JAMES TAYLOR STEAMROLLERED AT VIVEROS

JT on his Guitar
Signing Autographs in the interval
JT and the Band

When I told my Spanish friends I was going to see James Taylor perform live in the city they seemed unimpressed. But I wasn't fooled, I know this deadpan expression well; they didn't know who the hell I was talking about. I was a bit worried however. If they didn't know who JT was, did this mean I would be sitting with 3,000 Brits and the odd tourist? This lack of knowledge about one of the most influential musicians of the 20/21st century (JT has collaborated and performed with Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, who used to be one of his backing singers, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, Neil Young, Carole King - who is also back on tour - et al), is staggering. He's been around forever and, despite the ups and downs of earlier years, this current European 'Down Home' Tour could be straight from the 60's. When he walked quietly onto the stage to thunderous applause (mostly Spanish, I was relieved to see), he seemed vaguely surprised to see us. His band, Steve Gadd, Larry Goldings, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Landau, Kate Markowitz and Arnold McCuller were all dressed in the 60's uniform of jeans and T-shirt. All except the remarkable Andrea Zonn, the sweet-voiced fiddle player, who wore a shapeless black dress and sandals. They looked as though they'd come to play at a small town benefit.

As Taylor began to sing, his voice was a bit shaky. He's been on the road since April; was he already fatigued? But it didn't last and he gave us what we wanted: 'Sweet baby James', 'Fire and Rain', 'You Got a Friend'; the familiar numbers came streaming over the warm, appreciative Valencian audience.

Live, he's amazing. His band unfailingly excellent, the vocal harmonies lump-in-the throat wonderful. He was relaxed and amusing, joking with audience when they yelled for him to sing their favourite songs, picking up the list from his feet and telling them where it was on the schedule - and when a heavily-accented Spaniard yelled 'I love you James', he paused and volleyed with 'Gracias,Señor'. Even during the 20 minute interlude he stayed put signing autographs and T-shirts, smiling that gentle JT smile.

The highlight of the evening was his rendition of 'Steamroller Blues'. First written in 1970, where it appeared on the album 'Sweet Baby James', this current arrangement was astounding, bringing the entire audience to its feet. Now he allowed us to hear just how extraordinary his vocal range is and, of course, we knew all the words. In fact, the first time Elvis heard 'Steamroller Blues' he put it straight into his repertoire and sang it time after time until his death in 1977.

We came running to see him again .... but was it just a little too understated ... a little too 'warm and folksy'? I, for one, would have liked a few more new songs but I suspect I'd have been outnumbered. The audience wanted familiarity and this he gave – in spades. A truly memorable experience.
Barbara O'Neill

Yann Tiersen Live in Viveros Gardens

On a sticky night in Viveros multi-instrumentally-talented Yann Tiersen, showed he’s not just a one-trick pony. Despite repeated bellows from the audience of “Amelie, Amelie”, the film for which he wrote and performed the soundtrack, and which made his name, Tiersen didn’t play one single track from the movie. Instead he played a totally new set that, funnily enough, was in some ways better because it perfectly suited the style of the audience, which was mainly 20-30 year-olds of a wide range of nationalities. It was a shame not to hear his wonderfully atmospheric accordion playing, but the stunning way he handled a pair of guitars, violin and keyboard show just how brilliant a musician he is.

From the moment Tiersen stepped on stage he had us all in his hands. It was the first time we’ve been to concert at Viveros and didn’t know what to expect, which meant that we could be surprised by anything. And we were! The ambience swayed between mellow and electric, which showed its effect on the audience, where pockets of people spent the whole ninety minutes lost in their own dancing world.

Viveros is fantastic place to have chosen to show Tiersen’s talents, because it’s not a formal venue, and walking through the gardens toward the stage built up the anticipation of a great concert to come – and we weren’t let down!

