Muireann Bradley and Marisa Anderson

World Music Institute presents the unique perspectives of two contemporary guitar masters: Muireann Bradley is an 18-year-old rising star from County Donegal, Ireland, known for her exceptional fingerpicking and soulful singing inspired by the legendary blues artists her father introduced her to as a child. Her 2023 debut album, I Kept These Old Blues, garnered critical acclaim, with Mojo magazine raving that “Seldom have these familiar pieces been executed with the verve and grace, as well as the skill, of this young Irishwoman”. Marisa Anderson is a classically trained guitarist who channels the history of the guitar and stretches the boundaries of tradition. Her playing is fluid, emotional, and masterful, featuring compositions and improvisations that re-imagine the landscape of American music. Her current work is focused on a mid-20th century archive of recorded music from the Islamic world, Southeast Asia and the Soviet Union. The Counterpoint Series focuses on contemporary artists who push the boundaries of what “world music” can mean in the 21st Century.