El Festival Flamenco from Huelva It annually becomes a showcase for the city to project its programmatic potential around this art form. In 2025, the tenth edition was held, following the usual format of performances in various venues, as well as complementary activities. Among the latter, the conference on fandango by the Huelva-born singer stands out. Regina, the photographic exhibition Blessed Glory de Anna Palma, film screenings Fandango y Silence from the filmmaker Remedios Malvarez, the school educational workshops that it carries out The Cavaera, an association led by the guitarist Antonio Dovao, and the pictorial exhibition of portraits of artists flamencos From your countryside to my shore (Jerez & Huelva), Miguel Verdejo. The latter in the entrance hall of the capital's Grand Theatre. This exhibition had its first debut in early 2024 at the Studio expoflamenco of Jerez de la Frontera.
Taking advantage of the flamenco week, and promoted by the journalist Rafael J. Terán, the Jesús Hermida Communications Center in Huelva hosted the opening of the exhibition José Luis de la Paz. One life, one guitarThe exhibition hosts a retrospective of the artist, who sadly passed away several months ago, giving a broad view of the personal and artistic magnitude of Jose Luis Rodriguez Garcia de la Torre (Huelva, 1957 – Miami, 2025).
El Santa Fe Space, a former National Police station converted into a cultural venue, was the first to host flamenco performances with three local artists. It was the moment of Juan Rafael Romero, a young promise from Huelva, with an immense passion and a voice that foretells a future full of achievements. Also in attendance was flamenco dancer Maria Canea and the singer Jesus Corbacho, Union Miner's Lamp 2024.
The first date of Great Theater of Huelva, minutes after the opening of Miguel Verdejo's exhibition, was the Israel Fernandez y Antonio The WatchmakerI deeply appreciate the courage and bravery of a singer of this caliber, when he presents himself to the public, as he has been doing for some time, with the only safety net being the veteran guitarist from Colmenar de Oreja. For some time now, he has surprised me with his old-fashioned, direct playing, capable of capturing the attention of fans with its uniqueness, taking us back to times past. Israel shone especially in the cante by guajiras and by tientos, just as he delighted us with his particular tribute to Antonio The Jacket.
"In the second dance, in black, and with lighting that did justice to the cante and at that moment, the singer raised the score to outstanding cante and Eve… oh, Eve! drew with her arms and hands the cante "Great. If I ever had to explain this dance to a Renaissance painter, I would undoubtedly remember it and try to delve deeper into the moment I experienced."
At the end of his performance, the stage was prepared to welcome the guitarist Francis Gomez, from Moguer. Francis has such a wealth of musical culture that he is capable of attracting those of us who come with open ears to the flamenco more classical and those seeking new sounds and encounters with other music. Yes, I'm in love with the Moguer native's guitar. Since I discovered him through his FlazzTrío project a few years ago, until today, when he's a concert guitarist and accompanist for renowned artists, he's never ceased to amaze me. The show featured the collaboration of the singers Israel Moro, Carmen Molina, Juan de Mairena y ArchangelAs well as palmas and the voices of The Twins and the percussion of Lito Manez.
Perhaps one of the most special moments of the festival was the siguiriya dance of Eva the Peppermint al cante de Pepe de PuraWe were almost halfway through her show. Eva had danced the bulería por soleá with the strength and mastery we're used to. In the second dance, dressed in black, and with lighting that did justice to the cante and at that moment, the singer from Seville raised the score to outstanding cante and Eve… oh, Eve! drew with her arms and hands the cante Great. If I ever had to explain this dance to a Renaissance painter, I would undoubtedly remember and try to delve deeper into the moment. He ended his performance with alegrías.
Next up, one of the festival's pleasant surprises: the multi-instrumentalist's first solo performance. Fran Roca. He filled the stage and the five senses of everyone present with flamenco music. Harmonica, flute, guitar, and all of it sounding like flamencoOf particular importance was his playing of bamberas and his accompaniment to the singer from Chiclana. Antonio Nunez The Flea.
