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Watch Grammy winners Rodrigo y Gabriela perform three songs

Rodrigo y Gabriela performing a Live Virtual Session for The Current.
Rodrigo y Gabriela performing a Live Virtual Session for The Current.Erik Stromstad | MPR

by Bill DeVille

April 23, 2020

When Rodrigo y Gabriela last visited The Current studio, in November 2019, they were Grammy nominees. Now, when the guitar duo comprising Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero connected with Bill DeVille for a Live Virtual Session, Rodrigo y Gabriela are Grammy winners for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, an experience the duo describe as "incredible."

"After 20 years in our career, that was our first nomination and that was our first Grammy," Sanchez says. "It's very important, especially for a Mexican band, to be nominated in the Anglo Grammy version in a non-Latin category is incredible, and it's more incredible to share it with people and to see how much they cared. They were so happy for us as well; it was an amazing experience."

Less than two months after that Grammy win, Rodrigo y Gabriela were in Texas, just about to begin a massive U.S. tour, when the pandemic struck and their tour was postponed. As is their custom between tours, Rodrigo y Gabriela returned to their home studio in Ixtapa, Mexico, from where they connected with The Current. Quintero says they've been practicing a lot and have been crafting new music, and that they've also been revisiting their back catalogue. "We are remembering a lot of the old tracks we haven't played for years," she says. "It's good to form to do that.

"We're also doing a lot of collaborations with other musicians," she continues. "Just keeping it fresh, and also for our fanbase and stuff, to be able to share all of this music and to keep good spirits because we all need it. It is important to stay positive as much as we can possibly be, and to put some good energy out into the world."

Use the video player above to listen to the complete session with Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Songs Performed


3:16 "Diablo Rojo"
8:10 "Terracentric"
17:41 "Mettavolution"
The first selection is from Rodrigo y Gabriela's self-titled 2002 album; the second two songs are from their Grammy-winning 2019 album, Mettavolution. Both albums are available on ATO Records.

Hosted by Bill DeVille
Produced by Jesse Wiza
Engineered by Erik Stromstad
Web production by Luke Taylor

Rodrigo y Gabriela - official site