Concerts de petit format als Jardins del Teatre Grec

Saturday, July 2

Ferran Palau

Ferran Palau was one of the founders of the dark pop band Anímic in 2003, and recorded such successful albums as Hannah and Hannibal with them. In 2012, though, he launched a solo career by releasing L’aigua del rierol, which won great praise amongst the music press, and he now returns with Santa Ferida. Perhaps the themes that have always attracted him (death, religion, guilt, etc.) are still present in these songs, but they have a new, fresher air to them now, a suggestion of the summer or the caress of a sea breeze. Come and you will perhaps hear songs like La daga and El meu lament and agree with us that Ferran Palau is quite a discovery.

Sunday, July 3

XY

Equilibri (2015) is the title of the first album from XY (pronounced "icks ee grega"). As the word indicates, this “Balance” marks the exact distance between the tenderness and the strength that, in equal parts, underlie this project. Voice and cello are the main instruments behind this pocket ensemble, a duet as elegant as they are unconventional. More than songs, they small works of arts and crafts that can transport and mesmerise audiences. A pure and simple balance that goes straight to the heart of those who listen to these sounds for the first time.

Monday, July 4

Enric Verdaguer

He is just twenty, but he has spent the last seven years, as he says, "trapped by the magic of music”. He started out by posting versions on YouTube but, little by little, discovered that he also had his own voice and began to compose songs on his guitar. That was four years ago, more than enough time to have recorded his first album, entitled Moonstruck, songs in English that recount personal experiences and stories. Just listen to songs like the hit single Freaky and you understand why Enric Verdaguer has appeared on countless television and radio shows. You will hear plenty about this young man, so be sure not to miss this chance to hear him close-up and live while you can.

Tuesday, July 5

Nico Roig and Maria Monferrer

Perhaps Nico Roig’s best-known songs, such as those from his first album, Tonada del genoma humà, are rather dark and twisted, but Roig is also capable of composing tunes that are full of light, he just did not know how to play them. Then, one day, he met Maria Monferrer at a tribute to Nick Drake, and found the ideal instrument in her voice to perform the melodies he had stored away in a draw. These natural-sounding marvels are now found on the album Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining. And you can hear them at the gardens of the Teatre Grec.

Friday, July 8

Pau Alabajos

This singer-songwriter, who has been around since 2003, releasing his debut album, Futur en venda, the following year, has since become one of the leading exponents of Catalan song in Valencia. This is not, however, the only string to his bow, because, in 2015, he was elected as a member of Compromís onto the local council of his hometown of Torrent. Pau is also secretary of Col·lectiu Ovidi Montllor, an association set up to defend the interests of Valencian artists and performers. With a long career under his belt, has just released his latest album, the sixth, entitled L'amor i la ferocitat. Recorded in the USA, this is another fine collection of Pau’s trademark songs, full of bite and feeling.

Saturday, July 9

Joan Queralt

Previously known by his artistic nom de plume of Johnny Card, Joan Queralt just released his second solo album, Welcome Home, under his own name. Fusing acoustic folk, blues and rock, his music is clearly influenced by American music, but he also incorporates sounds ranging from Bossa Nova to Arabic melodies. If we are lucky, and Joan plays songs like Reflections and Ligia, we may well discover the most personal and emotional face of this fine artist.

Friday, July 15

Pantaleó

When singer-songwriter Gerard de Pablo was forced to accept the break-up of his previous project, The City's Last Noise, he formed Pantaleó with a group of musician friends from bands in the Vallès region like Estúpida Erikah, Illa Carolina and Marina BBface and The Beatroots. In 2014, Pantaleó won the Sona 9 Youth Award for new bands. And last year saw the release of Reina Victòria, an album of superb tunes, perfect candidates to become indie pop classics. The end of a love story, the birth of a song, characters with skeletons in the cupboard... You will find all this and more on an addictive LP that is certain to win you over on first listen.

Saturday, July 16

Novembre Elèctric

In the Teatre Grec Gardens, the Valencian musician Yeray Calvo (vocals, guitar and keyboards) presents his musical project with Rodrigo Domínguez (bass) and Sergio León (drums). The trio present their first album, Intacte, recorded in 2014 and featuring a collection of songs that turn the feelings and emotions of a personal relationship into music. Although two of the three band members are from Madrid and the other from Valencia, and they are based in the Spanish capital, all the tracks on the album are sung in Catalan except for two songs in Spanish. Novembre Elèctric cite their influences as artists like Bon Iver and Sigur Rós, and they are also fans of Pau Vallvé and groups like La Iaia and Quart Primera.

Sunday, July 17

Carlos Cros

Barcelona-born Carlos Cros gained rose to fame on the indie scene with Nadie se resiste al amor, an album he put out in 2014 after three years’ hard work and his second solo effort after he spells with bands like Los Selenitas and Sunglasses. This greatly acclaimed “No-One Resists Love” is a fusion of pop and rock, songs with direct, sincere lyrics. At present, Carlos is preparing another album, and maybe we will hear a track or two from it at his show in the gardens of the Teatre Grec.

Friday, July 22

Caetaneando

In this band, Martí Forteza (vocals), David Aledo (guitar and vocals) and Joan Sebastià Mateu (percussion and flutes) pay tribute to a great Brazilian musician, Caetano Veloso. The perform songs composed by Veloso as well as versions by other groups and artists that the Brazilian reworked in his own unique style, from The Beatles and Nirvana to Roberto Carlos.

Saturday, July 30

Cesk Freixas

You will probably have heard a track or two by Cesk Freixas, because he has five albums and more than 1,200 live performances under his belt. His latest release is Protesta, released in 2014, when Ràdio 4 listeners voted it Best Catalan Recording of the Year. Freixas has more than a touch of the rocker about him as he serves up a tight, compact sound to accompany his lyrics, which have turned to protest in this latest stage in his career. In 2015, Cesk Freixas received the Enderrock Award for the Best Music DVD.

Sunday, July 31

Isabel Vinardell and Isabelle Laudenbach

Several genres and languages are blended and fused in the music of this duo, formed by Isabel Vinardell, vocalist, dancer and choreographer, a former member of the band Cheb Balowski, and songwriter and guitarist Isabelle Laudenbach, who some will remember from Las Migas. Together, they sample a range of musical styles, from flamenco and melodic song to the copla ballad, not forgetting pop. Singing in Catalan, Spanish or Italian, they play music from the Mediterranean tradition, but always adding their own, personal sound.

Producció executiva: No Sonores;