Bilbao Old Quarter Riverfront – Photo by Angel Romero
Saturday, May 9th, was the final day of the Iberoamerican music expo EXIB Música 2015. The morning sessions were focused on the development of two networking organizations, RICMU (Latin American Network of Musical Communicators) and RedIGM (Latin American Network of Music Managers).
Elena Pérez from Turismo Bilbao gave us a tour of the Casco Viejo (Old Quarter).
Elena Pérez, our tour guide – Photo by Angel Romero
Elena gave us a historical overview of Bilbao, starting with its medieval origins. Diego López de Haro founded the Villa de Bilbao on June 15, 1300. The new village became the main port for all trade for the kingdom of Castile.
Elena Pérez with a group of EXIB 2015 participants from Argentina, Venezuela, Spain and the USA – Photo by Angel Romero
Bilbao Riverfront – Photo by Angel Romero
Historic Teatro Arriaga in Bilbao, a Neo-Baroque building designed by architect Joaquín Rucoba in 1890 – Photo by Angel Romero
Iglesia San Nicolas (St. Nicholas Church) in Bilbao – Photo by Angel Romero
In the afternoon, there was screening of the documentary Alentejo Alentejo that focuses on Portugal’s increasingly popular cante alentejano and its rural a cappella polyphonic choirs.
The showcases started at 6:00 at the Alhóndiga Bilbao Azkuna Center’s atrium stage. The first artist was Brazilian singer Laura Lopes, from Belo Horizonte. She performs Brazilian Popular Music (MPB). Web site: www.lauralopes.art.br
Yusa at EXIB 2015 – Photo by Angel Romero
Next was Argentina-based Cuban singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Yusa, who combines Afro-Cuban music with funk, rock and pop. This was a solo performance, but Yusa made it really entertaining with her tantalizing vocals and her skilled rhythm guitar/electric bass accompaniment. Yusa has released Yusa (2002), Breathe (2004), Haiku (2008). After moving to Argentina, Yusa released the live album Vivo (2010) and the studio recording Libro de cabecera en tardes de café (2012). An album titled Dosenuno combines songs from Yusa’s first two albums, Yusa and Breathe. More at yusamusic.blogspot.com
Bidaia at EXIB 2015 – Photo by Angel Romero
One of the highlights of the day was Basque band Bidaia. They hail from the French side of the Basque country and feature legendary musician Mixel Ducau. He was a member of pioneering progressive rock band Errobi and more recently Oreka TX.
Bidaia’s Mixel Ducau playing the alboka horn at EXIB 2015 – Photo by Angel Romero
Bidaia features Ducau on guitar and alboka, American hurdy-gurdy (zanfona) player Caroline Phillips and a rhythm section. They mix Basque traditional music with global sounds. The group’s most recent album is Agur Shiva.
Bidaia’s Caroline Phillips playing the hurdy gurdy at EXIB 2015 – Photo by Angel Romero
More aboput Bidaia at http://www.bidaia.com
The final showcase at Alhóndiga Bilbao was the spectacular Venezuelan act led by vocalist Francisco Pacheco. This large ensemble featuring 5 vocalists and virtuoso musicians delivered a fabulous selection of modern Afro-Venezuelan music. Francisco Pacheco was the founder of Un Solo Pueblo, an iconic Venezuelan traditional folk music group.
Francisco Pacheco’s ensemble – Photo by Angel Romero
Francisco Pacheco – Photo by Angel Romero
Francisco Pacheco’s rhythm section – Photo by Angel Romero
After the concerts at Alhóndiga Bilbao, two of my colleagues and I headed to the Viandas de Salamanca deli store at Calle Ercilla 4 and feasted on delicious Iberian ham sandwiches in fresh crusty bread. This place specializes in various Iberian pork deli meats such as ham, chorizos, salchichon, lomo and farinato. Viandas de Salamanca is specially during Athletic Club de Bilbao football (soccer) club’s home games. This small chain has a second store in Bilbao in the Old Quarter. They also have stores in Salamanca, Pamplona and downtown Madrid.
Viandas de Salamanca Iberian ham deli in Bilbao – Photo by Angel Romero
The final concert featured celebrated Argentine-American rock musician Kevin Johansen along with the Nada and Liniers at Café Antzokia.