Antonio Canales closes the festival on a night on which bright young hopes from
Almería will début

Carmen Jiménez, June 2003

Summer arrives charged with intense, promising programs for the enjoyment of flamenco. And Almería is one of the cities of reference. Its City Hall's Culture Council has organized the thirty-seventh edition of the prestigious Almería Flamenco Festival, which has become a privileged showcase for consolidated artists such as Chocolate, Carmen Linares, El Torta and Antonio Canales; new generation figures such as Arcángel, Mayte Martín, Curro Piñana and Niño Josele; as well as bright young hopes of flamenco. The festival will take place August 25th to 27th, 2003 at the Andalusian city's Plaza de la Constitución.

The festival is organized into three days, each of which is dedicated to a motif related to flamenco. The first day is scheduled to kick off with the title 'El azul intenso de los ecos hondos' ('The Deep Blue of Hondo Echoes'), in which the good understanding between the Andalusian night and cante jondo will be demonstrated through the show. To do so, the festival's audience will be able to enjoy guitar by Niño Josele, who will take advantage of this festival to present his new album. Performing on cante will be Mayte Martín, considered one of the best cantaoras of her generation, Huelva-born cantaor Arcángel and local cantaor Curro Piñana, the grandson of the patriarch and keeper of miner cantes Antonio Piñana (Sr.). His brother Carlos Piñana will be on the guitar, as will Juan Ramón Caro and Juan Carlos Romero.

On the second night, that of Tuesday the 26th, the show titled 'La luz cálida del quejío más puro' ('The Warm Light of the Purest Quejío') premieres starring artists such as Carmen Linares and Antonio Núñez, El Chocolate, Juan Moneo el Torta and La Macanita. Granada-born Miguel Ángel Cortes, Antonio Carrión, Antonio Higuero and Manuel Parrilla will be on the guitar.

Night for blossoming female talent

Women will be the star on the night of the 27th. The title 'Un mar de arte que duele. Almería canta en mujer con Antonio Canales' ('A Sea of Art Which Hurts. Almería Sings in Women with Antonio Canales'), says it all. The Sevillian bailaor and choreographer sponsors a promising night in Almería, where women and flamenco melt into one. Four young cantaoras are to meet on stage. Mari Carmen Segura, accompanied by Miguel Ochando on guitar and Chico Fargas on percussion; María José Pérez, flanked in her performance by guitarist El Niño de la Fragua; Jennifer Martínez, now known as La Niña del Puerto, accompanied on the guitar by El Niño de la Fragua; and Rocío Segura, along with guitarist José Luis Postigo. The night will be completed by the dancing of Antonio Canales, guest artist, who will perform with Juan de Juan and Adela Campallo, on dance; David Cerreduela and Daniel Méndez, on guitar; on cante, José Valencia and David de Morón; and on percussion, José Carrasco.

One of the best showcases

The Almería Flamenco Festival is considered to be one of the best showcases for known artists and newcomers alike. Cantaores such as Marina Heredia, Esperanza Fernández and bailaor Farruquito have performed at this festival in the past. In this new edition, the festival's organizers have tried to innovate the closing day, traditionally reserved for taking a look at artists from Almería, dedicating it to the contribution to flamenco by women from Almería.