From the 30th May 2010, Salamanca will be playing host to some top names from the worlds of art, music, theatre and literature…All of whom will be performing throughout the golden Castilla y Leon city in some of the most historic, beautiful buildings the city has to offer (the Plaza Mayor, the Casa de las Conchas, the caves, the University buildings…), creating a wonderful ambiance, a memorable experience for any visitor! The FACYL festival is here!
All the sites for the shows!
The concerts and readings will be free and being in the heart of the city, access is easy for each and every person of the city. For this reason, the programme has been designed to be as varied and as interesting as possible – bringing in top international names as well as smaller, unknowns, set for stardom. It’s a great way to get involved with the city, see the historic buildings being used at their best and meet new people, not to mention open your eyes to what’s new on the art and music scene!
At Mester Spanish Academy we’ve had a look through the programme and picked our highlights of the festival – have a read, tell us what you think and, of course, let us know should you have any suggestions!
FACYL
Firstly we draw attention to a British long running band who’ll be performing on 11th June in the Plaza Mayor, The Go! Team. This indie/funk/pop six person band (including two drummers!) from Brighton have been doing the festival scene for a good few years now, something which gives them confidence to take to their shows with energy and an air of spontaneity, making for great excitement! The lead singer, Ninja, is a unique talent who ensures the crowd not only enjoy the music but feel part of the show too, this isn’t a show to spend sitting down!
…However, if it’s sitting down and the quieter spectacles which most attract you, then why not check out what’s on offer in the Casa de las Conchas? As well as literary workshops, there will be poetry readings, stories and short film exhibitions. A highlight of the festival in this venue is “Lecturas Cosmopolitas” on 3rd June at 18:30. The evening will be comprised of a selection of readings from authors from all over the world, reading with their own unique accent/voice…a truly international night! Another evening set to be enjoyable for any literature lover is Tuesday 1st June at 22:00, when Salamanca’s very own Victor Balcells presents “Yo mataré monstruos por ti” (“I would kill monsters for you”). Accompanied by DJ Jesus Aparicio, the poet and writer will recite a selection of humoristic-tragic tales, dealing with a variety of modern themes!
Top British band, The Go! Team
Moving from the spoken word to the more visual, there will be a selection of street art throughout the city to enjoy, even during your usual daily trips around the city! On the very first day of the festival – at 22:00 in the Plaza Mayor – we’ll be able to see the wonderful choreography of Orbite 2010. On a giant steel girder, some 20 metres off the ground, the aerial dance artists will wow spectators with their dramatic, unique routines. More down-scale is the art of Kumulus, with their “Tout va bien” street show. Throughout the city, thanks to them, you’ll be able to see something strange in the publicity adverts…imagine if they came to life…
Camerata Flamenco Project
Back to the music scene, but somewhat quieter than The Go! Team, are the concerts in the caves. From typical Spanish flamenco with the Camerata Flamenco Project on 2nd June to Odaiko, a Galician band which explores multiethnic music ranging from Oriental to African to Latin-American to Galician. A great eye opener for new music!
…Whatever it is you decide to do, enjoy it, try see some things that you wouldn’t have seen before (it’s all free and in the city centre, you have nothing to lose!). It’s a great experience to add some highlights to your language learning experience, widen your horizons and enjoy the Spanish summer nights!
