Mark Lettieri of Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest

Star guitarist Mark Lettieri and the Metropole Orkest: it’s a combination that already looks great on paper, let alone how it should sound live at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven during BRIDGE Guitar Festival.

Mark Lettieri is one of the most groovy, funky, adventurous and at the same time catchy guitarists of the moment. His star has been rising for years. That upward curve now reaches a nice temporary highlight during his show with the Metropole Orkest at BRIDGE Guitar Festival. Lettieri himself describes his music as: the result of when you put Zapp & Roger, George Clinton, Eddie Van Halen and a barritone guitar in a room. In the same room you will also find Prince, Sly & the Family Stone, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Or, as Guitarist magazine calls it: cool, unique and special.

In addition to being a solo artist, the California-born Texan is a sought-after session musician. He has been a permanent member of the dazzling Snarky Puppy for years, with whom he has previously appeared on the stage of the Muziekgebouw and with whom he won a Grammy together with the Metropole Orkest. Another irresistible collaboration in which the sympathetic American flourishes is The Fearless Flyers, with Cory Wong and Joe Dart of Vulfpeck. Such wonderfully danceable, yet interesting music.

BRIDGE Guitar Festival isn’t new territory for the Metropole Orkest. Last year, at the first edition of the festival, master guitarist Steve Vai performed with the groundbreaking orchestra. A show that Vai himself also considers one of the highlights of his career. Lettieri calls it a dream come true to play with the Metropole Orkest: “Truly, as a musician I couldn’t be happier than to perform with this great orchestra.”