Davideana's flamenco guitar captivated the first night of the Cabildo

At a festival dedicated to showcasing the flamenco avant-garde, the traditional guitar playing of a young talent was the highlight of the night in Archidona, Malaga.

Perhaps we have reached the IX Cabildo Festival Flamenco from Archidona (Málaga) in search of the primitive. Of those sounds flamencos that transport us to the ecstasy of being reborn under a moon that does not understand imposed traditions. Here, only harmony, rhythm, life, death, and evolution matter: the impulse of risk.

The past is not a perpetual sentence to melancholy, but rather an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Davideana’s spectacular guitar solo reminded us all that not everything in flamenco has been definitively said and done, and that new talent will very likely continue to emerge, armed with an extraordinary knowledge of the past in order to create something new.

To open the evening, we enjoyed a sunset at the Sunset Beach Club, an ideal setting from which to admire the distinctive hues with which Málaga’s light bathes the picturesque landscapes of Archidona. This spectacle of light gave way to another: the “Electroverdiales” project of Rocío López “La Boterita” and Alejandro Lévar. Their revolutionary stage language blends electronic music, Málaga folk traditions, and audiovisual elements. There were moments of genuine artistic discovery, though others in which the performance did not fully connect with the audience.

«At just 21 years old, Davideana is a remarkably complete guitarist who performed a granaína combining his own falsetas with others by José Fermín Fernández, bringing the audience to its feet in a genuine eruption of cheers and applause»

Rocío López La Boterita and Alejandro Lévar. IX Cabildo Festival Flamenco From Archidona, Málaga. July 3, 2026. Photo: David Burbano

Kiki Morente, accompanied by young guitarists David de Ana and Pablo Fernández, followed with a recital deeply rooted in the legacy of his father. We enjoyed excerpts from “Lengua de las mariposas,” the tangos “Me van aniquilando” and “Aunque es de noche,” as well as the fandangos “Montes de Málaga,” among other pieces from Enrique Morente’s repertoire. Morente’s spirit is omnipresent in a festival partly inspired by his memory, but even more so when his son sings with such exceptional artistry.

It came as no surprise that the young cantaor would delight us with his artistry; we are all familiar with his trajectory and extraordinary abilities. However, the guitar solo by one of Morente’s accompanists became the defining moment of the night. At just 21 years old, Davideana is a remarkably complete guitarist who performed a granaína combining his own falsetas with others by José Fermín Fernández, bringing the audience to its feet in a genuine eruption of cheers and applause. His technique, rhythmic command, harmonic sophistication, and compositional creativity unfolded on stage with an almost surreal intensity, giving rise to a ritualistic performance in which we all became participants.

The night concluded with Carlos Emblemátika and his performance Recuerdo a Alicia Acuña. In tribute to the beloved singer from Seville, he blended electronic music with cante jondo in an elegant way, even inspiring part of the audience to dance. ♦