Last year’s Lotus Festival sensation returns! Overflow crowds testified to Guilhem Desq’s charismatic mastery of the hurdy-gurdy, a deep-barreled, lute-shaped string instrument whose sound is generated by turning a crank. Desq, who has electrified this usually acoustic instrument, plays a wide repertoire – from traditional European folk to Middle Eastern tunes, from rock to electronica. “He builds musical stories … and it is easy to forget that everything was created on one instrument, simply amazing….” (Staccatofy.com) Presented in partnership with the IU Institute for European Studies.