El Department of Culture of the Javea Town Hall continues to expand its cultural programming and does so with the creation of a new brand and a new festival. On this occasion, and to cover all the festivals, Culture promotes 'Xàbia en Viu'.
The councilman of Culture, Quico Moragues, explained that a new musical date is added to the program, the Arenal Blues Festival promoted by the new Association of the Marina Alta, XàBlues, and which will take place next March on the Paseo del Tenis David Ferrer full Arenal Beach. Specifically it will be from the 17 to the March 19, coinciding with the San José weekend.
concert schedule
The I Arenal Blues festival will take place at different points on the Paseo de la Arenal Beach being the concerts:
- Friday March 17, at 20:00 p.m., in front of the Octopus (central area of the promenade), the concert of Tamy & The Sweet Band, a young formation rooted in the Marina Alta.
- Saturday March 18, the performances will be from 18:00 p.m. to 22:30 p.m. in the La Fontana area and it will be time for three groups: Georgie & The Fire Lights, The Fabulous Blueshakers and Graham Foster Blues Band, led by a guitar legend such as Foster. A musician, discovered by Elton John and who has played with Etta James or in such iconic bands as Oasis or Mclan, who now lives in the Marina Alta, which brings the opportunity to enjoy his music closer.
- Sunday March 19 The festival will close with a performance at noon, at 12:00. The music will begin at the southernmost end of the promenade with the quartet Altea Blues Project.
Concert prior to the Festival: Altea Blues
But, until March 2023 arrives, Culture has wanted to schedule a concert prior to this date to promote and open the festival's mouth. It will be next Saturday December 10. On this occasion, the Altea Blues band will be in charge of delighting all attendees with her music. The concert will start at 12:00 in the central area of the David Ferrer tennis player's promenade.
Xàblues
Xàblues is the new association created to promote and spread the blues in the region. In its three years of foundation, Xàblues has wanted to get involved in the selection of bands of the first Arenal Blues, under the premises of combining quality and giving prominence to the "zero kilometer" musicians. The new musical society is formed by Guillermo Cardona (president) and José Melero (secretary).
Bands participating in the I Arenal Blues Festival
- Graham Foster: began his career in 1972 as a bass player in and around London, with acclaimed London pianist Brian Morris's trio. Discovered by Elton John, with the formation of The Foster Brothers, it included his brother Malcolm (bassist for The Pretenders and Simple Minds) and Robbie Mclntosh (guitarist for Paul McCartney and Norah Jones). He came to make an album that was produced by Mike Vernon, known for his collaborations with John Mayall, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac and Freddie King, among others.
- The Fabulous Blueshakers: Formation born in Valencia, they have been on stage since 2007, with Lizzy Lee on vocals, Jorge Gener on harmonica, Ricardo Gener on guitar, Paco Rubiales on bass and double bass and Juanjo Iniesta on drums. With a repertoire that ranges from Chicago blues, jump blues, Texas blues and some rhythm & blues influences, they have been able to capture their full breadth and develop these styles with a surprising feeling and delivery, with a personal air that defines as a band with a great projection in the blues panorama of the country.
- georgie & the fire lights: Band of notable jazz influences, they have adapted their repertoire to present it at the ARENAL BLUES Xàbia, and delight us with themes and versions of the different artists and blues styles, from that part of the Delta. Emerged from our closest lands, with professional components and teachers in different academies in our area, among its components we can highlight Pep Ferrer as founder of the "SIFASOL" school in Benissa, and guitar teacher, Paco Mifsud, current trumpeter of the Jazz-Pop quintet Daisy's Swing band, the drummer Luís Castallanos Bao, professional drummer who has accompanied musicians of the stature of Juanito Valderrama or Lola Flores.
- Altea Blues Project: It is a quartet led by Germán Elul, musician, guitarist with an extensive career, leading various jazz, blues, Latin, pop, etc. groups. in Alicante, Castellón and Valencia. He has participated in different jazz-blues festivals, such as the Benicasim blues festival, and contests with various formations and bands. Organizer of the Altea Blues Festival.
- Tamy & The Sweet Band: Blues and rock covers band formed in 2019 with the project of merging the best of Funk and Soul of all time. This band is made up of 6 members: Tamy Meier on vocals, Julián Colomba on guitar, Sergi Sánchez as percussionist, Miguel Diez on tenor sax and Toño Diez, Miguel's father, on alto sax and Francisco J. Oliver, all of them influenced for different musical styles, ranging from Funk, Soul to Rock and blues.
Graham has been able to work with the likes of Mark Feltham (Oasis harmonica and Rory Gallagher), M-Clan, Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones guitarist), The Vargas Blues Band and Kiko Veneno, among others.
And for when the promised cultural center in the Arenal area that the Moragues culture councilor already 'announced' three years ago? one more promise? And the new park on Avda. unanimously approved by the municipal plenary?
In the Arenal many more things are needed apart from a festival
I think festivals are missing, I would put more.
I would make a festival of fat bums, surely in Culture they love the idea.
Another festival of hick politicians, another of scoundrels in power.
Festival of wipes on the river?
Festival border cops who want more dough?
Festival of Houses everywhere?
Shit Festival on the Beach?
Festivals say…Jávea is a Festival of Other People's Shame.
#metoo bro.
I dismissed all the neighbors as boring, complaining and stingy and I dedicated myself to setting up only festivals and mobile discos in the Arenal, La Granadella and any part of the coast that was practical for tourists and lost in life… well that more or less already they do… but to the fullest.