La Isla Flamenco City
The San Fernando Island Festival is back with a great line-up full of artists, we tell you about it in a new post of our blog.
After two years of lethargy due to events, the seventh edition of La Isla Ciudad Flamenca returns to the streets of the island.
La Isla Ciudad Flamenca has been held since 2014 in San Fernando (Cádiz) in different areas of the city, from 21 July to 31 August, providing the good dose of flamenco that the island needs to maintain its traditional roots. The festival's slogan says it all: 42 days of Flamenco, gastronomy, beach and Andalusian hospitality. A festival with no other pretensions than for the visitor to enjoy the island, its unique gastronomy, its beaches, the hospitality of its neighbours and, of course, its flamenco. A large part of the festival's line-up is made up of artists from San Fernando and the province of Cadiz.
In this new edition, new venues have been added to the festival, such as the Market, the Alameda Moreno de Guerra and the Patio del Turco.
Three major events will be held during the 42 days in the Almirante Laulhé Park: The inauguration, which will be led by the bailaor DAVID NIETO with the exclusive presentation of his new show TABÚ, the Noche Flamenca del Parque featuring the voices of three great flamenco singers María Terremoto, Anabel Valencia and Alba Bazán, and the Noche del Baile Flamenco en el Parque, where Andalusian artists such as José Lucena, Hermanas Santiago, Paloma Moya and Nicolás Jurado will perform, but there will also be a space for those dancers from the Island who have a strong background in flamenco dance and are doing great work for their young careers: Paula Sierra, María Guerrero, Daniela Muñoz or María Jesús Ramos "La Niña".
The Patio del Turco in Calle Real 57, where the organisers want to showcase the beautiful patios of the island, will have three nights dedicated to flamenco guitar. An ideal place to listen to the proposals of Tito Alcedo and Nono García with Titonete, Adriano Lozano with the Israeli bass player Eran Horwitz and the percussionist Israel Katumba presenting "Tres Culturas". And finally, on Wednesday 17 August, the guitarist Juan Manuel Fernández will offer "Guerrero", a musical work accompanied by the double bass of Peru Peñafiel, the percussion of Alejandro Danieri, and as guest artists El Cañejo and Paula Sierra. A charming place to enjoy the best guitar music.
La Venta Vergas recovers its prominence
La Venta de Vargas will be one of the focal points of the festival, where good flamenco dancing and singing will be the stars of the show. Artists such as Carlos Carbonell, Titi Flores, María Fernández, Lola Yang, Malena Alba, Ana Fernández, Carmen Bejarano, María Montilla, Paca Rodríguez, María José Coca, Carolina Castilla, Miguel Téllez, José Malia, will perform at the Patio de Camarón. There will also be special shows such as Tributo a Bambino offered by El Mawi, 100 años de Flamenco, Nueva Savia del Baile flamenco which will feature Rocío Rodriguez, María Nieto, Maria Jesús Ramos "La Niña" or Mariam Lobato "La Terremoto", and the traditional Cuadro Flamenco de la Venta de Vargas. But we also highlight the night of Tuesday 26 July with the traditional "Flamenco from the Balcony of Venta de Vargas".
Master Classes
The Master Classes will be given by the internationally renowned choreographer Javier Latorre, at the Escuela Municipal de Danza on 25 and 26 August. These classes will be open to professionals of all ages with their curriculum vitae. The organisers will make a selection from among the CVs received and will choose the students who, on their own merits, will be admitted to these classes.
Flamencos from the Island such as Paco Manano, Rafael Vargas, Manuel Lucas, Eva Pedreño and the Escuela de Cante de la Peña Flamenca el Chato de la Isla will perform in the Alameda Moreno de Guerra on Tuesdays 2, 9 and 23 August.
Flamencos in the streets
Another great classic of LA ISLA CIUDAD FLAMENCA is the Flamencos en las Callejuelas de Camarón. Between Calle Alcedo and Calle el Carmen, a tablao where flamenco enthusiasts join together to sing, creating a unique atmosphere in the narrow streets.
The newly renovated market will feature two fresh performances at 13:30 on 28 July and 18 August, next to the market canteen.
The exhibition History and Culture of the Gypsy People, created by the Asociación de Enseñantes con Gitanos and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, will be installed in the Casa Natal de Camarón at Calle el Carmen 29, for the duration of the festival. What better place and host than Camarón to show this interesting exhibition about the Gypsy People.
Flamenco de Guardia will take flamenco to different corners of the city during the 42 days of La Isla Ciudad Flamenca. Flamencos will sing in different venues and squares such as the Gran Via, the beach bars, Azabache, the Milonga or the Bodegón Andalucía.
A great closing dedicated to Camarón
On 31 August the closing of the festival will be dedicated to the figure of Camarón, with a heartfelt tribute by different flamenco singers next to his monument. Flamenco artists will sing to his figure in the Juan Vargas square as a tribute to the 30 years without the legend.
