Live music in Cantabria, July 2022

The concerts on Plaza Porticada were part of Felisa 2022 (Feria del Libro de Santander y Cantabria, 1—10 July) and La Semana Grande de Santander (22—31 July); those in the church of Santa María de los Ángeles in San Vicente de la Barquera were part of the Festival Cantabria Infinita.

• 2 July: «Jam Sesion: Cuaderno de Cantabria» @ Plaza Porticada, Santander
  Homage to José Hierro. With Càrabé (narration), Manuel Cavero (double bass), Lidia Gil (narration, vocals), Javi Lost (guitar, vocals), Javier San Miguel (sax), Adela San Miguel (drums) and Rafa Santana (piano).
• 4 July: «Vida. Homenaje a José Hierro» @ Plaza Porticada
  Inés Fonseca (vocal, guitar) and Carmela (bass guitar).
• 5 July: La Mala Hierba @ Plaza Porticada
  Gema Martínez (vocals) and Nico Rodríguez (guitar).
• 6 July: «Astro Azul» @ Plaza Porticada
  It was a difficult choice that evening: Versonautas at Plaza Porticada vs Juan de Diego Quartet in Rvbicón, with both events starting at 21:30. In the end I went to see the former, a show by a Valencia-based duo of Ana Sanahuja (voice, keyboards, effects) and Roqui Albero (voice, trumpet, flugelhorn, effects).
• 6 July: Juan de Diego Quartet @ Rvbicón, Calle del Sol, 4
  To my surprise, when I eventually arrived to Rvbicón, the show was still going on. They let me in for free so I was able to hear the last three songs and chat with the musicians afterwards. Win-win! Here you can watch the full concert featuring Juan de Diego (trumpet), Toni Saigi (piano), Pere Loewe (double bass) and Ramon Prats (drums).

  

• 8 July: Chebú & Co. «De Alejandra a Bluma» @ Plaza Porticada
  Homage to Alejandra Pizarnik (1936—1972) by Chebú (Zhenya Popova and Nahúm Cobo), Cuarteto Adagio and Miguel Ángel Sánchez.
• 9 July: Freedonia «Conciencia» @ Plaza Porticada
  Deborah Ayo (vocals), Ángel Pastor (guitar, harmónica), Fran Panadero (bass), Israel Checa (drums), Juan Carlos “Chavi” Ontoria (keyboards), David Pérez (baritone sax), Toni García (trumpet), Dani Niño (tenor sax) and Jorge Moreno (trombone).
• 13 July: Latorre-Carlés Quartet @ Rvbicón
  Rubén Carlés (double bass), César Latorre (piano), Hilario Rodeiro (drums) and Natalio Sued (tenor sax). Watch the full concert here.

  

• 20 July: Carla Sevilla Quintet @ Rvbicón
  On this occasion reduced to a quartet featuring Carla Sevilla (vocals), Marcos Salcines (piano), Juanma Urriza Razquin “Boli” (drums) and Jon Dorregarai (bass), with the special guest Adrián Buenaga (sax). Watch the full concert here.

  

• 22 July: Desert Rose @ La Plaza de Liencres, Liencres
  Covers of Sade, Sting and Toto by the band from Getxo featuring Laura Villacorta (vocals), Lorea Mendizábal (vocals, flute), Rafa Zuloaga (bass), Diego Lasheras (keyboards), Rafa Aspiunza (guitar), Andrés Tejo (guitar) and Nikola Goñi (drums).

  

• 27 July: Terraza-Fumero-Arnedo Trio @ Rvbicón
  Ignasi Terraza (piano), Horacio Fumero (double bass) and Guillem Arnedo (drums). Watch the full concert here.

  

• 29 July: Yves Lambert Trio @ Iglesia de Santa María de los Ángeles, San Vicente de la Barquera
  This was the first ever concert of the Festival Cantabria Infinita that I’ve seen — alas, not from the beginning. Amazing music from Yves Lambert (vocals, accordeon, harmonica), Tommy Gauthier (violin) and Olivier Rondeau (guitar).

  

• 30 July: Big Band del Conservatorio Ataúlfo Argenta @ Plaza Porticada, Santander
  A big band composed of both students, alumni and teachers of the Conservatorio Ataúlfo Argenta. Under the direction of Toño Gutierrez Llata and featuring, among others, Pedro Ruiz Ibáñez (sax), Eduardo Diz (trombone), Rafael Santana (piano), Manuel Cavero (electric bass) and Cristina Ceballos (vocals), covering standards such as A Night in Tunisia, Autumn Leaves, Chameleon, Respect, The Pink Panther Theme and (twice!) Tequila.
• 30 July: Calum Stewart Quartet @ Iglesia de Santa María de los Ángeles, San Vicente de la Barquera
  Calum Stewart (uilleann pipes, wooden flute), Yann Le Bozec (double bass), Sylvain Quéré (cittern) and Mathilde Rio (step dance).

  

• 31 July: Highlanders & Banda Municipal de Santander @ Plaza Porticada
  Eduardo Andérez (guitars) and Borja Feal (flutes, bagpipes) accompanied by Banda Municipal de Santander conducted by Vicent Pelechano.

Goodbye, July.