BILLED as “the Jimi Hendrix of the pipes” this was to be no ordinary concert which soon became clear by the early reaction from the capacity house.

Playing to a spellbound audience, pin-drop silence and mouths open with amazement was a prelude for what was to follow. A true feast for all the senses.

Nunez, the mercurial messenger of Celtic music, joined his brother Xurxo on percussion, Pancho Alvarez on Portuguese guitar and guest Canadian fiddler/stepdancer Jon Pilatzke onstage.

Early in the programme he introduced his signature instrument the Gaita, a Spanish bagpipe which he began learning aged eight and is now the foremost player in the world.

There followed a multi-instrumental arsenal of pipes, whistles and recorders, the musical journey led the audience around the world – culminating in a moving rendition of Ravel’s Bolero on the Gaita, which raised the roof with audience applause filling every cornice of the Victorian Chapel.

Nunez likes to involve local artists – two pipers from the Southern Jacobites Pipe band, fiddler Lewis Wood and Championship Irish dancers Oliver Gething and Megan Curtis from the Boyle O’Dowda academy of Irish Dance wowed the audience and finally, host John Davison shared a guest spot with Nunez, playing Bodhran, Irish drum, plus a rendition of “Raggle Taggle Gipsy”.

In the tradition of ‘duelling banjos’ a percussive competition ensued between the quick feet of Jon Pilatzke versus the lightening sticks of Xurxo Nunez (on Samsonite suitcase) and was declared a draw.

A moving tribute by the pipers – “The Haughs of Cromdale” recognized Piper George Frederick Findlater VC of the Gordon Highlanders, who was treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley.

From there the upbeat, uplifting music continued with Carlos’s “Camino de Santiago” inspired by the remarkable journey people take to find their inner self and peace.

Nunez encouraged the audience to stand, link fingers and travel for the traditional Breton dance “An Dro” followed by a rousing finale of “Aires de Pontevedra” with the pipers.

This was truly an unforgettable evening of music at Chapel Sessions of a quality rarely experienced in these parts.

Sonja Davison