(Photo by Vincent Capman)
The imperial nature of fusion usually starts with a modern world perspective and toolset trained on something old, something remote, something weird. When they broke onto the charts, the Gipsy Kings reversed the direction of cultural conquest and appropriation, scoring a massive hit with their fiery reworking of “Hotel California” and backing it with year after year of substantive, serious music. For the group’s recent release, Roots, the core members of the Gipsy Kings settled into a stone villa in the small town of St-Andre-de-Bueges in the south of France, where they collaborated with producer Craig Street on the Grammy-nominated acoustic release. For the first time in years, the band recorded without a drum kit, synthesizer or electric bass, bringing the music closer to its Flamenco origins. The legendary Gipsy Kings perform at Levon Helm Studios on Saturday, June 29, with Simi Stone opening. Reserved seats cost $125. Standing room costs $75.
Gipsy Kings, Saturday, June 29, 8 p.m., Levon Helm Studios, 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock, https://levonhelm.com