The image of Seville's XV Flamenco Biennial is a picture of flamenco dancer Yolanda Heredia by Colombian artist Ruvén Amador. The fact that she is nude in the picture is far from obvious at first sight, which does not stop the press from getting excited about it, and even the artist is quoted as gushing that it "depicts the nakedness of the flamenco woman in the perpetual light of summer." I must point out that the Biennial is a much more interesting affair than this story would suggest, being one of flamenco's greatest festivals, expectations for which are always all the greater for it being held every two years rather than annually. It is held in the autumn - this year's dates are September 10th to October 11th - and showcases the flamenco elite, especially but not only in terms of flamenco dance. Key figures featured in the 2006 edition, for example, included Vicente Amigo, Diego "El Cigala," the Amador family, and Pepe Habichuela, and the dance companies of Antonio Gades, Belén Maya, Mercedes Ruiz, Carmen Cortés, Eva Yerbabuena and El Flamenco Vive. A list like that makes flamenco enthusiasts' pulse rates quicken, and there is no reason to think that this year's biennial will be any less interesting. Read more or visit the Spain and Portugal for Visitors flamenco pages.

Posted by : John Ross on Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 12:52 PM 898 reads

The fourth, 2008 edition of Barcelona's Busker's Festival will be held July 31st to August 3rd. Buskers who fancy a working holiday or at least a couple of days on the beach have until the end of December to get their participation requests in to the organizers. There is no payment or prize, but travelling expenses will be met and "the group or band is allowed to pass the cap to the public and sale their CD’s in each of the sessions," plus a promotional CD will be produced. Awon, a too, awon, two, three four... More Barcelona beat here.

Posted by : John Ross on Friday, December 14, 2007 - 07:56 AM 576 reads

The Spanish national anthem is notable for two things: big bits of it sound just like the Geordie folk song The Keel Row (and it can be almost as jolly when played at a reasonable speed*), and it has no words. The latter fact makes little difference, except, modern times being what they are, at sports events. One occasion a year or two ago especially pleased me - at the medal award ceremony, with the Spanish (waterpolo, I think) team on the podium, the music system failed. Unphased either by the non-accompaniment or by lack of words, the valiant Spaniards provided their own, relatively tuneful version - "Naa naa, naa naa, na-na-na-na na-na-na-na..." and so on. It was glorious. Now the Spanish Olympic Committee has decided the situation cannot continue and is running a competition to find suitable lyrics. More of this story.

*Don't take my word for it, listen to this fine, spirited midi version of it, courtesy of those nice young folks over at Wikipedia.

Posted by : John Ross on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 12:09 PM 6055 reads

This article has moved to here.

Posted by : John Ross on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 12:48 PM 7822 reads