Rodrigo Y Gabriela

Rodrigo Sánchez (born 1974) and Gabriela Quintero (born 1973) grew up in Mexico City, influenced by their parents’ flamenco, jazz, and rock music, alongside their own interest in heavy metal bands. They met at age 15, bonding over music. In the early 1990s, Sánchez formed the heavy metal band Tierra Ácida with his brother, with Quintero joining in 1993. When a record deal did not materialize in 1997, they moved to Ixtapa, Mexico, playing in beach-side venues. Frustrated by the limitations of the Mexican rock scene, the duo relocated to Dublin, Ireland, in 1999, despite not speaking English. They spent eight years busking and performing in pubs, developing their unique style. Fellow musician Damien Rice helped them gain initial exposure by inviting them to open for his shows, leading to their first manager, Niall Muckian.

Their career accelerated with the release of their self-titled album, “Rodrigo y Gabriela,” in 2006, which reached number one on the Irish Albums Chart. This album, produced by John Leckie, included covers of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and Metallica’s “Orion,” showcasing their diverse influences. They made their American TV debut on “Late Show with David Letterman” in 2006 and their song “Tamacun” was featured in the pilot episode of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” in 2008. The duo also contributed to the soundtrack for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011) and the DreamWorks film “Puss in Boots” (2011). In 2010, they performed for President Barack Obama at The White House, marking a significant milestone.

Later achievements include their 2019 album, “Mettavolution,” which won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2020. This album featured a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Echoes.” Their 2021 cover of Metallica’s “The Struggle Within” earned another Grammy nomination for Best Arrangement, Instrumental Or A Cappella. In 2023, they released their sixth studio album, “In Between Thoughts…A New World,” embarking on a world tour that included performances at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. They also performed with the Austin City Orchestra on Austin City Limits, marking the orchestra’s first appearance on the show.