Mopmu
WorldPortland-based Ryan Francesconi became obsessed with Balkan folk music during his studies in college. Becoming well-versed in a variety of foreign stringed instruments, Francesconi gravitated toward the Bulgarian tambura. Forming Mopmu, he's one of few artists to play Carnegie Hall as well as Red Rocks and Austin City Limits. Focused primarily on fingerstyle acoustic guitar, the music is alternately soulful, lush, rocking, sweet, and grooving, but always true to the rich, rhythmically complex and improvisatory heritage from which it springs.