Jemma and Sophie Prendergast

Let's clear up a few things about Fib Benicassim

A longer summary is on its way but we would like to clear up a few facts about last weekends events at Benicassim. There was no hurricane. The festival was not cancelled. On Friday night there were horrific winds. There was a fire in a field across from the festival site but it was under control and put out within half an hour. The winds were so strong that the site was evacuated for the safety of everyone attending. The organisation did all they could to get everything in order for the next day, and things ran pretty smoothly the rest of the weekend, considering the fact that the kind of weather that hit Benicassim on day 2 of the festival was completely unprecedented.
Perhaps the only thing that could have been bettered was the information given out by the organisation, as it was unclear when the bands from Friday would be playing if they could reschedule them at all, but general feedback is that everyone had a pretty good time considering! There are several reports flying around the internet that it was all a disaster, mainly fuelled by Oasis' technical problems onstage on the Thursday, but by all accounts this has been happening during their whole tour. We also have heard reports of hundreds and hundreds of passports being stolen, but the British Consulate Press office in Madrid have confirmed directly to us that they have issued around 160 emergency passports around that weekend - from Barcelona down to Alicante, so could be anything from 1 to 160 in Benicassim only.
....And we can only begin to wonder what Bianca Gascoigne got up to between Friday and yesterday - if you're one of the boys she hitched to Calais with we would love to hear from you!

James Taylor, Anastacia and Yann Tiersen live in Valencia

Valencia's Feria de Julio rolls on this week with great concerts in Viveros gardens by the Río Túria. Tonight Anastacia, who has sold millions of albums world-wide, takes the stage for what promises to be a powerful performance. Friday, Pianist and the composer of the beautiful soundtrack to the cult movie Amelie, Yann Tiersen plays his haunting music.
Saturday night it's the turn of the legendary James Taylor playing music from throughout his long and illustrious career, this man is always great live!
The Last Sunday in July falls this weekend which means only one thing - the Battle of the flowers - let the marigolds fly! Followed by a Mascletà of colours in the riverbed.
Next week, 27 july the FIlmoteca D'Estiu starts, showing Original version films under the stars in the riverbed in front of the Palau de la Música, The African Queen opens the season at 22.30- but get along early and have a light supper and a drink for just a little extra on your ticket.

fib Benicassim, day 2. what a fibbing disaster!

photos from gtvone photography
fib, day 2. what a fibbing disaster!
Getting here later than we wanted, what with me Lolita, just giving up my job, and Anita doing a long day at the bank, we arrived to catch the beginning of Paul Weller, and were evacuated within the hour.
Quick resumen, as i am trying to catch 5000 concerts at the same time, whilst anita is catching up with twitter friends (we luuuuuuuuurve our twitter! http://twitter.com/thisisfib!) and childhood boyfriends (yes, you read right!); Friday night, was the worst night of our lives. Starting with a fire just outsite the festival site in some old vineyards, that got so big the organisers canceled the concerts on the escenario verde, the sky getting smokier and smokier, the press and vip stands being blocked off, security and organisation people screaming at each other via walkie talkies (how does a walkie talkie make you look sooo big and important?!) the next thing we know, the wind has picked up, the fib grounds are a sandstorm disaster, people are wearing their sunglasses to protect their eyeballs, and within half an hour, the green stage is falling down. 200,000 fibers come to a standstill, security guards have been called in to hold up the walls - no music, no screens, and no news. Apart from god knows who from FIB organisation, coming on every once in a while to tell us they are doing their best to sort everything out and they will be with us soon....
And then we were told to leave the grounds. all those people leaving at the same time, in a hurricane-like wind storm, 70KM/20degrees, which felt like -10 and a not a very happy, slightly tipsy and confused bunch of people. Directed towards benicassim town. All in all, we spent 4 hours trying to get a taxi, eventually getting home at 5am, after waiting 4 hours for someone to pick us up.
Got in to bed.
And now its Saturday. And saturday is brill. No Lily Allen, she has a tummy bug (or a 2 day hangover), no Kings of Leon from yesterday (which is crap as they have tried to re-schedule most bands that didnt play yesterday), but the vibe is AMAZING. It feels like every other year, people have got over the hump from last night, Maximo Park were fabby, Elbow got the crowd moving and us covered in goosebumps, and we are now about to meet up to watch Peaches strut her sexy stuff. More from us tomorrow, after the press Vs. artists football match which has been moved til tomorrow, (do join us for a midday paella and beer, its at 12 at the polideportivo in Benicassim!)
Lots of love kiddys, missing those that aren't here with us.
Lolita (and Anita, if i ever find her!)
Ps. 2manydjs 2 hour set tonight at 2am, i am soooo excited i could cry!

