In the 1930s the writer bought Jose Maria Peman a good house in Cadiz, with money he had earned thanks to the success of The impatient divine. An estate located on the corner of Plaza de San Antonio and Veedor Street. He died there in 1981 and will forever be known as the Pemán House, now the headquarters of the Cajasol Foundation, which provides formidable content to each of its exhibition halls, conference rooms or the roof itself. There was held in July the Summer Flamenco, which has celebrated its seventh edition with four recitals in a classic format: one voice, one guitar and two palmas.
Just under a hundred people, after paying eight euros, the sky welcoming the night, the cool west wind that requires a cardigan and a smell of pescaito Fried fish crawling up the walls. Bar terraces were packed, with a diverse audience eager to experience a short but intense hour-long performance. Cádiz City, which we could also expand on in the surrounding area, but that would be too much, has presented a very ambitious program for this summer, which is already beginning to look ahead to September.
On the one hand, we have this series, which has already concluded successfully, with all the events sold out, which I'll talk about in more detail later. On the other hand, the festival Flamenco, Roots and Bay: Bastion!, already taking place in the Candelaria bastion with nights like this week that unite the voices of La Fabi and Antonio Reyes, having been inaugurated with an explosive Raymond Amador which sold out all the papers. It will continue until the end of August with names like El Farru and La Tana (the 7th) and Encarna Anillo and Alba Molina (the 21st).
Another of the long-awaited and numerous appointments is offered by the Mercy Center to Cadiz is Flamenco, with performances from balconies such as the Falla Theatre, Plaza del Mentidero, Plaza de la Candelaria and Santo Domingo, with voices such as Esmeralda Rancapino, Manoli de Gertrudis and José Méndez, to move on to larger formats at the Santa Catalina Castle with Marco Flores, Josemi Carmona, Angeles Toledano, Lela Soto, Sebastian Cruz, Rafael de Utrera and Jesus Mendez.
«Rocío Luna is one of the singers of the moment, just like that. She defends a classic repertoire, but fresh and casual, serious as well as exciting and close, profound as well as modern. (…) This Cordoban is considered but, believe me, she will dominate great nights of cante in the coming years"
Returning to the Cajasol rooftop, I tell you #FromWithin how I experienced it. The person in charge of opening the plaza was Cadiz Snail, native, with the prodigious guitar of Paco León, showing great mastery in cantes like alegrías, soleá, bulería, and tangos. Caracolillo has exploded; it's his summer. There's no doubt he's positioned himself in a privileged position thanks to the efforts he's maintained over the years, with awards that endorse him, such as the National Prize for Alegrías and the Antonio Mairena Prize. The hardest part is always connecting with the audience, and he seems to have no problem, and I don't say this just because of this performance but because of so many others we've met together.
Next, a Jerez native of the stature of José Mijita He brought his deep register of seguiriyas and soleá, without forgetting some hits from his latest album entitled South of Freedom, with tangos and bulerías like the one dedicated to The ticks that are usually so well received. It was with the tune of Pepe del Morao, an indisputable guarantee. José also has the maturity to defend recitals like these, of substance, and other festivals that should open our eyes to voices like his. Sometimes programmers must go beyond what they already know, that is, not settle into the "simple" battle of filling a town square at the many summer events, but rather grow the flamenco In performers, bringing audiences closer to profiles that deserve attention. The one from the Plazuela sings and dances bulerías, building a monument to the legacy of his Chalao family. A devoted and appreciative audience.
The woman took center stage on July 16th with Anabel Rivera, which featured his brother Kiki Rivera on the guitar. The Cadiz native created a strong buzz from the first few days the edition's poster circulated on social media. Her voice regularly accompanies others like Marina Heredia, Niña Pastori, Edu Guerrero, and her husband David. Palosea, who was sitting next to me enjoying himself as a spectator, just like Andrés Peña and Pilar Ogalla, who joined in the closing party. But this time she claimed her place and she did so, with a thunderous roar from the audience who celebrated Día del Carmen with her and her people. The performance of tanguillos, dedicated to Mariana Cornejo, was magnificent. “How good it smells like fish “Fried!” he said, like all the other artists in the series.
Dew Moon On the 24th, Rocío closed the Estival with a packed recital that makes me think about her promising present and her longed-for future. She's one of the singers of the moment, just like that. She defends a classical repertoire, yet fresh and casual, serious as well as exciting and relatable, profound as well as modern. Rocío has things in common with those of her generation, there's no doubt about it, but she creates a personal style with sumptuous body movements and a voice that hooks you. She won the Mining Lamp in 2023 and has managed to take advantage of it without the need to manipulate its essence. This Cordoban is considered but, believe me, she will dominate great nights of cante in the coming years. Supported by Francis Gomez, which fits her like a glove, found its way into unusual repertoires like the serrana or the cantiñas of Niña de los Peines. She not only smelled of the fried food coming out of the fryer below, but also of the sea, of salt... of Cádiz, squeezed and savored. ♦
