At twelve thirty in the newly started month of September, the first day specifically, the twelfth edition of the Flamenco on Fire. The balcony festival, as many know it, is more than that. It's an encounter with the culture of northern Spain. It's the coexistence of artists, researchers, and critics in the same space. It's the constant recognition of the figure of You knowIt's the artistic quality of each of the protagonists in the different formats the festival presents. It's the respect and education of the audience...
On the last day, Sunday the 31st, I enjoyed the reunion with the family of Canela de San Roque, the maestro from the town of Campo Gribraltarian who left for glory in 2015. Since then, he has been missed, along with his ceremonious stage presence, his mastery, and his class. His children, José and Fernando, keeping the flame alive and making the legacy he received great. Fernando performed in the morning from the balcony of the City Council of Pamplona with Alfredo Lagos, one of the best guitarists of the moment, and José did the same in the Sabicas Space, with the tune of Nono Reyes. Together, at night, in the Three Kings Hotel, joined together to pay tribute to the patriarch in memory, in whose party the Algeciras dancer also participated Noelia Sabarea. The soleá of this house has its own identity.
Another of the protagonists of Sunday was Tomatito, an unequivocal reference for the guitar that is at a great moment of maturity and that proves to be one of the great concert artists of today. Camarón always in the memory, even more so at the end when he accompanied the genius of San Fernando in a recording planned for the surprise encore. It is worth highlighting the presence of the voices of Little brown boy from Íllora, very emphatic, and of Kiki Kortiñas, of special musicality. Jose from Tomato He's his fifth son, and "he's turned out to be a guitarist," the Almerian jokingly said. His son is already a professional in this field, with a reputation and the potential to become a star in the future.
"The Balconies Festival is a meeting point for the culture of northern Spain. It's a gathering of artists, researchers, and critics in the same space. It's a constant recognition of Sabicas's figure. It's the respect and education of the public. (…) With the firm intention of returning to this festival that envelops every end of August with magic."
On other balconies, in the morning, we heard Jesus Castile, who is still celebrating his 2024 Golden Melon. He is a good singer and masters the styles, especially those of the Levante and, of course, alegrías de la tierra. He was with Child Manuel on the guitar, and the audience that usually gathers in each square, under the balcony that opens, asked for something more because it left a great taste in their mouths.
Rocio Marquez y Bronchus They were also featured at the Zentral, a room dedicated to these proposals, open to the dialogue of styles and experimentalism. We were unable to attend because it clashed with two other events. We know it was packed.
Alfredo Lagos offered a magnificent guitar concert in Sabicas SpaceIn less than an hour, he'd once again convinced everyone, proving his limitlessness, his technical precision, and his strings capable of a thousand melodies, perhaps more. His creativity is boundless, or so it seems, and his half-smile serves as a platform for conversation, for thanking the audience for the silence so necessary for connecting. Through his seguiriyas and bulerías, he remembered his native Jerez, and I was already eager to stroll down Calle Larga and Plaza del Arenal again, but with the firm intention of returning to this festival that envelops every end of August with magic.
