Orquesta Típica Fernández Fierro + Pascal Comelade: 14 April at 7:30 pm
The UK debut for the band at the forefront of a movement in Buenos Aires to recapture the verve, energy and virtuosity of traditional acoustic tango for the 21st century. Fernandez Fierro is a 12-strong orquesta tipica driven by three violins and four bandone ó ns; vocals are handled by Walter ‘Chino’ Laborde . The group has revolutionised what tango stands for in Argentina. Their sound is younger, harder, faster and perfectly captures the mood of the country in its post-crash hangover, appealing to a younger audience and deliberately side-stepping the clichés of ‘tourist’ tango. They have so far released three studio albums: Envasado en Origen (2002), Destrucción Masiva (2003) and Mucha Mierda (2006).
Peret : 50 years of Rumba Catalana + La Troba Kung Fú: 18 April at 7:30 pm
Rumba Catalana – once widely dismissed by many Flamenco purists as a low cross-breed genre unworthy of serious interest – is one of the most vital and exciting sounds to have emerged from Spain in the late- and post-Franco years. Unlike flamenco itself, it grew up in northern Spain (primarily in Barcelona’s gypsy neighbourhoods) and Peret (real name, Pedro Pubill Calaf ) has long been its godfather and one of its musical figureheads. The show features the UK debut for Peret (b. 1935) whose infectious mixture of flamenco and Latin American styles were introduced to the world in the 1970s on his early Discophon albums.
La Troba Kung-Fú, another example of the remarkable musical mestizaje (fusion) that continues to emerge from the barrios of Barcalona, is led by singer and accordionist Joan Garriga. Heavily influenced by Cumbia, seasoned by rock and reggae.
Spanish Bombs: A Tropical Tribute to the Clash: 28 April at 7:30 pm
The Clash of Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simenon and Topper Headon had a huge influence on a generation of musicians in the Spanish-speaking world through their sound, attitude and the internationalism of albums such as Sandinista! Joe Strummer even went on to record a Latin-flavoured soundtrack for the Alex Cox film Walker . Featuring a 15-piece band and a range of guest vocalists, the show is being assembled by producer and DJ Toy Hernández (who has worked with
Shakira, Café Tacvba, Manu Chao, Eminem, Cypress Hill, and many others) and keyboardist Mike Smith (who has worked with the Clash’s Paul Simenon in The Good, The Bad and The Queen, as well acting as musical director for MD for Africa Express, Monkey and Honest Jons Chop Up ).
Barbican Centre Web Site
| 
TRAVEL CALENDAR
