They had it clear from the beginning: if they had to celebrate the Extremadura Day, September 8, they had to do it with the 'native' touch of Miguel VargasThe patriarch, the owner of a thumb where the wisdom of the Extremadura guitar awaits, the guarantor of the Extremaduran guitar, is the adopted son of a flamenco culture where those experiences recorded among requests, rodeos, and gypsy weddings come together, all of which he has managed to convey in the primas and drones of his mastery. Miguel Vargas, although born in 1956 in Beja, Portugal, has lived in Mérida practically his entire life. It was from there that he became immersed in the rhythm of the sticks of Los Verdines at the Feria de los Gitanos (Gypsy Fair). A fair that is still going strong, having been held in the regional capital for over a century, and which is an unavoidable meeting place for Roma families. In that warmth of rhythm, compadres, families, and relationships, Miguel Vargas embraced that rhythm of Extremaduran tangos and jaleos, unhurried, with their silences and respects, that his guitar treasures.
Adopted son of Mérida, accompanied by his son Juan, he shared the perfume of his wisdom on a night where the cantes of Edu Hidalgo y José Moreno 'El Cano' They made it clear that Extremadura is flamenco through and through. And anyone who doesn't believe it should come to Seville.
The patriarch started with a soleá and a granaína where he made it clear what we had come for, to enjoy that 'maestranza of the cante'. Under the ever-present gaze of his son Juan, with that agile and fresh touch, he demonstrated that the teacher never stops teaching, so that we never stop learning.
La Peña Flamenca The Soleá of Alcalá With a tradition and a savoir-faire that is always appreciated, he paid tribute to Paco Zambrano and Marcelo Rodríguez Boceta, both recently deceased, and both flamencologists from Badajoz. Much of the local heritage remains in the fans, and many members are satiated with an authenticity that can rarely be found within the geographical limits of the world. flamenco. The improvisations are no longer so numerous, nor are the outbursts so spontaneous. We must thank their president. Antonio Duran affection and attention. That is also doing Peña.
"Extremadura is always present in every touch, every moan, every olé. Jaleos and tangos, well-placed with savoir-faire, on these nights where the map is only on paper, because here there are no borders. No provinces, no towns, no regions. Here, spirit and respect."
Edu Hidalgo, as always, impeccable. He wasted savoir-faire and wisdom in Extremaduran tangos. And really, in everything he touched upon and defended. Edu isn't from Valdivia, Badajoz. Edu is from that place where luxuries can't be bought. It's from where they can only be heard.
José Moreno 'El Cano', adopted son of Alcalá de Guadaíra, without a plaque or municipal plenary session but through his own merits, sang as he knows how: with humility and heartbreak. The man from Berlanga, Badajoz, had long been clear about what he wanted to express through that voice that is the voice of what remains of his body. Much study, much listening have led this Extremadura native to continue. the aromas of This deep triangle formed by Alcalá, Utrera, and Seville. Without forgetting its land.
That's for sure. Extremadura is always present in every touch, every moan, every olé. Jaleos and tangos, well-placed with savoir-faire, on these nights where the map is only on paper, because here there are no borders. No provinces, no towns, no regions. Here, spirit and respect.
If we Extremadurans have some cantenative, our own styles and a good batch of singers, we also have a touch of guitar, which, although not classified as such, represents the flamenco guitar of our land. A different touch, easily distinguishable by that 'thumb' that carries the aroma of Aunt Ana, Aunt Scissors, and which Miguel Vargas signs and sentences.
Cano's siguiriya, Edu's soleá, the fandangos that united the two brothers, and Miguel Vargas' mastery showed us that a true conductor doesn't need a baton or a guitar. The patriarch knew what he wanted to convey, and he did.
A night of pride and flamenco well understood. Miguel Vargas had the night, and we, the privilege.
Credits
Extremadura night
Peña Flamenca The Soleá, Alcalá de Guadaíra (Seville)
12th September 2025
Miguel Vargas (guitar)
Juan Vargas (guitar)
José Moreno 'El Cano' (cante)
Edu Hidalgo (cante)
