Dúo del Sol coming to Stage Left Café

A 1994 graduate of Crystal Lake South High School, Farrell will perform both in Chicago and at Stage Left Café in Woodstock as part of Dúo del Sol. The instrumental group features Farrell on guitar and Uruguayan violinist Javier Orman.

The two write their own music, described as eclectic and full of raw energy.

“We try to convey the energy and the sound of a full group through the two of us,” Farrell said. “It’s all instrumental, but there are moments where we vocalize stuff or use percussion.”

The group’s Chicago performance is 9 p.m. July 22 at Jerry’s, 1938 W. Division. Dúo del Sol will perform 8 p.m. July 26 at Stage Left Cafe, W. Van Buren St.

Having built up a following in the Los Angeles area and receiving praise for their first album “Mira,” the duo is making its Midwest premiere.

For Farrell, the appearances offer the chance to visit with family and friends. His parents, Tom and Mary Farrell, live in Crystal Lake.

“I hope we’re going to have a really good turnout for both shows, Woodstock especially,” he said. “In the next year, we have big plans to do larger things on a larger scale.”

Farrell also has worked as a conductor of the Los Angeles Electric 8, launching the group on a successful East Coast tour in the spring of 2011. He recently recorded “Hermano” for the soundtrack of the Will Ferrell movie “Casa de mi Padre.”

He runs his own music studio, Tom Farrell Music in Santa Monica, Calif., where he teaches about 40 students.

In 2009, his duo partner founded Kidzymphony, an orchestral program for young children in Charleston, S.C., that continues to nurture 50 children in music each year.

The two met about five years ago, a time when Farrell “had an idea for a violin guitar duo.”

“I wanted it to be something unique, something original,” he said. At first, the two simply met up to play for fun. About a year ago, they started writing music and put out an album.