The Rhythm Foundation’s 27th Season opens with Italian superstar Luciano Ligabue, one of Italy’s most popular contemporary musicians (and filmmakers) who broke a European concert attendance record when 165,264 diehard fans showed up. Ligabue comes to Grand Central on Sunday, October 26th to celebrate the release of his 10th studio album, Monodovisione.

Ligabue. Photo: Chico De Luigi

Born in Correggio, Italy, Ligabues is a musician whose work emerges from his personal history working odd jobs from agriculture to the music industry. His songs are heavily narrative and urban. They reveal contemporary life in an ancient landscape. Listen to excerpts from Monodovisione here.

What makes Ligabue such a compelling figure is that his work is distinct and diverse. Not only does he make music, he wrote, directed and produced the film, “Radiofreccia,” which won Italy’s Nastri d’Argento and Davide di Donatello awards for screenplay and direction. He also published Fuori e Dentro il Borgo,” a collection of short stories that earned him the Elsa Morante prize, one of Italy’s most beloved literary prizes.

Ligabue’s Mondovisione Tour, “Mondo 2014,” stops in Miami on October 26 at Grand Central, 697 N. Miami Ave., Miami. Doors open at 7:30pm. General admission tickets are $50-55 and can be purchased online here.