(Almost) free live music and stuff in Las Palmas, October 2025

What we’ve seen in October:

• 4 October: «Tránsito, Lienzo y Voz» @ Casa de Colón, Calle Colón, 1, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  A concert of Camerata Lacunensis, a chamber choir of the University of La Laguna (Tenerife) lead by Jose Herrero. The programme included:
  • O lux beata Trinitas (Andrej Makor)
  • Wade in the Water (traditional, arr. Stacey V. Gibbs)
  • Veni sponsa Christi (Albert Alcaraz). Soloist: Celia Martín
  • Si ha de ser (Jose Herrero — Josefina de la Torre)
  • Let My Love Be Heard (Jake Runestad — Alfred Noyes)
  • Penas (Beatriz Corona — José Martí). Quartet of soloists: Amayra García, Lucía Torres, Pedro San Blas and Andrés Rodríguez.
  • Verano (Jose Herrero — Félix Duarte Pérez). Soloist: Celia Martín
  • El Guayaboso (Guido López-Gavilán)
  • Folías (traditional, arr. Jose Herrero). Soloist: Vicky López
  • El cuarto de Tula (Sergio González Siaba, arr. Jose Herrero)
  Encores:
  • Bésame Mucho (Consuelo Velázquez)
  • Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)

  

• 6 October: 30MASDANZA @ Casa de Colón, Calle Colón, 1
  The programme included:
  • Raquel Gualtero Soriano (Ibagué, Colombia — Barcelona, Spain): 360º
  • Catarina Casqueiro & Tiago Coelho (Lisbon, Portugal): Forget Me Not
  • Eugenio Micheli & Marta Papaccio (Catania, Italy): The Waiting
  • Albert Hernández & Irene Tena (Madrid, Spain): No

  

• 8 October: Luis Quintana @ Palacete Rodríguez Quegles, Calle Benito Pérez Galdós, 4
  What I find irritating in a performer: (1) asking the audience to sing with, or instead of, them (90% of cantautores do it); (2) explaining what their songs are about; (3) wearing a hat on stage. LQ does all this and it is annoying. I liked Ángel Ravelo’s sax (he didn’t ask the crowd to play any with him).

  

• 9 October: MASDANZA Showcase I @ Sala Gabriel Rodó, Paseo Principe de Asturias
  The programme included:
  • Kiko López (Valencia, Spain): Honest
  • Charlotte Carpentier & Giovanni Molendi (Gzira, Malta): Silenced
  • Olé Khamchanla (Saint Vallier, France): Cercle
  • Cristina Roggerini & Gaia Mondini (Marano di Napoli, Italy): Last Movement of Hope: II Chapter — Organs
  • Paula Comitre & Julio Ruiz; cante: Al Blanco (Seville, Spain): Un diálogo entre Paula Comitre y Julio Ruiz

  

• 12 October: The 5.6.7.8’s @ Parque de San Telmo
  The Big Bang Vintage Festival this year was not free. We discovered this on Sunday when the security guy told us that the concert was “a private event” and we were meant to purchase tickets. The prices were €50 (a four-day pass) and €20 (a one-day pass). We were not ready to pay €20 per person for just one concert, and, judging by the applauses, it didn’t look like there was great attendance. Timur and I stayed outside the bus station to listen for the fist few songs. The sound quality wasn’t impressive either.
• 28 October: «Arrudeio» @ Casa de Colón
  This concert was part of the 22^nd (!) Festival Tensamba — why haven’t I heard of it before? With Camila Masiso (vocals, percussion) and Carol Benigno (accordion).

  

And exhibitions:

• 25 September — 24 October: «Caminar la forma» @ Centro Cultural CICCA, Alameda de Colón, 1
  Wood sculptures by Juan Carlos Déniz.

  

• 30 October — 28 November: Exposición del Concurso «Gran Canaria de Series de Obra Gráfica» @ Centro de Artes Plásticas (CAP), Calle Colón, 8
  ...where you can see some engravings by Tamara and Timur.

  

Bye, October.

Free live music and stuff in Las Palmas, September 2025

It was a great September, stuff-wise.

