Spain events, vacations and travel blog

The Barcelona city festival La Merce is celebrated each year, being September 24 a local festivity. The hundreds of planned activities start today, September 21.

La Merce is the patron saint of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, after having combated a grasshoppers (locust) plague in the 17th century.
Between the late 19th and early 20th century, the festival became very popular with many cultural celebrations.

Today´s opening ceremony (7.45 pm) at Plaza Sant Jaime (plaça de Sant Jaume in Catalan), headquarter of the city hall and Catalan government, will show the well known giant figures (gegants) dancing to the traditional Catalan instruments, such as the tabal, tarota and the flabiol, made of wood.
Monday morning, September 24th at 11 am, the giants will dance again on the same place and throughout the gothic quarter.

The world famous human towers (castellers), originally coming from southern Catalonia, will take your breath away, and should not be missed, on 2 days at Plaza Sant Jaime: Sunday at noon with the Castellers de Vilafranca and the Minyons de Terrassa. Monday, 12.30 pm will be reserved for the Castellers de Barcelona and colles de Vila de Gracia, Sants, Sagrada Familia, Poble Sec and colla jove de Barcelona.

One of the highlights during La Merce festivities to enjoy and also to be somewhat careful, is the Correfoc (fire run), starting at 8.30 pm on Sunday at Via Laietana street. During the event you can see along many streets dragons, beasts and devils fire spitting, what can be somewhat a bit dangerous if you get too close, not wearing a cotton shirt with long sleeves, long trowsers, a hat and a neckerchief, apart from comfortable footwear. Also bear in mind that there will be thousands of people on the streets.

The façade of Gaudi´s Sagrada Familia (the holy church) will be the scenery of a new spectacle in seven acts. This show will be only from Friday to Sunday night, starting the first one at 9 pm and offered by a Canadian company, specialised in multimedia events.
Another façade light and tecnological show can be seen every night at the town hall (Plaça Sant Jaume), which includes images from well known places and monuments in Barcelona. The first show starts at 9.15 pm.

These are only a few of the events to take place during the La Merce city festivities in Barcelona, Catalona, Spain, between September 21 and 24, 2012.

UMEYA at the Festival Frigiliana Tres Culturas. Friday, 27th of August, 20:00h
Church Square, Frigiliana (Málaga).

Umeya will be at the prestigious Festival Frigliana Tres Culturas, in that fantastic enclave, at the region of Axarquía, that was one of the ultimate refuge for presence of the Moriscos before their definitive expulsion from Spain and that, nowadays, remembers and claims its history as a call to the understanding between the cultures of the World.

Africa and Near East join in the meeting between the Sudanese Wafir Sheikheldin and the Syrian Salah Sabbagh. Their winding rhythms will be the base for the dancing by the beautiful Mónica Sadeh, technically and expressively virtuosa dancer, specialized in the scene show and the teaching of classic oriental dance and sabre dance.

Wafir’s career along his 17 years in Spain has gone trought so eclectic experiencies like ancient music with Eduardo Paniagua, celtic pop with Hevia, Galician folk with Luar Na Lubre, Castilian folk with La Musgaña, Jewish music with Klezmer Sefardí and Radio Tarifa’s rich fusion, as well as with hos ouwn artistical project. At the stage his communication ability, his inventiveness, sense of humour and empathy with the audience stand out.

Salah Sabbagh has been a percussionist for more that 30 years, specialized in Eastern instruments, like darbuka, riq and bendir, both playing as dance accompaniment as well as a soloist. During these years he has broaden his sensibility playing also some other traditional styles, like Egiptian and Balcanic, touring all over the Iberian peninsule and America.

Line-up: Wafir Sheikheldin - accordion, ud, viola, percussions, vocals; Salah Sabbagh - darbuka, riq, daf; Mónica Sade – Oriental dance.

Information supplied by MapaMundi.

Davide Salvado - in Festival Planeta Folk
Saturday, August 7th of 2010, 23:00h.
San Pedro de Gaíllos, Segovia. Map

Davide Salvado is a total artist, able to fill the stage with his charismatic presence. He retrieves the most nude tradition and put it in front of us, without any superfluous dressings, but with a careful and personal interpretation.

After years accompaning Xose Manuel Budiño worldwide, and, in parallel, making an intimate work from the Galician, Portuguese and Castilian traditional repertoire, Davide has developed a show where his voice, plenty of nuances and character, subtle and powerful, shines and convinces.

He also plays traditional percussion instruments, like Galician pandeireta (tambourine), Peñaparda’s pandero cuadrado (square frame drum from that Castilian-Leonese village), or the Portuguese adufe (also an square frame drum). In this occasion, Davide will be accompanied by Gonzalo Goás.

Supplied by MapaMundi.

