Photo by Tanya Traboulsi

Toronto’s experimental guitar virtuoso and songwriter Eric Chenaux is kicking off 2014 with two performances, both with British musician Richard Youngs. This Saturday January 11th, London’s Cafe Oto will house this avant-garde double bill, and they are set to play the following day in Paris at Gallery Treize.

With four magnificient solo albums and several other projects and collaborations under his belt, Chenaux’s utterly beautiful and enchanting songcraft in a live format is a must-not-miss if you’re near London or Paris this weekend. Read below Cafe Oto’s press release for the night.

“Two artists pushing at the parameters of avant-folk and traditional songcraft. With hundreds of solo and collaborative releases on countless labels (including his own “No Fans” label) Richard Youngs’ music has been heaped with accolades since the 1990’s. Whether through his collaborations with the likes of Simon Wickham-Smith, Jandek, Neil Campbell or Makoto Kawabata, or in his solo work encompassing the starkest minimalism, lush acapella and acoustic balladry, Richard adds a touch of humanity to any project he’s involved with. Tonight he forms one half of a double bill with one of Canada’s most respected and long-standing experimental guitar players and songwriters, Eric Chenaux, whose clear voice and erudite lyricism is guided by an utterly unique guitar technique and a deep immersion in pop and folk traditions from medieval to post-modern.”

To entice you further, here’s ‘Amazing Backgrounds’, the gorgeous opening track from Chenaux’s 2012 solo album Guitar & Voice.