Pre-conference Party with Grammy-nominated Guitarist, Raúl Rodríguez If you are attending our upcoming Zapateados conference at UC Riverside, or if you just happen to be a Spanish guitar fan who lives in or near Riverside, don’t miss this intimate pre-conference show with Raúl Rodríguez! Raúl Rodríguez is an extraordinary musician and storyteller who situates local traditions from southern Spain within the frames of popular music, transatlantic travels, and the African diaspora. He will be accompanied by Spanish guitarist Mario Mas, whose fusions of classical and folkloric styles are perceptive and honest. We will gather to be inspired by their artistry and vision up close in an intimate setting at a beautiful home in downtown Riverside. Rodríguez has been recognized with a Grammy nomination (2007), the “Best European Album” award from the BBC Radio World Music Awards (2008), and his recent solo album Razón de Son was recognized as one of the best albums of 2014 by a number of media outlets (including RockdeLux, Mondosonoro, Rolling Stone, Efeeme, El País, World Music Charts Europe, AireFlamenco, Betto Arcos, Diario Folk, DeFlamenco…). Tickets are $40. Come enjoy a great performance while getting to pretend that you’re nobility invited to chamber music at court and helping to support our international conference guests.