The day Granada became the capital of music
The people of Granada say that Federico García Lorca found his voice in other arts, such as music, before finding it in literature. In Granada, the poet developed his way of communicating with the world, intoxicated by flamenco and its rhythms, by gypsy dances, by Sephardic poetry and art, and by the influence left by the Arabs, which, centuries later, continues to be felt in countless corners of the city of the Alhambra. All of this, according to local accounts, converges in the Sacromonte, a strategic point for understanding the Nasrid heritage and idiosyncrasy.
There, on June 21st, the poet reappeared under the Granada summer sun to speak his heartfelt account of this magical enclave, which still exudes his lyrical influence. "This mountain is sacred and also bled by the pain, by the suffering that the bronze race has endured here for many years," recited the actor who played him, dressed in a white jacket and shirt, red bow tie, pleated checked trousers, and brown derby shoes, before inviting the crowd to take a stroll: "This neighborhood is enchanted, and I will guide you so you don't get lost in the enchantment."
Transformed into an exceptional cicerone and guide, this reincarnated Lorca was the first surprise of the Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia event, which transformed Granada into the music capital for a day. This is the second edition of an exclusive festival, which has already been held in previous years in cities such as A Coruña, Madrid, Barcelona, London, and soon, Berlin, with a clear objective: to bring music back to the venues and neighborhoods and to focus on a combination of established and emerging musical talent. But the experience wasn't limited to the music; Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia offers a way to experience it by designing a complete experience that fuses culture, gastronomy, and beer.
The initiative began with this tour of Sacromonte to learn about the history and cultural heritage of both the neighborhood and the Nasrid city. The day culminated with a music festival at Lemon Rock, the venue located at 6 Montalbán Street, in the heart of Granada.
After the magical visit to Sacromonte, the Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia expedition headed to Lemon Rock, a four-story venue built in the heart of Granada on the site of a 17th-century manor house. This year, Lemon Rock celebrated its tenth anniversary, which is why it was chosen by Estrella Galicia to host its festival. “We are a family business, and the relationship with Estrella Galicia has been the same,” says Vicente de Luna, owner. “We couldn't have been luckier to be chosen, as they take great care with the quality of the musicians who come. I'm a bit of a mystic, and the good vibes I'm feeling today make me very happy.”
The festival featured national artists such as TulsayMujeres, as well as international artists: rockers Ash from Ireland; KhanaBierbood from Thailand; Los BESOS from Argentina; and Prima Queen and Tim Burgess from the United Kingdom. Granada music was also present on the lineup, with artists such as Antonio Arias, Juan Mutante, Dark Libra, and Paulina del Carmen. The young singer, who blends R&B and pop rhythms with influences from her homeland, ended her performance with emotion: "Granada, besides being my home, means hope. It's a city where many cultures converge, and it shows in the music."
Chosen as an emerging talent from Granada by the festival organizers, something that made the artist "really excited, given the amount of talent in the city," she recalled her origins and her connection to the venue. "My father was an amateur musician and also played here. It's a dream come true for me every time I come," she says, before adding: "Here in Granada, anything is possible."
Like her, the festival's focus on emerging musicians responds to a demand from the organizers, as attested by Víctor Mantiñán, director of Activación Iberia for Hijos de Rivera, the business group to which Estrella Galicia belongs. "The goal is to get people back to the venues to discover music. There's a proliferation of mainstream festivals, and it feels like music venues have become somewhat sidelined, but all the bands that have achieved anything started in venues," he says. A thesis reinforced by some of the bands that participated in Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia, such as Mujeres. "We're the kind of people who have always gone to see concerts in small venues, both as a band and as an audience. They're where projects grow."
Between the concerts, which ran from 2:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., the music was paired with a gastronomic menu featuring local produce and a workshop called "What Does Your Beer Sound Like? ", in which a master brewer and a guitarist explored the similarities between different styles of brewing beer and making music while attendees enjoyed the tasting. This experience was designed to bring together different forms of cultural heritage and bring them together in a single space. "Music venues are part of the fabric of a neighborhood that generates identity," explains Mantiñán. "A neighborhood without music venues becomes a housing estate, so our idea was to restore their importance with this event."
For the owner of Lemon Rock, participating in Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia is the culmination of “many years of work,” acknowledges this trained architect and amateur musician. During the less-than-favorable times, Luna considered giving up, but his passion for emerging artists compelled him to give it another chance. “Today I'm incredibly excited, especially because one of my favorite bands is coming: Ash. For me, it's a dream, but you know what they say: here in Granada, anything is possible.”
As part of the exclusive proposal to combine culture, art, and music, the SON Estrella Galicia Soundhood tour included a visit to a magical enclave in Sacromonte: a cave converted into the home—a common sight in the neighborhood since the beginning of the 20th century—of Curro Albaicín, flamenco dancer, poet, and living memory of Sacromonte. “I was a very rebellious child who fought for democracy,” he says at the end of the visit, the walls of which are filled with photos of some of the 12,000 Roma families who lived in the neighborhood before the expropriation they suffered during the Franco regime.
The artist was accompanied by renowned singer Irene Molina, guitarist Marcos Palometas, and flute artist Eloy Heredia. The three make up the group Clavel Flamenco, which performed a flamenco version of Canadian Leonard Cohen's renowned Hallelujah to conclude the tour. Clavel Flamenco rounded out its performance by setting another of its works to music, Muerte de Antoñito Camborio, recited by Curro Albaicín:
“And when the four cousins arrived at Benamejí, voices of death ceased
near the Guadalquivir”
Barcelona will be the next stop for Soundhood SON Estrella Galicia. A city with a vibrant music scene, but also marked by the progressive loss of venues. There, Estrella Galicia's initiative takes on even more meaning: rescuing those spaces where culture is born. Don't miss this opportunity and get your ticket here (waiting for link).
EL PAÍS
