It has been twenty-five years since the Gipsy Kings captured the world’s imagination with their self-titled debut album—a record that became a genuine phenomenon, certified gold and platinum around the globe, introducing millions of listeners to a unique, irresistible blend of traditional flamenco styles with Western pop and Latin rhythms. Since then, the band has toured virtually non-stop, to the farthest-flung corners of the planet, and sold almost twenty million albums, all the while retaining the same line-up of virtuoso musicians.
Now the Gipsy Kings return with SAVOR FLAMENCO, their ninth studio album and first new release in six years. The project marks the first time in their storied career that the Kings have produced themselves and written all of the material. It also starts a relationship between France’s most successful musical group of all time and a new label, Knitting Factory Records.
Special Guest Shutterdog’s debut single, The Felling, is a surprising blend of songwriting and Eastern instruments. Led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Matt Nobile, The Felling is a story of transformation written from the perspective of a mighty New York oak tree forced to shed its leaves through the changing seasons.
Matt Nobile grew up in the Hudson Valley region of New York but his musical interests have expanded far beyond those borders. Originally a trombone and bass player, Nobile studied Jazz Performance at SUNY New Paltz. With that experience, he began to explore the NYC Arabic music scene, studying both oud and nai (Arabic flute) with Bassam Saba. Nobile is also a regular participant of America’s premier Arabic music program: the Arabic Music Retreat in Holyoke, MA headed by Simon Shaheen.
With Shutterdog, Nobile introduces a new project showcasing his varied experience. Stepping out on his own, Nobile aims to introduce US audiences to a diversity of music. By using aspects of Arabic, Afro-Cuban, and Indian music in a western songwriting context, Shutterdog provides a crucial first step for listeners to begin exploring other cultures. Nobile is a recurring staple at beloved venues in New York markets. Bringing his vibrant music to settings like Levon Helm Studios, The Falcon, and O+ Festival in Upstate, NY as well as Old Rock Deli in Manhattan and the AP Cafe in Brooklyn. In addition to his own music, Nobile frequently partners with the Turkish dance band Sekanjabin as well as tabla and bansuri player Eric Archer. Previously, Nobile also served as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for the world music band Datura Road from 2015 to 2020. The band’s diverse repertoire meant often switching between the guitar, oud, and penny-whistle within a single set of music. Work with Datura Road involved co-producing the band’s debut self-titled album and their follow up EP Elephant’s Dream with engineer and musician Julie Last (Ricki Lee Jones, Shawn Colvin, Joni Mitchell).
Venue Information
Belk Theater
Belk Theater features state-of-the-art equipment, production and support capabilities and can host any event, from grand opera to rock to corporate annual meetings and lectures.
The theater features a contemporary European horseshoe arrangement for an intimate atmosphere and world-class acoustics. The most distant seat is less than 135 feet from the stage.
A hallmark of the theater’s design is some 2,400 “points of light” in the audience chamber, part of a dazzling fiber optic network with multi-color capabilities.
Renowned architect Cesar Pelli designed the Performing Arts Center, which opened in 1992, as well as the adjacent Bank of America Corporate Center and Founders Hall. The Center’s name honors the contributions of the people of the state of North Carolina as well as the generosity of the Blumenthal Foundation, the largest private donor to the capital campaign.