UMEYA - “Culture at the City” series. Saturday 7th of August, 9.30pm, Parque Cuartel Huertas, Mostoles (Madrid).

Africa and Near East join in the meeting between the Sudanese Wafir Sheikheldin and the Syrian Salah Sabbagh. Their winding rhythms will be the base for the dancing by beautiful Monica Sadeh, technically and expressively virtuos dancer, specialized in the scene show and the teaching of classic oriental dance and sabre dance.

Wafir’s career along 17 years in Spain has gone through eclectic experiencies like ancient music with Eduardo Paniagua, celtic pop with Hevia, Galician folk with Luar Na Lubre, Castilian folk with La Musgaña, Jewish music with Klezmer Sefardí and Radio Tarifa’s rich fusion, as well as with own artistical projects. At the stage his communication ability, his inventiveness, sense of humour and empathy with the audience stand out.

Salah Sabbagh has been a percussionist for more that 30 years, specialized in Eastern instruments, like darbuka, riq and bendir, both playing as dance accompaniment as well as a solist. During these years he has broaden his sensibility playing also some other traditional styles, like Egiptian and Balcanic, touring all over the Iberian peninsule and America.

Line-up: Wafir Sheikheldin - accordion, ud, viola, percussions, vocals; Salah Sabbagh - darbuka, riq, daf; Monica Sade – Oriental dance.

Information supplied by MapaMundi

About Nantha, percussionist in Atta Chakki:

Familiar and culturaly rooted in Southern India, he was born in Singapore. Nantha started playing by himself when he was 5 years old. At the age of 7, he started to study tabla with masters from Southern India. Some time later he began to study at the Punjabi Gharana school.
With seventeen, his tireless curiosity drove him to investigate percussions from some other places of the world, such as African djembe, Latin congas or bongo.
After some years living in Paris, he moved to Madrid.

Since then, he has played with some of the best artists from Spain and abroad, like Concha Buika, Bill Evans, Ketama, Arto Tunçboyaciyan, Chano Domínguez, Jorge Pardo or Rubém Dantas.
Arabic, Indian, Balkan, Eastern, Flamenco, Afroamerican and jazz components mix in a very emotive and fresh proposal that marvels constanly, from the hands of these musicians, as experimented and connoisseur as daring and researchers.

Original compositions and pieces from Indian and Turkish traditions make up the repertoire of one of the most original and bright bands in the world music made in Spain.

Line-up:

Ivo Hristov (Bulgary): clarinet and alto saxophone. Niraj Kumar Singh (India): tabla and voice. Jorge Lozano (Spain): ud, morsing, percussion. André Teixeira (Portugal): Eastern and Afro-latin percusion and voice. Ricardo Passos (Portugal): saz, cümbüş, harp, guitar, percussion and voice.

Next concerts by Atta Chakki:

In Madrid. FestiMad. Sala Espacio Ronda, Ronda de Segovia, 50. Thursday, 6th of May of 2010, 8.30 pm.

In Murcia. Festival Murcia Tres Culturas, Plaza de los Apostoles. Friday, 21st of May of 2010, 10 pm.

Information supplied by MapaMundi.

Kilema is an artist who has travelled around the world by the hand of Peter Gabriel and his WOMAD festivals, and has recorded for labels like Real World.

Kilema brings us the Malagasy heat, from the deep southern Indian Ocean, to Andalusia, where he lives nowadays. An irresistible rhythm, plenty of life and soul, to make the ancestors dance.

Line-up: Randrianantoandro Clément ‘Kilema’ (vocals, marovany, kabosy and katsá), Randrianantoandro Nesta (katsá, melodica and vocals), Pedro José Delgado Antúnez (bass, calabash, bamboo and vocals), Miguel Navarro de Vera (cajón, cymbals, percussions).

When: Thursday, 25th of March, 2010, 20:00h. Free entrance.

Where: Pabellon CajAstur del Recinto Ferial Luis Adaro, Gijon, Asturias.

Information supplied by Mapa Mundi

The Spanish Savings Bank CajaSol has choosen Atta Chakki for their series of world music concerts in Seville and Cordova. This series will also bring to Andalucia, Spain, Cherno More in April and Umeya in November.

Arabic, Indian, Balkan, Eastern, Flamenco, Afroamerican and Jazz components mix in a very emotive and fresh proposal that marvels constanly, from the hands of these musicians, as experimented and connoisseur as daring and researchers. Original compositions and pieces from Indian and Turkish traditions make up the repertoire of one of the most original and bright bands in the world music made in Spain.

Line-up: Ivo Hristov (Bulgary): Clarinet and alto saxophone. Niraj Kumar Singh (India): Tabla and voice. Jorge Lozano (Spain): Ud, morsing, percussion. Andre Teixeira (Portugal): Eastern and Afro-latin percussion and voice. Ricardo Passos (Portugal): Saz, cümbüş, harp, guitar, percussion and voice.

