Some artists don’t just play music — they invite you into a conversation. Tony Furtado is one of those musicians.
On Wednesday, February 26, Furtado returns to Durango for an evening at the Durango Arts Center, bringing with him a lifetime of musical curiosity, mastery, and storytelling. Known for his remarkable ability to move seamlessly between banjo, slide guitar, cello, and beyond, Furtado’s music lives at the crossroads of folk, roots, blues, and improvisation — never showy, always generous.
This is not his first visit to our community. Tony last performed in Durango in 2015, and for those who were there, his return feels less like a debut and more like a welcome back. There’s a familiarity in his presence — the sense of an artist who listens as much as he plays, who leaves space for a room to breathe along with him.
Furtado’s musical path is as organic as his sound. He picked up the banjo at age 12, inspired by a mix of curiosity and pop culture, and went on to become a two-time National Bluegrass Banjo Champion. Over the years, his journey expanded far beyond bluegrass. Recording multiple albums for Rounder Records and collaborating with artists across genres, he has built a career defined not by category, but by openness — to new sounds, new instruments, and new ways of connecting.
That openness comes through most clearly in live performance. In an intimate venue like the Durango Arts Center, Furtado’s nuanced playing and easy storytelling feel especially at home. Notes linger. Melodies wander and return. The experience is less about spectacle and more about presence — a shared moment between artist and audience.
For Arts Perspective readers, this is the kind of evening we love to point toward: thoughtful, unhurried, and rooted in craft. Whether you’ve followed Tony Furtado’s music for years or are discovering him for the first time, this performance promises a night of warmth, depth, and genuine musical conversation.
Some performances linger long after the last note fades. This feels like one of them.
