Friday, July 06, 2007
Tenerife: Island of festivals
For once, we're not talking about the popular folk festivals that happen in every town and village on these islands, but other forms of music festivals, of which there is an ever increasing number, converting the Canary Islands into a Tierra de festivales (Land of festivals), as ABC noted recently.
Most of the world's eyes will be on Live Earth this weekend - in fact, there are three Live Earth House Parties in Tenerife, in Adeje, La Laguna and Santa Cruz. Meanwhile, here on the island itself there is much more too.
We've already had Santa Blues and Aguaviva. The latter drew a crowd of 30,000, despite Keane pulling out at the last minute.
Canaries Jazz Festival
Tonight is the turn of the headline act in this year's Festival Jazz y Más de Heineken, as the Chucho Valdés Quintet & Bebo Valdés perform at the Auditorio de Tenerife.
As the program says, there are only two or three figures remaining from the golden age of Cuban music and one of them is pianist, Bebo Valdés. Now 89, he is the father of Chucho Valdés, but if you think you don't know the name, you are sure to know his music, backing a number of big names, including the late Celia Cruz.
The festival is on from June 26th to July 9th.
XVI Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Más Heineken
Nocturnos de Verano
Also this weekend, the Museo de Historia de Tenerife (Tenerife History Museum) begins it's Nocturnos de Verano (Summer Nocturnal Events) tonight and tomorrow night, July 6th and 7th, from 8:30 p.m. This is a cultural activity, open to the public, combining literature, music and history.
Nocturnos de Verano
Festival Internacional de Piano
From the 2nd to the 9th of July, six young pianists will offer concerts during the XVI Festival Internacional de Piano (16th International Piano Festival) in Santa Cruz, in Tenerife. All of the concerts are free and are being held at the cultural center of the CajaCanarias.
XVI Festival Internacional de Piano
First International Festival of Film Music
The First International Festival of Film Music takes place in Tenerife between July 9th and 15th. The Teatro Guimerá is the venue on July 14th, where music by Callery, Danna and Illarramendi will be performed. On July 15th the music of Davis and Navarro will fill the Auditorio de Tenerife.
Film music in The Canaries
Festival Eólica
Aguaviva promoted the defence of the oceans and, in similar vein, coming up next weekend, is the Festival Eólica or Festival Internacional de Energías Renovables promoting the use of renewable energy that will be held at the Parque Eólico de Granadilla (ITER) (Wind farm) in Granadilla de Abona on July 14th.
The official version, from the festival's MySpace page goes:
One of the most original and charismatic events that take place in Spain is back this summer, celebrating its 5th edition. Taking place at a WindPower Park in Tenerife, below gigantic windmills and on the shore of the ocean, EOLICA feeds on renewable energies bringing over twenty hours of art, music and ecology to life. Recycling and Natural Resources are the highlight of the show, encouraging many different activities, all with one common goal: ecology. Great artists, musicians and bands from all over the world will come together to support the cause, giving their best at four different stages that will take place simultaneously. Starting at noon July 14th, the event will go on until the break of dawn on the 15th.
Brummie band, The Charlatans head the lineup.
Festival Eólica (English)
Those coming from other islands can travel at a discount to many of these events, as they are covered by the government's Días C de la Cultura (Cultural Days) program, report Bienmesabe.
And to this, we must add some really huge names in individual concerts.
Joe Cocker has a date in La Laguna
British blues legend Joe Cocker has switched the venue of his Tenerife concert on July 10 to the Pabellon Santiago Martin in La Laguna. Tickets for his Tenerife concert can be ordered online at GeneralTickets or at the Pabellon Santiago Martin box office on the day itself. (Pabellon Santiago Martin. Mercedes, s/n 38108 Los Majuelos - Tenerife Tlf. 922 82 20 56 - Fax. 922 31 01 93) The concert starts at 9pm.
Joe Cocker has a date in La Laguna
Youssou N´Dour
Meanwhile, Senegalese singer and percussionist, Youssou N´Dour, best known for his collaborations with Peter Gabriel, Neneh Cherry or Paul Simon, his work with the United Nations and UNICEF and appearances at three of the Live 8 concerts, is to play the Auditorio de Tenerife on July 11th.Youssou N´Dour
Chick Corea & Gary Burton play the Auditorio de Tenerife on July 13th. On the 20th and 21st, we change genre a bit for the Boston Ballet.
On top of this there are probably countless hundreds of talented individuals and bands playing in halls and bars all around the island. These days in Tenerife, you're spoiled for choice as far as entertainment is concerned.
