A Jacksonville entertainment venue is hosting its first internationally touring artist this weekend.
Singer and guitarist Cisco Dragon kicked off his U.S. tour this week and will take the stage tonight at the Twisted Tree Music Hall in Jacksonville.
Dragon, who is a highly sought-after talent from Cozumel, Mexico, has toured both in the U.S. and Europe and will be playing ten shows in two weeks throughout Illinois, with one stop at the Lake of the Ozarks next weekend.
Dragon says he was first inspired to pick up a guitar by his cousins when he was a young boy living in Mexico City. He cites a wide array of early influences from his older sister which included The Spin Doctors, and The Counting Crows, to Radiohead and Metalica.
He started out as a street performer and says he was influenced further by American tourists as he discovered classic rock, as well as country artists like Johnny Cash and others.
“Then I had a chance to play in a little bar, and bars like that. I started playing shows and learning music that would attract tourists. I can play anything from country music to Pink Floyd to Latin jazz. Now I can play Brazilian music and a little bit of Italian music as well. I’ve been touring in Europe in previous years. So I like to deliver a wide variety of genres and artists.”
Dragon plays both original music and cover songs from a diverse selection of genres and styles. He says he is mostly looking forward to meeting and connecting with people from the Jacksonville area community.
“I like to deliver a good quality of music. Different styles and I will be doing different kinds of songs for all different people. Just delivering positivity- that’s my thing you know. Just happy positive music and enjoying connecting with people from here.”
The show kicks off at 7:00 pm at the Twisted Tree Music Hall located at 1061 East Morton Avenue. A $5.00 donation is requested, but not required to take in the show.
Cicso Dragon will be back in Jacksonville at the end of the month for performances at The Hangout Bar and Grill on May 30th, Pizza Records on May 31st ahead of the first downtown concert series show, and then at Dons Place on June 1st.
More can be found by going to Cisco Dragon on Facebook.