch the video for Tamacun here: