Black Music Festival
With a line-up of top foreign acts and plenty of local talent this edition is hoping for last year's success that attracted 18,000 visitors
Soul, blues, jazz, hip-hop, R&B ... whatever your preference from the world of black music, Girona and Salt have it until March 21 as part of the Black Music Festival. The BMF returns for another year, bigger and better than ever, with its usual mouth-watering line up of international and domestic acts, established artists and newcomers.
Last year's festival attracted some 18,000 visitors and with top foreign acts like saxophonist Maceo Parker, Ely Paperboy Reed or The Coup from the US, West African jazz bassist Richard Bona or the UK's Miles Sankoand Bitty McClean, plenty of music lovers will be tempted to show up once more.
However, the BMF is also a showcase for domestic talent with the likes of Les Pneumatic Serenaders,La Soul Machine, the Girona Jazz Project Big Band (who will perform with Parker), Dixiecat, veteran rockers La Banda del Yuyu, the Tòfol Martínez trio and local outfit, the Rubén Berengena Trio.
This year's edition of the festival includes 'Soules', a section in tribute to female soul vocalists. Among the artists to feature are Txell Sust, Sandra Fern and Marina BBFace. A fourth act will be added to this section after an online competition.
Other exciting acts due at the festival include the Senegalese artist, Daba Makourejah, New York jazz pianist, Michael Abene, The Rusties Blues Band, Nü, Valencian trumpeter, David Pastor, American jazz tenor saxophonist, Scott Hamilton (who will perform with the Toni Solà Quintet) and the Fundación Tony Manero.
As always, the festival includes associated activities, including events for families and children.
Festival in miniature
Above all, the Black Music Festival is about showcasing and nurturing new talent, and this year's edition includes a section for young musicians. 'Petit Black Music' will offer three events aimed at children and their families. The concert/workshops will take place on March 7 and 8 in Girona's plaça Independència and on March 14 in plaça Salvador Espriu. All of the family events in the festival are free to enter.