The album was recorded at the Tim Roebuck Audio Productions studio and the album’s art cover was taken by Nicole Welch, a Bathurst-based visual artist. 

With a mix of gypsy jazz and their own sound, Arabesk have drawn inspiration from jazz, Motown, African, soul, waltz and Arabic music, to name a few.

The band consists of Bulgarian-born violin virtuoso Veren Grigorov, world music multi-instrumentalist Rob Shannon, young up-and-coming jazz bassist Thomas Wade and Michigan-born drummer extraordinaire Calvin Welch. 

Shannon, who has lived in Bathurst for the past eight years, said Tim Roebuck’s studio has been professional.

“There’s no pressure when recording in Bathurst,” Shannon said.

“When you record in Sydney, it’s busy and a nightmare to park.

“It’s great to bring the band here [Bathurst] and get such a good product.”

Shannon said it means so much for him to perform and record in Bathurst. 

Arabesk are already planning work on a new album for next year, with plans to write more music in Bathurst and possibly record their next album here as well. 

Shannon looks towards Django Reinhardt, a French jazz guitarist, as a key influence, but Arabesk have drawn inspiration from many other genres. 

The band won the best instrumental track at The Australian Songwriters Awards in 2011 and Arabesk were invited that year to perform at the Takatsuki Jazz Festival in Osaka, Japan for the first time. 

Before they released their third album Mr Fi in August 2016, the band had spent the past two years touring and playing festivals in Australia and Japan, including the 2015 Takatsuki Jazz Festival and 2016 Sumida Jazz Festival in Tokyo. 

Recent Australian highlight festivals include the Blue Mountains Music Festival and the Wangaratta Jazz Festival in 2015 and the Clarence Jazz Festival and Palm Creek Folk Festival in 2016.

The gig will be held at the BCCC and will be a family-friendly event for all ages.

Tickets are $25 per adult at the door and doors will open at 6.30pm for an 8pm start.