Berkeley and Santa Cruz postpone performances and Davis cancels the concert

Flamenco-world.com, January 2004

Paco de Lucía's return to stages is bumping into serious obstacles. Due to delays in the processing of visas for the band's musicians - including Cuban bass player Alain Pérez - to enter the United States, several concerts in the state of California have already been canceled. According to a press release by Cal Performances, the concerts scheduled for January 24th and 25th in Berkeley have been postponed to March 4th and 5th. Meanwhile, the performance scheduled for January 26th in Santa Cruz has been moved to March 2nd. In Davis, after an initial change in dates, the organizers have made the decision to do without the guitarist's performance, since "there is no certainty of when the band will be allowed to enter the country".

Paco de Lucía (frame from DVD 'Paco de Lucía - Francisco Sánchez')

Control measures established by the United States Government for the entrance of foreigners in the country is also affecting cultural exchange. The North American tour with which Paco de Lucía expected to present his new album 'Cositas buenas' is being affected by these restrictions. "A delay in the processing of visas by the Homeland Security Act has made it impossible for Paco de Lucía to enter the United States in time for the performances".

The first cancellation was made at Davis' Mondavi Center, where the first performance was scheduled for January 20th. Following a change in dates to the 28th and a new cancellation, the performance has finally been canceled. "Mondavi Center has decided that another change in dates is unacceptable" and adds that, despite the restrictions, which already caused the cancellation of many of the concerts scheduled last year, it will go on trying to bring in great world musicians to favor exchange between cultures.

In the case of Cal Performances, it has opted to postpone the concerts scheduled for Berkeley and Santa Cruz. The concerts scheduled for January 24th and 25th at Zellerbach Hall will be moved to March 4th and 5th, respectively. The recital scheduled for the 26th at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium has been postponed to March 2nd. Since no date has been given for the visas to be granted, it is possible that other concerts on the tour might also be postponed or canceled although, for the time being, there is no confirmation on behalf of the organizers.

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