• 6 September: Troveros de Asieta «30 años de son» @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos, Parque Doramas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  Troveros de Asieta featuring Francis Concepción (vocals, guitar), Pedro Brito (tres, backing vocals), Fran Martín “Ciani” (vocals, percussion), José Humberto Martín (trumpet), Oscar Herrera (trumpet), Carlos Perdomo (baby bass), Julio González (percussion), David Platero (percussion) and Alberto Martín (piano), plus a guest singer Mayelín Naranjo.

  

All the free shows of the 29^th edition of TEMUDAS (18—28 September 2025) took place in Santa Catalina, so it was very convenient for us. (We passed on the container terminal concert this year.) This is what we’ve seen:

• 18 September, 18:00: «SinSolo» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Compañía Faltan7 (Comunidad de Madrid) opened the festival with this charming contemporary circus show. Starring Katharina Gruener, Luca Sartor, Naikel Blázquez, Moran Shoval, Paula Garo, Yifat (Fifi) Rosenblat and Olivia (Libby) Halliday. Directed by Miguel Muñoz.

  

• 18 September, 19:00: «Maña» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Compañía Manolo Alcántara (Catalonia). I never thought that watching two guys silently moving around wooden blocks for one hour could be that fascinating. But it was.

  

• 18 September, 21:30 and 19 September, 22:00: «Légendaire» @ Parque Santa Catalina/Luis Morote
  Remue Ménage (France). Installation, circus.

  

• 19 September, 20:00: «Wild» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Circus and modern dance by Motionhouse (UK). Created and directed by Kevin Finnan. Starring Alex De La Bastide, Olly Bell, Llewelyn Brown, Sophie O'Leary, Daniel Massarella and Beth Pattison.

  

• 19 September, 21:00: «Canto al trabajo Sinfónico» @ Plaza de Canarias
  A show by Pieles and La Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Authors: Jonatan Rodríguez and Oswaldo Bordón. Featuring Fátima Rodríguez, Laura Álvarez, José Félix Álvarez, Fernanda Alonso, Germán G. Arias, Jeremías Martín, Juan Antonio Mora, Ithaisa Darias, Guillermo Molina, Ventor de la Guardia, Fede Beuster, Carlos Castañeda and Jonatan Rodríguez.

  

• 20 September, 17:30: «Out of the Deep Blue» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Autin Dance Theatre (Birmingham, UK). Featuring a 13-foot tall puppet operated by five puppeteers and a dancer.

  

• 21 September, 18:30: «Verbena» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Colectivo Lamajara Danza (Catalonia). Dancers: Anna Sagrera Conde, Agnès Balfegó Brull, Daniel Rosado Ávila, José David Ortega Cerda and Paloma Hurtado de la Cruz.

  

• 21 September, 20:30: «Sinergia 3.0» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Compañía Nueveuno (Madrid). Contempoary circus starring Miguel Frutos, Josu Montón, Isaac Posac and Jorge Silvestre.

  

• 25 September, 20:00: «Esencial» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Vaivén Circo (Granada).

  

• 25 September, 21:00: «Xpectro» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Zen del Sur (Granada). Starring Carlos López and Noemí Pareja.

  

• 27 September, 11:30: «Pols» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Modern dance performed by Pepa Cases (C. Valenciana).

  

• 27 September, 11:45: «The» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Modern dance. Created and performed by Miguel Jiménez & Andrea Carrión (Murcia).

  

• 27 September, 12:00: «Naufragio Universal» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Modern dance, flamenco. Created and performed by Marco Vargas & Chloé Brûlé (Murcia).

  

• 27 and 28 September, 20:30: «Le Lac des Cygnes» @ Plaza de Canarias
  Weird, beautiful and comic sketches from the life of waterfowl: L’eolienne (France) presented their take on Tchaikovsky’s classic. The story, if there is one, has nothing to do with the original Swan Lake libretto and is all the better for that. I liked it so much that I went to both shows. Those who left early missed that hilarious pièce de résistance, Danse des petits cygnes. Author and choreographer: Florence Caillon. Starring: Anouk Weiszberg, Guilhèm Charrier, Madeleine Peylet, Marco Guillemet, Ancelin Dugue and Johanna Dalmon.

