A guitarist who has recorded 19 CDs and performed in more than 35 countries is bringing his fingerstyle technique to Cumberland this weekend. Peppino D'Agostino is scheduled to take the stage at Blackstone River Theatre on Saturday, October 31, at 3 p.m., giving local audiences a rare close-up look at one of acoustic guitar's most celebrated touring artists.
D'Agostino is a native of Italy who arrived in America in the late 1980s, according to The Valley Breeze. Before he became an internationally touring performer, he got his start as a street musician and restaurant guitarist in San Francisco, as reported by Acoustic Guitar. That journey from sidewalk performances to concert halls has become part of his story as a contemporary fingerstyle guitarist who helped redefine the boundaries of the acoustic guitar, per visitrhodeisland.com.
A Style Built on Open Tunings and Percussive Effects
D'Agostino's compositional approach relies on virtuosic technique, open tunings and percussive effects, according to the same event listing. That style has earned him serious recognition over the years: Guitar Player named him among its 50 transcendent superheroes of the acoustic guitar back in 2017. His album Every Step of the Way also picked up a Bronze medal for Best Acoustic Album of All Time in Acoustic Guitar's People's Choice Awards.
His most recent release, Connexion, showcases his range and mastery as both a player and composer, the outlet notes. Over his career, D'Agostino has shared the stage with a notable lineup of guitarists, including Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, Tommy Emmanuel, Leo Kottke and Martin Taylor, per the Valley Breeze report.
Music World Retreats and a Partnership With BRT
Beyond performing, D'Agostino and his wife, Donna, founded Music World Retreats, which hosts music workshops and retreats across the globe. The retreats have partnered with instrumentalists and songwriters on learning experiences covering guitar in all styles, songwriting, composing, fiddle and mandolin, according to peppinodagostino.com.
Saturday's show is set for Blackstone River Theatre at 549 Broad St. in Cumberland, a cultural arts center that presents weekly world and roots music concerts, arts classes for adults and children, and special events year-round, as described by visitrhodeisland.com. The concert is sponsored in part by Navigant Credit Union.
Tickets and Showtime Details
Admission costs $25 in advance and $28 on the day of the show. Tickets are available at www.brtri.org, and the venue also accepts reservations by phone at 401-725-9272. Doors are set for the 3 p.m. Saturday performance, giving fans one more reason to head to Cumberland over the holiday weekend.
