Home town gig for guitarist Richard

The show at The Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham on Tuesday, September 20, centres on the music of Paraguayan composer Agustin Barrios.

Maverick guitarist Richard, returned earlier this year from a successful tour of Paraguay. During his ten-day visit, he launched his latest album The Number 26 Bus to Paraguay, was made an ‘Illustrious Visitor to Asuncion’ (the Paraguayan capital city) and received several other awards for his significant contribution to Paraguayan culture.

The tour started with a press conference at which Richard spoke of his personal pilgrimage: “This journey started when I was eight. I had already fallen in love with the music of Barrios. I used to go to my guitar lessons on a Brighton & Hove number 26 bus - so, 40 years later, when I was invited to play in Paraguay it was as if that bus had taken me there!”

Richard Durrant’s concerts were punctuated by TV and radio appearances. Paraguay’s leading DJ Beto Barsotti was reduced to tears when Durrant played live on his show. After his first concert, wherever Richard went along the Ruta Mangore, he was greeted as a celebrity with lunches in his honour, marching bands, Paraguayan harps and politicians to meet and greet.