  

• 27 September, 22:00: «Le Grand Mire» @ Parque de Santa Catalina
  Aerial dance by Deus Ex Machine (France). This could be a great 30-minute show if not for the pair of annoying emcees. Also, we felt that this magical sphere was underused.

  

• 28 September, 17:00: «Nilu» @ Plaza de Canarias
  A show by Infinit (C. Valenciana). Performed by Enric Romaguera.

  

The last concert from the cycle Música Antigua en el Patio this year:

• 30 September: «Cantus Memoriæ» @ Casa de Colón, Calle Colón, 1
  Camerata Iberia featuring Jorge Enrique García (countertenor), Bruno Campelo (countertenor), Juan Carlos de Mulder (vihuela) and Carlos Oramas (vihuela). I can’t say I am a big fan of countertenor but their rendition of Ay luna que reluzes was pure magic. The programme included:
  • Josquin des Prez: Mille Regretz
  • Enríquez de Valderrábano: Et in spiritum sanctum
  • Josquin des Prez: In te Domine speravi
  • Anonymous (from Cancionero de la Colombina): Niña y viña
  • Francesco da Milano: Spagna/Canon
  • Franco Alonso (from Cancionero de Palacio): La tricotea
  • Juan del Encina (from Cancionero de Palacio): Fata la parte
  • Juan del Encina (from Cancionero de Palacio): Si habrá en este baldrés
  • Giacomo Fogliano (from Cancionero de Palacio): L’amor, donna
  • Diego Ortiz: Romanesca
  • Anonymous/Cristóvão Falcão (from Cancioneiro de Paris): Pois tudo tam pouco dura
  • Anonymous (from Cancioneiro de Paris): Não tragais borzeguis pretos
  • Anonymous (from Cancionero de Upsala): Ay luna que reluzes
  • Joan Ambrosio Dalza: Laudato dio/Calata alla spagnola
  • Anonymous (from Cancionero de Upsala): E la don don
  • Cristóbal de Morales (from Cancionero de Upsala): Si no os hubiera mirado
  • Diego Ortiz: Folías
  • Anonymous (from Cancionero de Upsala): Falalalán, falalalera

  

And exhibitions:

• 18 September — 17 October: «Sacred Place» @ Centro de Artes Plásticas (CAP), Calle Colón, 8
  Art by Alfonso Crujera.

  

• 25 September 2025 — 22 February 2026: «Morar» @ CAAM – San Antonio Abad, Plaza San Antonio Abad
  Works by Esther Aldaz.

  

Hello, October.

Free live music and stuff in Las Palmas, May 2025

This is what we’ve seen:

• 8 May: «Celebrando Canarias» @ Plaza del Pilar Nuevo, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  The first of three concerts featuring Germán López (timple) and La Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria conducted by Juan Roda Sapiña. The full programme is available here.

  

• 14 May: Yul Ballesteros Trio «Alma» @ Palacete Rodríguez Quegles, Calle Benito Pérez Galdós, 4
  Yul Ballesteros (guitar), Tana Santana (double bass) and Akior García (drums).

  

• 17 May: La Noche Europea de los Museos @ Casa de Colón, Calle Colón, 1
  Gonzalo Macías (guitar) and Ana Gil (vocals, clarinet); Enri Ive (vocals) and Pablo Queu (guitar).
• 23 May: Carlos Alemán & Rayko León @ Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM), Calle de los Balcones, 9
  With Carlos Eliseo Alemán (flutes), Rayko León (piano), Fofi Lusson (double bass) and Osvaldo Hernández (drums).

  

• 24 May: «Del bolero al son» @ Auditorio José Antonio Ramos, Parque Doramas
  Flamencubeando is a band from Jaén who mix flamenco with son, bolero, tango and other Latin American genres, playing the standards such as Alfonsina y El Mar, Lágrimas negras, Nostalgias, Obsesión, Por una cabeza and, would you believe it, Ay Mi Gran Canaria in their own unique style. Featuring Curro Pérez (voice), Luís Delgado (guitar, bass guitar), Fernándo Delgado (piano) and Luis Delgado Jr. (percussion, flute, melodica).

  

• 31 May: Ernesto Rossger Trio @ Re-Read, Calle Bernardo de la Torre, 33
  One of these events that are not advertised anywhere. We only learned about it because we were visiting this second-hand book shop almost daily. So, on occasion of the eighth anniversary of the Re-Read Las Palmas, we were treated to almost 90 minutes of jazz/blues/funk/bossa nova fusion, plus beer and snacks. With Ernesto Rossger (electric guitar), Carlos Ayala (electric bass), Alejandro Ramos (drums) and a special guest Louis Moreno (vocals).

  

An exhibition of historical photography in interesting location:

• 23 May — 1 June: «Presencia Española en el Sáhara» @ Palacio Militar de San Telmo, Calle Triana, 109
  On occasion, I guess, of the 50^th anniversary of the end of Spanish presence in Western Sahara. Photography by José Luis de Pablos.

And that was it for May.

Ullate. La danza de la vida

a film by Elena Cid Sebastián

Mónica Cruz says that when she was a child, Víctor Ullate was considered to be a dancer of the caliber of Baryshnikov and Nureyev. Maybe. I first heard his name yesterday — fittingly, on International Dance Day, thanks to Filmoteca Canaria.

It was no one else but Antonio Gades who, after seeing Víctor dancing, insisted that the boy had to study ballet. So Ullate was accepted to the school of María de Ávila in Zaragoza — the first male student there. In 1964, he became a principal dancer of the Ballet du XX^e siècle of Maurice Béjart. How cool is that?

Like many biographical documentaries, this one suffers from too many talking heads and too many too short snippets of actual Ullate performances. Still, I’m glad I watched it. Now to do my own research.

This film was screened as a part of the cycle Tiempo de memoria, memoria en el tiempo.

Free live music and stuff in Las Palmas, May 2024

This is what I’ve seen in May:

• 7 May: Las Hespérides «Barbara Strozzi, la musa del Barroco» @ Casa de Colón, Calle Colón, 1, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  This concert, a homage to the Venetian composer Barbara Strozzi (1619—1677), opened the 9^th edition of Música Antigua en el Patio. Featuring Magdalena Padilla (soprano), Diego Pérez (baroque cello) and Carlos Oramas (theorbo). The programme included:
  • Strozzi: Che si può fare?, Op. 8
  • Strozzi: Non c’è più fede, Op. 8
  • Strozzi: Rissolvetevi pensieri, Op. 6
  • Strozzi: Per un bacio, Op. 7
  • Domenico Gabrielli: Sonata no. 1
  • Strozzi: Lagrime mie, Op. 7
  • Strozzi: Con male nuove, non si può cantare, Op. 3
  • Strozzi: L’eraclito amoroso, Op. 2
  • Strozzi: Amore è bandito, non si può cantare, Op. 6

• 8 May: Piano recital @ Palacete Rodríguez Quegles, Calle Benito Pérez Galdós, 4
  The concert of the students of Escuela Municipal de Educación Musical de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

  

• 12 May: «Historias de una trayectoria» @ Teatro Guiniguada, Plaza F. Mesa de León
  A talk by Vicente Carrillo, a luthier who built guitars for Paco de Lucía, Keith Richards, Tomatito, Mike Olfield and many others.

  

• 18 May: Noche Europea de los Museos in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, various locations
  This is the first time ever we went to the Castillo de la Luz (calle Juan Rejón), to see the exhibition of Martín Chirino and hear the concert of Germán López (timple) and Yuniel Rascón (guitar). After that, we headed to Vegueta. Unfortunately, one can’t be everywhere at the same time so we largely missed the Musicando concert of Beatriz Alonso and Javier Cerpa (la plaza de Santo Domingo). Our last stop was in the Museo Canario.

  

• 19 May: «La música sacra de la Catedral de Canarias en el siglo XVIII» @ Catedral-Basílica de Santa Ana, Plaza Santa Ana, Calle Obispo Codina, 13
  The commemorative concert showcasing the music of Joaquín García (1710—1779), maestro de la capilla of the Cathedral de Santa Ana from 1735 till his death. Featuring the Chamber Choir Ainur directed by Mariola Rodríguez; Jennibel Hernández (soprano), Celia Jiménez (alto), Dulce María Rodríguez (alto), Daniel Marrero (tenor); Pablo Guijarro (violin), Carlos Parra (violin), Carlos Rivero (cello), Samantha de León (double bass), Alejandro Rodríguez (organo) and Patricia Robaina (harpsichord and musical direction). Presented by Isabel Saavedra Robaina. The complete programme is available here.

• 22 May: Quinteto de viento Aulós @ Palacete Rodríguez Quegles
  With the participation of the Canarian artist Moisés Manrique who was painting in real time as the wind quintet played Pictures at an Exhibition. Wind Quintet Aulós are: Alfons Bonafont (bassoon), Juan J. Cerpa (flute), Jose L. Ferrando (clarinet), Jose M. Manrique (oboe) and Leonardo Pérez (French horn).

  

• 23 May: Dácil Santana @ Museo Castillo de Mata, Calle Domingo Guerra del Río, 147
  The fifth concert from the cycle «12 Noches de autor».

  

• 24 May: «Procedimientos en acuarela» @ La Galeria Bellas Artes, Calle Néstor de la Torre, 7
  A masterclass of watercolour by Miguel Torrús García.
• 25 May: XXVIII Concurso de Pintura Rápida al Aire Libre @ Calle Mesa y López
  Annual open-air speed painting competition. Photos by Tamara @ Shutterstock.

  

• 28 May: Liana Llauger «Al temple del Laúd» @ Casa de Colón
  The concert of the Cuban musician Liana Llauger performing 16^th-century music for 6-course (11-string) lute. The programme included:
  • Joan Ambrosio Dalza: Pavana alla venetiana
  • Vincenzo Capirola: Padoana alla francese No. 2
  • Joan Ambrosio Dalza: Calata ala spagnola ditto terzetti
  • John Dowland: Preludium
  • John Dowland: A Fancy
  • John Dowland: Lachrimae pavane
  • John Dowland: Galliard
  • Luys de Narváez: Fantasía del quarto tono
  • Luys de Narváez: Canción del emperador
  • Luys de Narváez: Cuatro diferencias de Guárdame las vacas
  • Francesco da Milano: Recercar (41) dal quinto tono
  • Francesco da Milano: Fantasia de mon triste
  • Girolamo Kapsperger: Toccata VI
  • Girolamo Kapsperger: Corrente
  • Girolamo Kapsperger: Gagliarda 4ª
  • Vincenzo Capirola: Ricercar ottava
  • Joan Ambrosio Dalza: Piva

  

And exhibitions:

• 8—10 May: Animayo @ Centro Cultural CICCA, Alameda de Colón, 1
  Animayo this year did not boast many free activities. I only went to see the exhibitions El Arte de Spider-Man: Across de Spider-verse and erotic illustrations by Sara Koppel.

  

• 16 May 2024 — February 2025: «Néstor o de la andrógina belleza. Pintor de un ilusorio universo» @ Museo Castillo de Mata
  69 works of Néstor de la Torre, including Poema del mar and Poema de la tierra.

  

• 17 May — 1 September: «Martín Chirino: Homenaje a la música. Sonoridad de la materia» @ Castillo de la Luz, Calle Juan Rejón
  An exhibition of creations by Martín Chirino in a spectacular setting.

  

• 22 May — 5 June: «Cartas desde la isla» @ Centro de Artes Plásticas (CAP), Calle Colón, 8
  Mail art exhibition featuring many contributions by Tamara.

  

Free live music and stuff in Santander and Las Palmas, December 2023

This is what I’ve seen in December:

• 2 December: Carmen Lang @ Discos Cucos, Calle Santa Lucía, 41, Santander
  Carmen Lang (vocals, acoustic guitar), accompanied by Paco Gómez (electric guitar), was presenting her new EP Dandelion in the Wind.

  

• 2 December: Noche de rumba @ Bar Bolero, Calle San Celedonio, 35
  Later the same day, with Esencia Trío featuring Jose Hernández (vocals, bass guitar), Tony León (flamenco guitar, bass guitar) and Dani Peña (cajón), with a guest Dani Simons (bass guitar).

  

Back to Las Palmas:

• 9 December: «Música en el corazón de Vegueta» @ various locations, Vegueta, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  Fewer venues than this June but still, a nice and quite full programme for a Saturday evening.
  • 20:00: Augusto Báez @ Patio de la Fundación MAPFRE Canarias, calle Castillo, 6
  • 20:30: Trío Gabriel Rodó featuring Pilar Bolaños (cello), Ana Marrero (piano) and Liliana Mesa Montané (violin) @ Patio de Los Naranjos, calle Espíritu Santo
  • 21:00: Chromatic Dúo feat. Derque Martín (timple) and Nicolás Mendoza (guitar) @ Patio del Colegio de Abogados, calle Agustín Millares, 25
  • 21:30: Iván Quintana Trío @ Plaza de San Agustín
  • 22:00: Midnight Soul @ Plaza del Pilar Nuevo

The fifth edition of the author song cycle «9 cañones sin banda» — and the first time that I went to see it. The titular 9 cañones refer to the nine cannons of the venue, Museo Castillo de Mata (Calle Domingo Guerra del Río, 147), as well as to the nine cantautores (I presume every year they have nine artists).

• 14 December: Jesús Garriga / Sandra Bautista / Guiu Cortés

  

• 15 December: Juan Gallardo / Luis Quintana / Fede Comín

  

• 16 December: Isa Izquierdo / Alicia Ramos / La Otra & Jhana Beat

  

• 19 December: Quinteto Resonancia @ Palacete Rodríguez Quegles, Calle Benito Pérez Galdós, 4
  Featuring Gabriel Simón (first violin), Nebojsa Milanovic (second violin), Francisco Quintana (viola), Jozef Racz (cello) and Voicu Burca (double bass), plus Margot García (vocals).

  

• 19 December: «La inmortalidad» @ Teatro Guiniguada, Plaza F. Mesa de León
  Later the same evening: a tragicomedy by Antonio Tabares tells the stories of five young students in La Laguna during the years of the Transition. Staged by Delirium Teatro (Tenerife). Actors: Silvia Criado, Delia Hernández, Abel Moral, Daniel Sanjinés and Javier Socorro; directed by Severiano García.

  

And three double councerts from the cycle «Jazz entre muros», again in Museo Castillo de Mata:

• 20 December: Esther Ovejero Trío / Esther Alfonso Da Costa
  Esther Ovejero Trio with Esther Ovejero (vocals), David Quevedo (piano) and Tana Santana (double bass); Esther Alfonso Da Costa (vocals) accompanied by Rayko León (piano), Fofi Lusson (electric bass) and Javi Montero (drums). Unfortunately the rain cut short the second set.

  

• 21 December: Yul Ballesteros / Pino Quimont
  The trio of Yul Ballesteros (guitar), Akior García (drums) and Tana Santana (double bass); Pino Quimont (vocals), Miqui Delgado (piano) and José Carlos Cejudo (electric bass).

  

• 28 December: Jonay Mesa & Luis Sánchez / La Local Jazz Band
  Jonay Mesa (electric guitar) and Luis Sánchez (piano), plus a guest vocalist Carla Vega; La Local Jazz Band featuring Miqui Delgado (piano), Miriam Fleitas (vocals), Abraham Ramos (double bass), Ernesto Montenegro (trumpet), Miguel Ramírez (tenor sax) and Suso Vega (drums).

  

And a bit of art:

• 1—14 December: Acuarelas canarias @ Ermita de San Pedro Mártir, Telde
  An exhibition of watercolours organised by La Asociación Canaria de Acuarelistas, featuring two works by Tamara.

  

• 14 December 2023 — 12 January 2024: «La aventura de encontrar un mundo mejor» @ Centro de Artes Plásticas (CAP), Calle Colón, 8
  Re-interpretation of historical and mass media photos by Paqui Martín.

  

And that was it for 2023. Happy New Year!