Gerardo Balesteiri and Les Travailleurs de la Nuit at St. Joseph's Friday

Gerardo Balesteiri and Les Travailleurs de la Nuit (Night Workers) will perform at Friday at St. Joseph's Cultural Center. They will be joined by members of Fishtank Ensemble, Fabrice Martinez on violin, (his old friend and musical comrade back in Italy) and Doug Smolens on guitar. Rounding out his US ensemble are Roland Martinez from France on bass (Fabrice's brother) and Sean Tergis of the San Francisco Turkish ensemble Delikanli on percussion.

Balesteiri has performed in Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Germany and Switzerland. In 1999 Balesteiri founded "Les Travailleurs de la Nuit." It is not an organized band but it goes through changes in lineups and is variable in humors and elements. Gerardo wrote and recorded "Anachronistic Dream of the Disadapted of the Century XXI" a concept-album tribute to Alexander Marius Jacob, gentleman and sarcastic thief which inspired Le Blanc for Arsenio Lupin

Currently Gerardo Balesteiri is performing like "L'Accordeoniste Megaphoniste" and preparing to tour in California. He plays many instruments: piano, accordion, baglamas, cumbus, darbuka, kamantchè, glockenspiel, etc.

Unless you are planning on traveling to Italy sometime soon this is your only chance to hear this world class musician live. Mr. Balesteiri is only doing eight shows on his first tour to the United States. The folks of St. Joseph's Cultural Center are pleased to welcome him to Grass Valley.

Know and Go What: Gerardo Balesteiri and Les Travailleurs de la Nuit (night workers), performing with violinist extraordinaire Fabrice Martinez of Fishtank Ensemble, a co-production of St. Joseph's Cultural Center and Fishtank Ensemble When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: St. Joseph's Cultural Center, 410 South Church St. Grass Valley Tickets: $17 in advance and $20 at the door; available at BriarPatch, Gold Rush Records and the St. Joseph's Cultural Center office Info: Call (530) 272-4725 or visit www.saintjosephsculturalcenter.org