Tango star Martín Alvarado will be kicking off his 60th international tour with a 15-date tour of the UK in September, including a return to Collingham.

The internationally-acclaimed troubadour will be performing the length and breadth of England, joined by a guitar quartet from Argentina, Gerardo Villar y Los Aguirre.

Their last concert of the tour will be on Tuesday, 22nd September at the iconic Cat Asylum Brewery in Collingham, which has become a popular Nottinghamshire venue for touring folk, blues, and world music acts.

Promoting a new album, Llevo el Sur, their Echoes of Buenos Aires show features tango classics, including Piazzolla songs, Argentinian folk numbers, and original ballads.

This tour follows a successful two-week visit in 2023 when they played to full houses and standing ovations around the UK.

Alvarado said: “I am so pleased to be returning to the UK after three years. The British audiences are always so appreciative and respectful of my creative mission as an Argentinian musician.

“Many people have heard of tango and have certain expectations of it. What I try to do is present an artistic experience that will move them and stay with them.

“Gerardo Villar and Los Aguirre share this ambition and passion to make art, and together we look back respectfully at the musical history of this genre, whilst also taking it forward, giving it a modern-day feel.”

Alvarado has performed in Nottinghamshire a number of times since 2011, starting with his role in a major touring tango show at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall.

His last performance in the county was in 2023 to a full house at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham. He has performed twice in Collingham, which is where his promoter, Lisa Cherry-Downes, of L Tango Promotions, is based.

“I love visiting Collingham,” he said. “It is a beautiful village and the Cat Asylum is a very cool and quirky venue, so I can’t wait for me and the guys to present some beautiful music from Argentina there.”

As a tenor, Alvarado is renowned for pushing the boundaries of tango music through collaborations with some of the most innovative musicians in Europe and Argentina.

In 2019, he received the honour of being declared an Academico (Maestro) by the National Academy of Tango in recognition of his illustrious career of two decades, during which he toured continually, performing in many major theatres, festivals, and concert halls around the world.

Lisa added: “British audiences love hearing Martin and they also love guitars — as they showed at venue after venue in 2023.

“Guitar quartets are found quite often in Buenos Aires, but we rarely get to hear this kind of ensemble in Britain, so I am proud to present them in the UK as the authentic sound of Argentina.

“Martin’s vocal style is infused great nuance and warmth, and it pairs exceptionally well with guitar trios or quartets. Audiences can definitely expect that wow factor.”

Tickets for the show on Tuesday, 22nd September at Cat Asylum Brewery at 7.30pm cost £20 on the door if available or online for £17 (plus booking fee) at wegottickets.com/f/21944. Details of the tour can be found at www.martinalvarado.info

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