The inimitable Arrebato Ensemble return after a successful national tour, with two new Sydney concerts of contemporary flamenco music at The Sound Lounge on Wednesday 7 November and The Vanguard on Thursday 13 December.

Their recently released debut CD entitled: Arrebato, on national release through Vitamin Records, has already received significant critical acclaim and their performances have met with rave reviews.

Boasting sell out concerts at both Sydney’s Vanguard and Melbourne’s Bennett’s Lane, The Arrebato Ensemble are billing their next performance dates as a chance to satisfy new audiences.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s John Shand awarded Arrebato four and half stars for their first album, while Drum Media’s Fiona Cameron described their performance as having “…lush, layered melodies with staccato beats and time changes that shifted pace mood and emotion.”

The instrumentation includes flamenco guitar, cello, double bass, saxophones, percussion, harmonica, mandolin and palmas (hand clapped rhythms). With considerable musical virtuosity amongst their ranks, the Arrebato Ensemble has collaborated over three years to make this exquisite recording possible.

Comprised of: Greg Alfonzetti (flamenco guitar), Damian de Boos-Smith (cello, guitars and mandolin), Dave Ellis (double bass), Lloyd G (percussion) and Andrew Poniris (saxophones and harmonica), the finished album includes many memorable solos and atmospheric moments.

‘Arrebato’ a rarely used Spanish word meaning ‘a sudden and intensive burst of emotion, a feeling of fury or ecstasy’, is apt in describing the ensemble’s original music composed by Greg Alfonzetti and Damian DeBoos-Smith.

At times ferocious and at others quietly stirring, the Arrebato Ensemble explore passionate territory in Arrebato, bringing to life a vibrant mix of instruments, backgrounds and cultures.

Composing songs about love and solitude, loss and sadness, fury and ecstasy, the Sydney-based group have worked together over three years to develop original music with contemporary flamenco as the compositional and rhythmic driving force.

“Flamenco has a resounding sense of truth about it, it goes to the inner reality of our lives, where it can be dark or light, and where we can find comfort but also disquiet,” says Greg Alfonzetti, flamenco guitarist and spokesperson for the ensemble.

“We are not simply content to play for ourselves, we want to haunt other people’s lives with the most beautiful music possible,” Alfonzetti says.

The debut album Arrebato retails for a recommended price of $30 and is available nationwide through Vitamin Records.

Tour Dates and Ticket info

Wednesday 7 November - Sound Lounge; Seymour Theatre Centre*

Doors open from 7.30 pm, show 8.30pm

Cnr City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale.

Bookings from the box office on

Phone 9351 7940.

Ticket prices: $22 full/ $18 conc.

*Drinks and light meals available from the bar.

Thursday 13 December - The Vanguard - Sydney

Doors open 7pm show from 8.45pm

42 King Street, Newtown
Phone 02 9557 7992 www.thevanguard.com.au

Ticket prices: $22 full/ $18 conc.