Bossa Nova with Mario Bakuna

Mario Bakuna plays acoustic bossa nova at Morocco Bound Bookshop in Wandsworth on Friday 23 October, a night dedicated to the music of João Gilberto.

Gilberto is widely known as the father of bossa nova, the gentle, syncopated style that emerged from Rio de Janeiro in the late fifties. Bakuna's set is a tribute to him, drawing on classic bossa nova and samba repertoire. It's a solo acoustic performance, so the focus stays on the guitar and the songs themselves rather than a full band.

The setting is an intimate bookshop, and the music fits that sort of room. Bossa nova is a quiet, conversational style of playing, and hearing it in a space like this lets you catch the finer details of the guitar work. It's the kind of gig you can sit through and really listen to, rather than something you're standing at the back of.

One thing to keep in mind is that the night is open to all ages, so it works as a family outing as much as a solo trip. Doors open at 19:00, and the night wraps up around 22:00, giving you a few hours of music without running too late into the evening. You'll find Morocco Bound Bookshop at St Mary's, Wandsworth, London SW18 1UZ.