The Opera House in Boothbay Harbor hosts two world-renowned guitarists this month with the arrival of Peppino D’Agostino on Saturday, Oct. 15, followed by a performance by John Doyle on Saturday, Oct. 22. These back to back weekend concerts will showcase two distinctive styles from Italian import D’Agostino and Ireland’s Doyle. 

Peppino D’Agostino emerged on the musical scene in the late 1980’s and helped redefine the boundaries of the acoustic guitar. His virtuosic technique, penchant for open tunings, and percussive effects are the basis of his unique compositional style. His album “Every Step of the Way” was named “one of the top three acoustic guitar albums of all time” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine.

Since his debut in his native Italy, D’Agostino has performed in 26 countries, been featured at prestigious international music festivals in Montreal, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Ravello, and performed in world-renowned venues including the Kolner Philharmonie in Cologne, the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall in Istanbul. His recent concert tour in China sold out. He frequently performs with Tommy Emmanuel, Leo Kottke, Martin Taylor and Eric Johnson and has just composed a soundtrack for the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Hailed as a “guitarist’s guitarist” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine and “a giant of the acoustic guitar” by the San Diego Reader, D’Agostino was voted Best Acoustic Guitarist by Guitar Player magazine readers. He has released 17 albums in both his native Italy and on US labels.

Advance purchase tickets for Peppino D’Agostino’s Oct. 15 concert are $20, The performance is at 7:30 .pm., doors open at 7.

John Doyle

Irish guitar phenomenon John Doyle last appeared at the Opera House with his group, The Alt, and previously with Liz Carroll. On Oct. 22 Doyle will be performing with Colin Farrell on Irish fiddle. 

In 1994 John Doyle brought his brilliant and innovative guitar stylings to the nascent Irish super-group Solas, which then took the folk and Celtic music worlds by storm. He’s received three NAIRD awards and a Grammy nomination, performed internationally to sold-out audiences, and appeared on Mountain Stage and a Prairie Home Companion among other achievements.

His album “Wayward Son” was hailed as a “contender for Album of the Year,” and he has become a highly sought after accompanist and session player for Joan Baez, Eileen Ivers, Seamus Egan, Alison Brown and Kate Rusby.

Doyle has appeared on the soundtracks for feature films including “The Brothers McMullan and Soldier,” as well as PBS’s “Out of Ireland.” Immensely talented and blessed with an acute ear, a wicked sense of rhythm, and seemingly endless streams of magic in his playing, composing performing and producing, John Doyle is an act not to be missed for fans of folk and traditional Irish music.

Farrell has made a name for himself performing and recording with an array of great musicians in Europe and the US, including such groups as Flook, Grada, E2K, The Liam O’Connor band, Karen Casey, The Elders, Julie Fowlis, The Michael McGoldrick Band, and he is currently playing with the band Lúnasa. Colin has also played and recorded with numerous dance shows such as Spirit of Ireland, Dance of Desire and Magical Rhythms of Ireland. 

Advance purchase tickets are $20 and available through the Opera House box office. The concert begins at 7:30 pm on Saturday, October 22. Doors for seating open at 7 pm.

TIckets for both shows are available through the Opera House box office at 86 Townsend Avenue or by calling 207-633-5159. Tickets and information are also available at www.boothbayoperahouse.com.