Nominated last year for the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards having built a solid reputation as one of the most exciting acts on the touring circuit, Radio Tarifa is an experience not to be missed.

The unmistakeable blend of medieval and Arabic sounds, with a vibrant contemporary flamenco base is uniquely fascinating and has won them a fan base that extends far beyond Europe.

Radio Tarifa celebrated their 10th anniversary last summer with the release of ‘Fiebre’, a live album recorded during a remarkable concert in Toronto, Canada, the previous year. The session captured pure essence of Tarifa at their most exhilarating and the CD featured ten new interpretations of songs from their last three albums, plus two new songs written specially for the project.

Now, thanks to a new initiative aimed at bringing the cream of Europe’s creative talent here, music lovers across Scotland can look forward to a Spring-time programme of events which includes performances from the sensational Radio Tarifa.

The Tune Up project will see the country’s leading music promoter, Soundsfine Ltd., link up with the Scottish Arts Council, to take high quality world music and contemporary European jazz to outlying areas as well as cities and towns from The Borders to the Highlands and Islands.

The touring programme has been made possible through lottery funding which has created the opportunity for high-profile acts to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

Soundsfine Ltd., with probably the longest and most distinguished track record north of the Border for promoting music from these fields, will be co-ordinating three of the tours which make up the programme, bringing The Paolo Fresu Sextet, Radio Tarifa and Erik Truffaz to a range of venues in the coming months.

Director Billy Kelly says he is excited about the opportunities the Tune Up initiative presents.

“It’s just great to be involved in getting this programme up and running,” he said.

“While audiences in obvious centres such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Stirling will be able to see performers of this calibre, it is so good to be able to stage concerts in places such as Peebles, Melrose and Galashiels in the lowlands as well as the Isle of Skye, Ullapool, Drumnadrochit and Stornoway.

“All of these artistes are internationally-renowned in their own fields and most of them household names in their own countries.”

The Paolo Fresu Sextet will be the first to arrive here in March. Thereafter, Radio Tarifa will be touring in April and Erik Turffaz in June.

• April 15 - Radio Tarifa - The Lemon Tree, North Street, Aberdeen AB24 5AT. 8pm. Tickets - £13.00 (concessions £11.00) from the box office on 01224 642230. 
• April 16 - Radio Tarifa - Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3NY. 8pm. Tickets - £15.00 (concessions £13.00) from 0141 353 8000 
• April 17 - Radio Tarifa - Volunteer Hall, St John Street, Galashiels, TD1 3JX. 8pm. Tickets - £10.00 (concessions £8.00) from 01896 750588
• April 18 - Radio Tarifa - Usher Hall, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2EA. 8pm. Tickets - £15.00 (concessions £12.00) from 0131 228 1155 * A pre-concert talk with members of the band in conversation with Jan Fairley will commence at 6.30pm.
• April 19 - Radio Tarifa - Town Hall, Stornoway HS1 2BE. 8pm. Tickets -  £12.50 (concessions £10.50) from 01851 703307
• April 20 - Radio Tarifa - Macphail Centre, Mill Street, Ullapool IV26 2UN. 8pm. Tickets - £10.00 (concessions £8.00) from 01854 613336