MATTEO MANCUSO

Every so often, a guitarist emerges who completely revolutionizes the rules of the instrument. The 27-year-old Matteo Mancuso is one such individual. The boundaries of what you can do with a guitar are far from being reached, as demonstrated by this Italian phenomenon on his debut album The Journey. This is mainly due to his fresh perspective on both different musical styles and the way one can play a guitar. He combines jazz with (shred) rock and metal, and even classical music and flamenco, using a technique mastered by practically no one else. The five fingers on his right hand crackle like five picks over the strings. Even the tone of his sound is hailed by the guitar tone grandmaster Eric Johnson. For those who might dismiss this as technical jargon: whether you're a guitar aficionado or not, witnessing and hearing this guitarist at work is incredible. Although his playing is otherworldly, he remains grounded. A smile is never far away (much like Eddie Van Halen), and with some well-placed notes and licks, you can see the joy of playing reflected in his entire body language. Usually clad in simple attire: jeans and a hoodie, Matteo is not concerned with appearances but rather with substance. Without exaggeration, Matteo is currently the hottest guitarist globally. He's someone you'd say you absolutely must see. Well, you get it: Matteo Mancuso closing out BRIDGE AROUND TOWN on Saturday night, June 1st, is nothing short of an opportunity not to be missed.