Submitted by the San Juan Community Theatre

Alpha Yaya Diallo will perform a live concert on Friday, July 29. Diallo, originally from Guinea, West Africa is a talented guitarist, and singer-songwriter based in Canada. He’s earned a reputation for incredible musicianship, with vibrant onstage energy utilizing dexterity in both acoustic and electric guitar. Originally discovered in the late 1980s by Peter Gabriel’s record label, Diallo has gone on to win three JUNO Awards (Canadian equivalent to a Grammy Award). SOCAN Words and Music Magazine has described his music as “…intoxicating…steeped in the rhythms of his homeland”. Diallo is also offering a FREE workshop to musicians of all levels. In this workshop, Diallo will share techniques on how to play “Manding blues” and insight on a guitar playing method taken from the Kora, a traditional instrument from West Africa. Students are encouraged to bring a guitar. This project received support from Washington State Arts Commission, WESTAF (the Western States Arts Federation), and the National Endowment for the Arts. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for students and youth. To purchase tickets or to register for the free workshop, visit www.sjctheatre.org or call 360-378-3210.