Guitarist Neil Jacobs to perform at The Block

Muskegon, Michigan, March 13, 2015 – Saturday, April 18, Neil Jacobs will perform breathtaking compositions on his traditional 12-string guitars. His performance is an exotic hybrid of Gypsy jazz, flamenco and Eastern European folk music.

Jacobs will share amazing stories of world travels and improbable life experiences. With music influenced by travels with the Gypsies of Spain, refugee camps during the Balkan War and surreal “cowboy” television specials in Eastern Europe, Neil pushes the limits of this traditional folk instrument forging Gypsy, Celtic, Balkan and classical influences into new American music.

Jacobs, a self-taught musician, has been performing since 1984. He primarily tours solo and will be performing solo at The Block, but he occasionally performs with the Celtic and World Music band “Lone Raven,” and with the band “American Gypsy,” playing Gypsy & Balkan Folk music. Jacobs composes music for each group and plays instruments such as tamburitza, tambura, mando-cello, prim and his primary instrument, the 12-string guitar. All of these instruments are featured on his latest CD, “The Peasant Sabbatical” which was released last April.

“The Peasant Sabbatical” is has just been selected as a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) in Nashville in the extremely competitive “Instrumental” category. The ISC is a world competition with entries from all continents. Of the competition Jacobs said “I am honored to be the only Michigan semi-finalist in any category.” He added, “I am also excited to come back to The Block. I think it is a great intimate venue, and I appreciate your work in bringing excellent music to the area. It is among one of a few venues where I perform in West Michigan.”

Copies of Jacobs’ six CDs will be available for sale at the concert and he will begin work on his seventh CD later this year.

Tickets for Neil Jacobs’ concert “Neil. Guitars. Stories.” are $25 and available at the West Michigan Symphony ticket office: 231.726.3231 ext. 223; online at westmichigansymphony.org.; or in person at 360 W. Western Ave. in Muskegon. For more information, visit westmichigansymphony.org.