In Seville, Sala CajaSol, Chicarreros s/n. Friday, 26th of February, 20:30h. Free entrance.

In Cordova, Sala Oribe, Jardin de Oribe. Saturday, 27th of February, 20:30h. Free entrance.

Information supplied by MapaMundi 

The Mobile World Congress, once more held this year, from today until Thursday at the Montjuic area in Barcelona, Spain, will host 1.300 companies displaying everthing around the mobile future.

Industry seminars will come up with ideas, initiatives and innovative solutions. A high class seminar and an award ceremony will also form part of the international congress.

50.000 professional visitors from all around the world, with 9.000 mobile network operator representatives are expected to visit the 3GSM Mobile World Congress in Barcelona during these four days.

The upcoming 2010-2011 season at the famous Liceu Theatre on the not less famous Ramblas boulevard, offers a huge variety of classic and contemporary works.

You can choose between sixteen operas, four concerts, three recitals, three dance performances and several children’s plays. Among the highlights are Bizet’s Carmen, Verdi´s Falstaff, Iphigenie auf Tauris as well as Ariane et Barbe-Bleue by Paul Dukas.

A great event in Barcelona will be the appearance of Placido Domingo of Tamerlano by Händel.

To celebrate their 30 years on stage, the famous Tricicle will perform with Garrick at the Teatre Poliorama in Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, until December 13.

For the first time and until February 14, the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Spain, shows 19 erotic Japanese prints which belonged to the private collection of the unique Spanish artist, forming part of an exhibition called Secret Images and which counts more than hundred works of International artists.

Live music - Wafir from Sudan with his band Nilo Azul at Centro Cultural Cajastur in Mieres, Asturias, Spain.
Friday, 13th of November of 2009, 8 pm. Free entrance.

Wafir’s career along his 17 years in Spain has gone trought so eclectic experiencies like ancient music with Eduardo Paniagua, celtic pop with Hevia, Galician folk with Luar Na Lubre, Castilian folk with La Musgaña, Jewish music with Klezmer Sefardí and Radio Tarifa’s rich fusion. Even the most commercial pop, like Amistades Peligrosas’ has took advantage of his versatility and know how.

Information supplied by MapaMundi.

Until Saint Valentine´s Day on Febuary 14, 2010, you can see over 60 projects and aprox. 200 photographs, drawings, models and books during the Exhibition of American Frank Lloyd Wright, shown at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, in case you are in the Basque Country during this time.
It is the largest exhibition in Europe dedicated to Wright.

The projects of the architect include public and government buildings, religious buildings, offices, private houses and auditoriums.

The American architect Frank Lloyd Wright is most likely to be one of the architects who revolutionised the concept of space and who created the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (Modern Art museum) on the Fifth Avenue in New York, emblem of the Big Apple.

A musical meeting of Wafir and Nasco, between Sudan and Bulgaria, at Cafe Teatro Arenal, Mayor, 6, Madrid on Thursday, 29th of October of 2009, 11.30 pm.
   
The meeting between Wafir Shaikheldin and Nasco Hristov gets together two musical cultures of strong personality: on one hand, the afro-arabian gentleness and sensuality, with reminiscences of Al-Andalusí music and, on the other hand, the vibrant virtuosity and the overflowed emotion of Balcan music.

At the same time it is an unique meeting between people from different cultures, that germinates and grows up at the Iberian Mainland.

Nasco Hristov is a virtuoso accordion player from Bulgaria and one of the pioneers in Balcan music in Spain. Throught the 10 years he has been in Spain he has played with the bands Rodopis, Klezmer Sefardí and Cherno More, as well as with his brother, the clarinet player Ivo Hristov. Nasco has recently released his first own album: Sueño de un acordeonista (Pneuma, 2009) that shows, once again, his virtuosity and good taste.

On the other side, talking about the Sudanese Wafir Shaikheldin means talking about 17 years of career in Spain, that has gone trought so eclectic experiencies like ancient music with Eduardo Paniagua, celtic pop with, Galician folk with Luar Na Lubre, Castilian folk with La Musgaña, Jewish music with Klezmer Sefardí and Radio Tarifa’s rich fusion.

Even the most commercial pop, like Amistades Peligrosas’ has took advantage of his versatility and know how. Wafir also has his own repertoire, based on his Sudanese background and his varied career.

Information supplied by Mapamundi.

It might not be well known, but Barcelona in Spain has a historic Jewish Quarter (Call), located in the Gothic Quarter, right in the city center.

Together with Toledo and Girona, Barcelona has the biggest concentration of Jews in Spain. The Jewish community is steadily growing after their expulsion in Catalunya in the year 1391, and 1492 in the rest of Spain.

There are 2 synagogues, of which one is excavated and rehabilitated at the corner of Sant Domenec and Marlet, only 200 m from Plaza Sant Jaume, square where the City Hall and also Catalan Government are located. The Main Synagogue is the oldest in Europe and its main facade faces southeast towards Jerusalem.

Hebrew inscriptions can be found in shops, restaurants and cafes as well as along L’Arc de Sant Ramon, Calle del Bisbe, Banys Nous or Sant Domenec del Call streets.

This coming weekend, October 3 and 4, this year´s last Red Bull World Championship air race will be held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Barcelona will see and welcome the winner of this year´s World Championship competition, to be held in front of the sea line with over 1 million people expected to watch the air race Grand Finale. Currently Paul Bonhomme from Britain is leading the championship with 55 points, 4 points ahead of Hannes Arch, Austria, last years´s champion. A total of 15 pilots are taking part of the air race. 

Tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, will take place the 2 Qualifying Sessions after side acts and a pre-show. The Race starts at 2.30 pm on Sunday. The top 12 pilots will fly again at 3.30 pm and the final 8 at 4 pm. The big final 4 will start at 4.45 pm and will decide the World Champion. The award ceremony in Barcelona is scheduled for 5.15 pm and half an hour later results will be given.

The High Flyer Lounge and Race Club can be found at Passeig Maritim del Bogatell 91-99, Barcelona, Spain.
Public viewing along Avinguda Litoral, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and nearby beaches.

Gurzuf, a music group from Belarus (Bielorrusia), will perform at the Evoluciona Musica Festival Hangar in Burgos, Castile and Leon, Spain, Center for Musical Creation on November 5, 2009, at 9.30 pm.
Gurzuf is an unprecedent duo of accordion and drums. Enough ingredients in the skilled hands of Egor Zabelov and Artem Zalessky, to create a music of unusual intensity, a resounding turmoil that makes you breathless, a torrent of images, evocation and sensations that touch us causing a deep experience of catharsis shared between the musicians and the audience.
An exaltation of melodic beauty, rhythmic ecstasy, pleasure in harmony and definitely in the search for the essence of music.
The Belarus music group Gurzuf breaks topics and thrills from the first compass with an unclassifiable and unique, splendid and captivating and amazing music.
Information supplied by MapaMundi.

The Barcelona festivities take place between today and Sunday with over 600 activities and venues throughout the city. It is one of the biggest events in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

La Merce, patron of Barcelona, has its Saint today and with a warm and nice weather celebrating this holiday and celebration, many events can be followed, from Castellers (human castles / human tower building groups) in front of the city council to an activity packed day in the city park Ciutadella.

In the park are all sorts of games for children like table games and throwing a boomerang. Also several days with the yearly Asian Festival, where one can enjoy Asian food, Jazz groups, Indian and Chinese live music, including Cui Jian, the well known Chinese rock star.

Each night fireworks can be seen along the Barcelona beach, participating several international companies.

Many museums participate with free entrance during the festivities.

This year´s city guest is Istanbul (Turkey). At the maritim Museum of Barcelona you can see Turkish shadow theatre, discover cinema, a Turkish bazaar and National art.

Turkish music can be listened to at Plaza Sant Jaume.

The first time the White Nights were celebrated, was in Paris in the year 2002. The idea was to show the inhabitants their own city and contemporary creation in a different way. 

Due to the big success among the population, other European cities joined this unique idea and therefore the European White Nights were born. Other cities celebrating currently this one night event are Amsterdam, Brussels, Bucharest, La Valetta, Madrid and Riga.

In the year 2006 Madrid held the first White Night (La Noche Blanca) with increasing popularity and consolidation during the last years. 

Tonight and during ten hours, the fourth edition of the White Night is held, with over 100 art and culture activities and events scheduled throughout the traffic free inner city.

Different venues will offer all kind of activities for all age groups and tastes.

Hundreds of thousands of people will visit museums at night, listen to live music, street theatre, dance and other activities.

The different circuits include the Film Circuit, Music Circuit, the Visual Arts Circuit and the Performing Arts Circuit. Open events to choose from are an Afro Jam Session, a Chinese Rock Group, Arabic Worldviews, Image, Poetry and Chopin, Free dynamic readings or Movie Glamour at the Museum, just to name only a very few events. 

The annual season at the Teatre Tantarantana, located in the district of Ciutat Vella in the centre of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, includes mainly shows and performances on dance topics.

Shows can be seen such as Dust, a contemporary dance by the Nun Art dance company. As to physical theatre, the Sevilla Centro de Arte Escenico presents: I cook and he does the washing up. An open-air show will include Clogs go for good habits, performed by the Canary Islands dance company Nomada Danza - Teatro.