The working-class neighborhood, a hallmark of the British legacy in the capital, is also the hallmark and genesis of this festival. In the mid-2000s, it hosted Huelva's first festivals—known as dream catcher, in memory of the emblematic place of the Huelva fish market where for so long in the 20th century amateurs and artists of the time met - promoted by the extinct Local Union of PeñaFlamencas de Huelva in an original idea of the singer and great fan Eduardo Hernández GarrochoWith the arrival of the new format promoted by the Huelva City Council It was given its own personality and is one of the highlights of the Huelva event. This year it has been renamed Cajasol Space, since it is this entity that collaborates in its maintenance.
The singer attended the first appointment Edge of the PatiosA singer without additives, with essence, with her own personality. In my opinion, one of those singers who gives the twenty reales of the duro in each of her performances, not skimping on her potential for strength and flamenco. She was followed by the veteran Aurora Vargas, who imposed his mastery and magic on the cantes of compass. Rosario The Tremendous closed the night by connecting 100% with the audience and showcasing his singing style. Style that brings the air of the old masters of the 20th century to the rhythms and melismas of this first quarter of the 21st century. In it, we certify that where there is knowledge the tree of life can grow flamenco.
"Antonio Rey is gifted to elevate the flamenco, as a culture, as an art, to the highest category of world music. Intimacy and power coexist within him. He can hold a calm sea or a raging sea in his hands, but he will always manipulate it as he pleases, because he is touched by the gift.
Another important event of the Huelva City Festival is the grand finale of the children's fandango competition, organized and promoted by the Peña Flamenca The orderAn unmissable event. The Huelva fandango and its young talents are part of the festival. That's why it's so important. Boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 17 participated in this edition, which means a lot of prosperity for the fandango and its future. First prize went to Erika Martín, the second in Cristina Sierra García and the third in Martín SánchezThis year the contest was dedicated to schools of cante from the province of Huelva and a tribute was paid to the fandango of Calañas. Guest artists attended the event Ezekiel Benitez y Paco León, two artists who already need no introduction and who occupy a prominent place in the flamenco current. Extraordinary the cante from Jerez and also Paco's guitar.
The second session of the Cajasol Space opened with the guitar of Paco CeperoTo speak of the master Cepero is to speak of a legend of the flamencoHe received the special City of Huelva Award, and delighted us with the spring of his playing. Collaborating with him were: samuel serrano and Paco León. I can only add what Maestro Cepero said at the end of his rumba. Sea water: «Hey, there you have it, 83 years old!». Well, that's it, 83 years old and raising eyebrows isn't just anyone's level. Next, it was the turn of Alonso Nunez Rancapino Chico, who filled the stage with his singing ways along with the guitar of Diego Amaya.
To end the night, Vicente Redondo The Freckles. And you already know: Huelva loves its Pecas, as Pecas loves HuelvaThe artist knows this, and every chance he gets, he shows us how it is. He delights us with his experiences and feelings, creating the necessary feedback between artist and fans. He reminds us where he comes from, where his passion comes from. cante and the legendary singers with whom he crossed paths. Essential are his tarantos reminiscent of Muela or the soleá of El Brujo. Accompanied by the guitar of Manuel de la Luz and the percussion of the grandson of the legendary palmero El Eléctrico, had the palmas of the veteran Bobote.
And as the icing on the cake for the festival, a show of unparalleled excellence. It took to the stage at the Gran Teatro Antonio Rey. Probably one of the guitarists who occupy a prominent place in the current sonanta. His guitar playing itself is symphonic. flamenco, he demonstrated this during the more than hour and a half show, but he is also a musician of enormous quality. Antonio is gifted to elevate the flamenco, as a culture, as an art, to the highest category of world music. Intimacy and strength coexist within him. He can hold a calm sea or a raging sea in his hands, but he will always manipulate it as he pleases, because he is touched by the gift. Accompanied by Ane Carrasco, Juan Parrilla, Mara Rey, Toni Rey and Jesús MéndezAntonio was trapping us and scratching our souls from beginning to end. There was no respite, only flamenco made music and music turned into flamenco with capital letters.
This has been the balance of a festival, that of Huelva, which is gradually becoming established, although it must be worked on with greater care by its promoters, in order to achieve a total communion with the city and beyond, also, among the fans of flamenco and those who could potentially approach it through this type of event. No one can deny that the quality of the shows offered was remarkable, although a marathon-length schedule is not optimal. From this platform, we wish the best for the continued prosperity of a festival that is here to stay and must be a prevalent annual event.
