MESMERIC virtuoso guitar playing from Branco Stoysin, Serbian composer and solo performer, will be in Ilminster this month.

Branco’s influences ranges from classical, jazz to traditional European folk music.

He blends lyrical original compositions with arrangements of enthralling traditional folk music from Serbia and former Yugoslavia.

Born in the university town of Novi Sad in Serbia, and entirely self-taught, Branco began playing guitar at the age of 15 and very soon found a love of jazz and classical music, listening to Joe Pass, Charlie Parker, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vivaldi, Albinoni and many others.

At a young age he set off to England with little more than his guitar and has since become a fixture on the UK music scene, appearing at top London venues including the Albert Hall and many major festivals.

He has performed several times locally at the annual Dillington classical guitar festival.

As a truly accomplished photographer and filmmaker, some of Branco’s superb guitar playing is accompanied by film and soundtrack of birdsong and other natural sounds of the countryside.

Hi music has been described as “a musical journey to warm the soul” by Jazz FM.

Branco will be at Ilminster Arts Centre in Ilminster on Friday, March 20 at 8pm. A pre-show supper can be booked from 7pm.

Tickets cost £14.To book or to find out more visit themeetinghouse.org.uk or call 01460 54973.