ARCHIVED - 19th to 28th July, 40th annual flamenco festival of Lo Ferro in Torre Pacheco

Flamenco in its purest form as contestants compete for the Melón de Oro award

Every year since 1980 Ferro a flamenco festival run by the Peña Melón de Oro has been held in the tiny village of Lo Ferro, near Roldán in the municipality of Torre Pacheco, the highlights being gala performances and a competition to win the “Melón de Oro”, or Golden Melon. This festival has gained a firm standing in the annual competitions circuit and has earned a solid reputation and great prestige.

The programme always includes gala performances by established flamenco artists and two nights of competition for “cante”, or flamenco singing. This festival weaves in all of the elements of flamenco, with dance performances combined with singing and guitar, although “cante” is the most important element, and the festival is billed as the “International Festival of Flamenco Song”.

This event carries a flamenco warning!

This is pure flamenco, not the polka-dot “Viva España” so often performed in tourist bars, so be aware of that if booking as expats often struggle with the cante (singing) element of flamenco. Pure flamenco is a profound art-form, although can be harsh on the ear for those unaccustomed to its rhythms, innuendo and pitch.

There are foreign nationals who thoroughly enjoy flamenco, particularly in nations such as Japan and India where there is a substantial following as the rhythmic bases of the music are very similar to those of the two nations. But while flamenco, it should be remembered, evolved from the wandering gipsy cultures of central Europe which were exposed to a great many musical influences, the music performed now in Spain is undoubtedly VERY Spanish.

Flamenco is performed throughout Spain, but many of the top artists come from Andalusian families in areas where flamenco is a way of life and there are degrees of “purity” as flamenco continues to develop.

Try it, you may find it thoroughly enjoyable, and as the ears become familiar with the different forms of song, it becomes easier to appreciate the complexity of this music and the incredible skill of the great artists. And if you don’t like it nobody will bat an eyelid if you sneak out in between songs and head for the nearest bar: you’ll often see Spanish nationals doing exactly the same thing!

Dance, guitar and instrumental concerts are usually a gentler introduction to flamenco.

This year’s program at Lo Ferro includes the following (with all events starting at 22.00):

Friday 19^th July

A free 40th anniversary show in the Plaza de la Iglesia in Roldán (rather than in Lo Ferro) featuring flamenco artists from the Region of Murcia, including singers Paquito Sánchez and Sebastián Contreras “Bastián”, guitarists Antonio Fernández “El Torero” and Faustino Fernández and the dances of the Ballet Flamenco de Lo Ferro.

Saturday 20^th July

Pitingo presents his “Mestizo y fronterizo" show along with another artist who is much loved in Lo Ferro, Miguel de Tena, with tickets priced at 30 euros on the door or 25 euros if booked in advance.

Pitingo combines flamenco with other musical forms and in this show mixes flamenco and soul with extraordinary results! It was a bit strange!

Sunday 21st July

A flamenco school festival with performances by students at the Hermanas Barba dance academy in Arcos de la Frontera and the local school in Torre Pacheco. Tickets 5 euros.

Monday 22nd July

A flamenco and “trovo” masterclass offered by Pedro López Martínez “El Cardoso” (admission free of charge).

Tuesday 23^rd July

The official opening of the festival with the speech by Antonio Fernández Díaz “Fosforito” followed by a double helping of flamenco, firstly with Carlos Piñana and the Region of Murcia Symphony Orchestra and then from Antonio de Patrocinio and Antonio Carrión. Tickets are priced at 25 euros on the door or 20 euros if booked in advance.

Carlos Piñana is a composer and accomplished flamenco guitarist, and his latest album is excellent, following the course of other flamenco artists as they fuse the traditional elements of flamenco with other musical forms and elements. It's well worth going to see him and the orchestra performing together.

Wednesday 24th July

Singers Samuel Serrano, Jesús Méndez and David Palomar are accompanied by Paco Cepero, Antonio Carrión and Pascual de Lorca in a tribute to Lola Flores. Tickets are again priced at 25 euros on the door or 20 euros if booked in advance.

Thursday 25^th July

The dance company of Mónica Fernández and Pol Vaquero perform with Antonio Canales, and also on stage are Singer María Mezcle, accompanied by Pascual de Lorca, and last year’s "Melón de Oro" winner Antonio José Nieto, accompanied by Antonio Fernández "El Torero". Tickets are priced at 25 euros on the door or 20 euros if booked in advance.

Friday 26th July

Seven contestants perform in the semi-final of the Melón de Oro competition, followed by Alberto Sánchez "El Almendro". Tickets 10 euros on the door or 8 euros if booked in advance.

Saturday 27^th July

The finalists perform again and the winner is decided, followed by a performance offered by the Ballet de Lo Ferro of the show "Cinco. Fueron cinco Las Cervantas". Tickets 20 euros on the door or 15 euros if booked in advance.

Online reservations can be made for the paying events here or direct from the Peña Flamenco Melón de Oro here.

For more local events, news and other information visit the Torre Pacheco section of Murcia Today.