Lua Project brings fusion sounds to Norton

Prepare to embark on a musical journey like no other when Mexilachian ensemble Lua Project takes the J.I. Burton stage at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 19, to weave a mesmerizing tapestry of original and traditional music from Mexico, Appalachia, and the Atlantic Basin. This groundbreaking ensemble serves as a cultural pollinator, seamlessly blending diverse musical styles across continents and centuries into a harmonious celebration of human experience. This performance is brought to you in conjunction with Pro-Art’s W. Campbell Edmonds Concert Series and the City of Norton. Tickets are $10 at the door. Children and students will be admitted free. For more information and to make reservations visit proartva.org.

Lua Project was formed by David Berzonsky and Estela Knott after they returned to Virginia to raise their children after almost a decade of traveling and performing throughout the Western hemisphere, in places as far afield as Lima, Peru, Veracruz, Mexico, Recife, Brazil, and Berkeley, California. The stories they tell—of bonds both familial and communal, and the intoxicating natural beauty of their homeland in the Virginia foothills—are refreshing, disarming, joyous, and haunting. The current lineup features Matty Metcalfe and Christen Hubbard, two limitlessly talented and utterly authentic musical co-conspirators, who have traveled widely but have settled deeply in the shadow of the Blue Ridge. They are emerging masters of Appalachian fiddle tunes, Irish music, and Argentinian tango. David and Estela’s daughter, Luna Berzonsky, will also join the lineup for this performance, layering vocals and playing violin, jarana, and percussion.

With an artistic commitment to go deep inside their own families’ cultural roots, they meticulously thread together the narrative of their history—Appalachian, Mexican, Jewish—into a completely original yet seamless journey through styles and centuries. They write gorgeous melodies, punctuated by Estela’s soaring voice and the band’s complex and subtle arrangements.

Lua Project’s shows are engaging, soulful, celebratory, and captivating. They represent the best of a new breed of Virginia artists, grounded in tradition, yet with a syncretic musical intelligence that beckons the whole world into their musical village—building bridges across cultures and pathways into the human soul.

Pro-Art’s spring season is underway! Explore the complete schedule of events, purchase season tickets, and make reservations at proartva.org. Season tickets are valid for all performances of the 47th season and can be purchased online, in person at any show, or by calling (276) 376-4520.