The first week of June the city of Huelva celebrated its XI Festival FlamencoA festival whose roots lie in the seed sown by the now-defunct local union of peñaThe flamenco tradition of Huelva was established in the first decade of the century and, after four editions held in the Obrero neighborhood of the capital – a legacy of the British presence in the province – was named after dream catcherIt was taken up by the City Council of the capital in 2016 for its celebration over several days and several performance spaces, including that of the renowned neighborhood.
There have been four venues this year. The first of these are the theaters. Tinto and Odiel, where the guitarist from Huelva Antonio Dovao has resumed offering educational workshops in schools through the La Cavaera Association which he himself directs. The second is the Quitasueños space, which, as we already mentioned, is held in the Reina Victoria working-class neighborhood, being a space open to the general public and where figures of the stature of have passed through during two days Turry, Esperanza Fernández, Gaspar de Holanda, Ángeles Toledano, José Maya and Josemi Carmona.
The third space has been the Great Theater of HuelvaOn Tuesday the 2nd, it hosted the grand final of the 47th edition of the National Children's Fandango Competition of Huelva and Province, promoted by the Peña Flamenca of The Order, which during this edition pays tribute to the artist from Huelva, from Bollullos Par del Condado Antonio González The RayThis event has been held continuously since 1980 and aims to ensure generational renewal and reward emerging talent in the cante by fandangos. In this edition the winner has been Cristina Sierra García, from the Flamenco Classroom of PaymogoThe second prize went to the woman from Alosno. Julieta Infante and the third for Francisco Domínguez GómezThe competition featured a guest artist Alonso Núñez Rancapino and the guitar of the man from Jerez Antonio Higuero.
On the 3rd, the proposal of Jeromo SeguraThe singer from Huelva showcased the fandango of the province in its different styles, both local and personal. A tribute to cante From Huelva. From the capital, to the Andévalo region and the mountains. A bold project featuring Jeromo's voice, alongside collaborators of the caliber of Arcángel, Sandra Carrasco, Jesús Corbacho, Los Mellis or Sebastián Cruz, and the guitars of Paco Cruzado y Ramon Jesus DiazThey took us on a tour of the flamenco landscape of Huelva.
Next up, the Sevillian flamenco dancer Pastora Galvan It brought us dance in its purest form. The essence, the strength, the salt and the rhythm, in its particular and unique ways. Pastora He left nothing behind. He filled the Huelva coliseum with magic. The immeasurable cante of that line that connects the Plazuela de Jerez, Lebrija and Morón, in the voices of Miguel Lavi, José Valencia and David el Galli, with guitar accompaniment by Paco Iglesias, They acted as a palette of colors for the work itself, which is the very Pastora And her dance will take over the space, delivering her wealth of flamenco heritage.
On the 4th, the guitarist Manuel de la Luz He offered us, among other things, a selection from his new album, which will be released soon. Manuel's guitar playing has a unique quality. It sounds different, and each chord, each vibration, is like a feeling that escapes and flies to that... Ministry of Interior –as described by the Jerez flamenco singer Fernando de la Morena– which is the truth that each of us, each fan, carries within us. The Levante touch was masterful, and the waltz flamencoHis playing of soleá was a true masterpiece.
"Mayte Martín, along with José Gálvez's very flamenco guitar, took us on a journey through a range of canteFrom the taranta to the cuplé por bulerías, passing through, among others, an imposing siguiriya, all of it a product of the forge that is his prodigious voice, full of diverse flavors and colors."
Then Mayte Martín She received the award from the mayor of Huelva and her deputy mayor for Culture. City of Huelva Paco Toronjo to her flamenco career. The Catalan artist, accompanied by the very flamenco guitar of José Gálvez, led us in a fan of canteFrom the taranta to the cuplé por bulerías, passing through, among others, an imposing siguiriya, all of it a product of the forge that is his prodigious throat, full of diverse flavors and colors.
Next Saturday the 13th, the show tablao de Archangel will put the finishing touch on the festival flamenco in 2026 in the fourth stage prepared for this purpose, which will be the inner courtyard of the Huelva City Council.
festival of Cante Flamenco from Moguer
And almost without giving us time to digest the Huelva competition, on the other side of the Tinto River, Moguer – the land of verse – is preparing to experience its own festival in just over a month. 52nd Festival of Cante FlamencoThe courtyard of the San Francisco cloister in the municipality of Moguer was the chosen setting for the presentation of the poster for said festival, a work by Paul SycetThe artist, born in Gibraleón (Huelva), has been a key figure bridging the gap between Andalusia and Madrid during the creative explosion of the 80s. His career encompasses not only painting, but also graphic design, exhibition curating, art collecting, and music production, among other things. The lineup of artists will include flamenco singers. Antonio Reyes, Sandra Carrasco and Rafael Núñez The Bag, and the dance of María Moreno, ’s relationship with the cante de Miguel LaviThe guitars will be played by Pepe del Morao, David de Arahal, Juanlu Garrido, Martín Romero and Óscar Lago.
Once again, total collaboration between the Peña de Cante Jondo from MoguerThe founding entity of the festival, the City Council and the Culture Department of the Provincial Council are once again focusing on the celebration of an event that, in the words of the mayor Gustavo CuellarIt forms part of the intangible heritage of the municipality, and even of the province.
This year the competition will pay tribute to the Peña Female Flamenco Culture of Huelvawhich celebrates its 43rd anniversary in October. The journalist Miguel Angel Fernandez Borrero He will be in charge of presenting the festival, after having done so a few years ago in its 40th edition.
The provincial deputy for Culture, Gracia María Baquero DelcánHe emphasized at this presentation, among other things, that "the flamenco"Like life, it only has meaning if it is shared." The Moguer festival is precisely one of those events where the close bond between cante and good fans gathered around this art, sharing not only the excellence of the three artistic disciplines of flamencobut also of the traditional gatherings around a shared table among friends and family. The format of the Moguer Festival continues to allow, within the logical social evolution of the times, these get-togethers that maintain its close-knit and fraternal atmosphere.
The immeasurable performance of Consuelo Haldon, with the guitar of Antonio CarrionThis event simultaneously provided the perfect ending to the presentation gala and kicked off the countdown to the second Saturday of July, specifically the 11th, when we will meet again at the Dolores La Parrala municipal booth in the fairgrounds to enjoy art. flamenco in the land of Juan Ramon Jimenez y Pepe Rebollo. ♦
