Derek Gripper: One Night on Earth (Denver)

Derek's breakout album from 2012, One Night on Earth, was recorded in one night in a small chapel in the countryside of South Africa, accompanied by the sound of crickets. This album garnered the attention of musicians all over the world, leading to an international performing career playing with "every musician I have ever loved and listened to obsessively except Ali Farka Touré."

Derek has played with kora master Toumani Diabaté, toured extensively with the ever evolving Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko, performed duets with classical guitar legend John Williams, Indian classical slide master Debashish Bhattacharya, and spent two weeks on a Turkish beach with the enigmatic Brazilian pianist/guitarist/composer Egberto Gismonti.

His music embraces all of these experiences. With just one acoustic guitar, a single microphone and the attention of an audience, he can conjure up the West African kora, early European classical music, Indian string instruments, contemporary minimalism, and sometimes even Fela Kuti. In this way he seeks to make himself, and music, whole again, embracing his home on the African continent, but acknowledging all the influences that have made the melting pot that is his home city of Cape Town. The comment we most often hear after a concert is "I have never heard the guitar sound like that."

So it's best just to come along and hear one of acoustic guitar's most original virtuosos, in one night, on earth.

"I hear truth, I hear meaning, I hear love and I hear hope. At times I am overcome with emotion." UK Vibe

"You might think a solo guitarist would feel swamped on the large stage of Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, but ...Gripper walked onto...stage with a cheery nod, acknowledging the welcome from the audience, took a seat, relaxed with one ankle resting on the other knee, and proceeded to play the most beautiful, enchanting guitar music you will ever hear." Folk Radio

"From the off, the latest release from the incredible instrumentalist drops you into his utterly unique African guitar cosmos..." Songlines Magazine

Additional Info

• Seating: General admission, first-come first-served.

• Age Requirement: Ages 8+. Under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

• Refund Policy: Tickets are non-refundable but transferable, so you're welcome to gift or sell them.

• Bookings: Tickets must be purchased online. No sales at the door.

• Accessibility: All venues are wheelchair accessible.

• Doors Open: 45 minutes before concert start time.

• Concert Length: 75 minutes (no interval).