Salamanca's 2015 Ferias y Fiestas - Concerts

September is coming and so are the Ferias and Fiestas! Although the official program hasn't been publicized yet, we already know which artists will hit the stage. Check out some of their songs on our playlist and get to know them, practise your Spanish and start memorizing the lyrics if your are planning on going to their concerts. We'll keep you up-to-date with any news. Meanwhile, see previous entries to get a feeling of what is coming: tapas, street performances, fairground attractions, bullfighting...

Pablo Alborán

After his debut in 2010 with his first single, Solamente tú, Pablo Alborán has won 30 platinum records in Europe, two golden records in America and one in Portugal.

India Martínez

Winner of many prices, in 2015 she received the Goya award for the best song in the movie “El Niño”. She worked with great artists such as David Bisbal, Pitingo or Enrique Iglesias, among others.

Los Secretos

Los Secretos, with influences of the new wave, is considered one of the most important bands in the history of Spanish pop and rock music.

Abraham Mateo

Since the release of hist first album, being just a 10-year-old singer, he has won a platinum record and two golden record sales certifications in Spain.

Ariel Rot

Rock and blues guitar player, singer, composer and music producer. Since his band Los Rodríguez split, the Argentinian undetook a solo career.

Sidonie

The Spanish band Sidonie is characterized by its psychedelic and alternative rock style,  with notable influences by George Harrison, David Bowie o Pink Floyd.

Rosendo

Guitar player, singer and compositor, he is considered one of the most important exponents of Spanish rock.

If you want to listen more by these singers, check out this playlist on Spotify and Youtube:

Concerts - Plazas y Patios 2015

The ancient colegio de Santo Domingo de la Cruz since 2002 has been hosting photography and other kinds of exhibitions. But the gardens of the college, structured in three levels connected by stairways, are perfect for the concerts of Plazas y Patios 2015.

On Saturday august 1st, the band Et Encore played in the gardens of Santo Domingo de la Cruz. The group, composed by people from different countries, mixes traditional Irish songs with popular Belgian ones without overlooking a touch of rock and folk. The singer Pascal "Billy" Vantomme, a mix of glee, plays the acustic and the electric guitars, banjo and dulcimer, accompanied by drums, percussions, flutes, bass and violin, and other instruments. Everything has allowed a night of fun with unconventional and really original music.

The following week, on Saturday august 8th it was the turn of the Randy Greer Quintet.

The North American singer Randy Greer is considered one of the few heirs of the Nat King Cole's inimitable vocal style. The quartet accompanied him was extraordinary: with piano, double bass, sax and drums they offered us a repertoire of pure jazz and swing featured by the Greer's velvet voice and his sophisticated sense of rythm, developed during more than 30 years of career that lead him in Spain from the United States

Ester (Italia)

Casa Lis

If you like the turn of the century style, and if you'd like to see something special in a really good location, then you should go and visit the Casa Lis. Obviously it's very cheap, especially if you have the student card ;)

More than a wonderful example of Art Deco building in Salamanca, the museum holds a wide collection of forniture, statues and other typical objects of that period. A very unique collection, and even a bit odd, is the porcelain doll one. Counting 300 pieces, it's the widest public show in the world of this kind.

What interested me more was the abundance of decorations. There are examples of jewels by René Lalique (with the famous grass and dragonflies that have begun a symbol of Art Deco), Carl Fabergé's eggs and chryselephantine statues, porcelains and enamel, brozes, paintings, sculptures, fans and handkerchieves. Moreover there is a glass collection which consists of chandeliers, vases, perfume bottles y board games. All, even the smallest objests, is finely decorated with modern techniques wich highlight the colours.

My favourite place is that of the Café: here it really seems to travel through the time. From here you can go to the terrace and admire the astonishing south façade of the building, with its galeries of iron and glass in a perfect combination of classic and modern style. Moreover in the central patio there is a galery with columns of fused metal and wonderful painted glasses. In the whole building stand out the decorations over the doors representing the blueflower honoring the very first owner Miguel de Lis.

Until the 1st of september you can visit the exposition "Coco Chanel y sus amigos", with a colection of pictures, dresses and even the most known perfumes of the greatest stilist ever. Futhermore, next friday august 7th the concert cycle "Una noche con Coco" will end with Sheila Blanco performing classic rock, jazz, blues and french song versions. There will be the opportunity to visit all the collections and enjoy this magic place until 12 pm.

Ester (Italy)

Concerts in Salamanca this weekend

Salamanca has a full and varied musical scene. Besides festivals such as Fàcyl and Etnohelmántica and the annual classical music and jazz series, national and international music stars choose the city to reach their fans. Furthermore, the live music offer keeps growing and numerous pubs and bars hold concerts and jams every week. This weekend is packed with options for every taste. We pick some:

Thursday, April 16th

 
La Maravillosa Orquesta del Alcohol (La M.O.D.A.) 

Style: acoustic with folk, country and blues influences and a rock and punk spirit.
Guitars, accordion, mandolin, drums and other percussion forms, bass guitar and banjo are the instruments that complement the singer's voice, David Ruiz, in their songs. 
11:00 pm at Sala Potemkin. Tickets: 10 euros.

 

Friday, April 17th

Leiva 
Style: pop rock
After the duo he was part of, Pereza, split up, Leiva launched his first solo album in 2012. The renowned artist visits Salamanca with his new album, Pólvora.
10:00 pm at Auditorio Sánchez Paraíso. Tickets: 23 euros.
 

Rapsusklei
Style: rap, hip hop, reggae, dancehall
MC Diego Gil, aka Rapsusklei, one of the most renowned in the national scene, comes to Salamanca to showcase his latest work, Reality Flow.  
8:00 pm at Music Factory. Entrada: 10 euros.

 
Saturday, April 18th

Cowabunga
Style: Southern surf rock
"Cowabunga is a band from Burgos which plays rock with Southern rock, surf rock and garage influences, as well as others that I am too lazy to bother to list". That's right; prepare to be surprised with their eclectic yet coherent style.
10:00 pm at La Sociedad Hard Rock Club. Ticket: 4 euros (includes a drink); tickets to be bought at the door.

 
Bye Bye Lullaby
Style: independent folk-rock
This well-known Salmantinian band returns home with their second album, Origen.
10:00 pm at Sala B del CAEM. Entrada: 6 euros

Fancy going to one or more of these concerts? There are many more to choose from this weekend. Find more concerts at Exprime Salamanca.