Once again, we are in Pamplona, a traditional city that looks to Europe, sustainable and clean, with an urbanity that personally fascinates me. Flamenco On Fire celebrates its twelfth edition and has established itself as one of the most important festivals in the world in the field jondoWithout a doubt, this is a must-see for the specialized press, which finds every facility and comfort to carry out its work here.
Viana and Tudela These are two cities just a few kilometers from the capital of Navarre that have also been holding activities within this format for a few years, the day before the actual chupinazo in Pamplona. On this occasion, Jose Valencia y John Requena were the protagonists in Viana, and Hope Fernandez and brothers Jiménez (Bruno and Lorena) They were in Tudela, with a great public acceptance.
In Pamplona, the first day featured the main course of Yerai Cortes with its Choral Guitar, whose cast is made up of Macarena Campos, Salomé Ramírez (2025 La Unión Desplante Award), María Reyes, Nerea Domínguez, Marina Perea y Paula Moreno. They are not experienced voices, but they perfectly manage to fulfill the objectives that the guitarist from Alicante sets himself: they sound like life, like freshness, they sound like water and wind... With the palmas does a great musical job. It happened in the Gayarre Theatre, two years after its closure for works, in the land of You know.
And Yerai is the guitarist of his generation. He's taken a new direction, he's managed to conceptualize a distinctive style that has captivated the younger generation, but that continues to captivate those with a long tradition. The tour he's undertaken in Spain in recent months attests to the level of this artist. enjoyment who smiles and dazzles on stage, his thumb is unstoppable, and his strumming is as pronounced as it is effective. Flamenco-like throughout, he develops a work lasting just over an hour with timeless styles like seguiriya or bulerías, with farruca or malagueñas and verdiales… But the most recognizable titles are heard, and he already places us in a place, in a specific moment, something magical that only happens when a sensation stays forever like Yeray's music. Sound of bulerías, I cry for your silence o Los Almendros They are already anthems for many of his contemporaries. The audience gave him an enthusiastic farewell, applauding, playing palmas… Full of life.
"Yerai is the guitarist of his generation. He's pioneered a new direction, successfully conceptualizing a distinctive style that has captivated younger audiences but continues to captivate those with a long tradition. The tour he's undertaken in Spain in recent months is a testament to the level of this joyful artist who smiles and dazzles on stage."
Yesterday, the first day, on August 26, the exhibition of the remembered Javier Fergo (deceased Jerez photojournalist), who left a great work among the flamenco and the social, of course stopping at a compilation of what Javier developed in his years at On Fire, another part titled Southern Border (focusing on the Mediterranean migration crisis) and a final call Refugee Animals (unfinished work that portrays an unexpected dimension of the Ukrainian conflict), all under the title Listen to the light.
The exhibition was attended by Susana giron, the curator of the same, and of Fergo's family, visibly moved. This is a family, the Flamenco On Fire.
The master of the Extremaduran sonanta Miguel Vargas He came out at night onto the balcony of the Government Palace of Navarre to demonstrate that his hands are two wells of flavor, experience, and mastery. In half an hour, he made us understand that in the middle of 2025, after having seen the sky with Yeray Cortés, the coexistence of generations is a reality and that is key for the flamenco Always keep the pulse moving. “I rejoice with you,” he said in welcome, also remembering those who have suffered from the fires, and solemnly began with seguiriyas, then granaína, taranta, I try to forget you, tangos…
What we will be telling you here is also what is experienced on the street, in the hotel, at breakfast, where we all meet. Upon arriving from Jerez, waiting to be assigned a room, we casually greeted the guitarists Domingo Rubichi, Rafael Riqueni and Manolo Franco, with Pepe Habichuela joining in the minutes. Has anything been said? Well, like this, every day. We'll keep you posted. ♦