fib Benicassim, day 2. what a fibbing disaster!

fib, day 2. what a fibbing disaster!
Getting here later than we wanted, what with me Lolita, just giving up her job, and Anita doing a long day at the bank, we arrived to catch the beguinning of Paul Weller, and being evacuated within the hour. Quick resumen, as i am trying to catch 5000 concerts at the same time, whilst anita is catching up with twitter friends (we luuuuuuuuurve our twitter! thisisfib!) and childhood boyfriends, yes, you read right! Friday night, was the worst night of our lives. Starting with a fire just outsite the festival site in some old vineyards, that got so big that canceled the concerts on the escenario verde, the sky getting smokier and smokier, the press and vip stands being blocked off, security and organisation people screaming at each other via walkie talkies (how does a walkie talkie make you look sooo big and important?!) the next thing we know, the wind has picked up, the fib grounds are a sand disaster, people are wearing their sunglasses to protect their eyeballs, and within half an hour, the green stage is falling down. The whole 200,000 fibers come to a standstill, security guards have been called in to hold up the walls, no music, no screens, and no news. Apart from god knows who from FIB organisation, coming on every once in a while to tell us they are doing their best to sort everything out and they will be with us soon. And then we were told to leave the grounds. 200,000 people leaving at the same time, in a tornado like wind storm, 20degrees, which felt like -10 and not a very happy and slightly tipsy and confused, bunch of people. Being directed towards benicassim town. All in all, we spent 4 hours trying to get a taxi, eventually getting home at 5am, after waiting 4 hours for someone to pick us up. Got in to bed. And now its Saturday. And saturday is brill. No lily allen, she has a tummy bug (or a 2 day hangover), no kings of leon from yesterday (which is crap as they have tried to re-schedule most bands that didnt play yesterday), but the vibe is AMAZING. It feels like every other year, people have got over the hump from last night, Maximo Park were fabby, Elbow got the crowd moving and us covered in goosebumps, and we are now about to meet up to watch Peaches strut her sexy stuff. More from us tomorrow, after the press Vs. artists football match which has been moved til tomorrow, do join us for a midday paella and beer, its at 12 at the polideportivo in Benicassim.
Lots of love kiddys, missing those that arn't here with us.
Lolita (and Anita, if i ever find her!)
Ps. 2manydjs 2 hour set tonight at 2am, i am soooo excited i could cry!

Huge fire and High winds force the lights (and Sound) off at Benicassim Day two

photo Juan Vicent/El Mundo

The Festival Internacional de Benicassim was forced to close early tonight. A large fire (looked like a brush fire) across the road from the site and extremely high winds meant that the fib organisers had to literally pull the plug on the event, plunging the entire site into darkness. The 70km winds have apparently damaged the stages. The Fib Club - a plastic bubble, was closed earlier in the evening.
It is very dark and the extraordinarily high winds are causing a dust storm. It is apparently mayhem and thousands of people are leaving the site, Queues for taxis are huge and the formerly happy crowd are more than a little disgruntled. Tom Tom Club were apparently in the middle of their set when the PA and lighting rigs started to wobble. Paul Weller's set was cut by 10 minutes it was at this point the power went off . There is a rumour that tonight's headliners, Kings of Leon are considering trying to appear tomorrow as they were previously scheduled to have a day off.
More as we get it ...

MIGUEL BOSÉ WOWS VALENCIA IN VIVEROS

The queue straggled almost all the way around the park.  We walked to the end and then shuffled all the way back to the entrance. Was it hot?  It was.  It was also steamy, close, sticky...  and did I mention hot?  Once inside, our positions taken, everywhere I turned I could see fans (abanicas) flapping furiously while the aficionados (fans) stuffed baguettes into their mouths, followed by copious amounts of beer and water.   
Around 10 o'clock the support band 'The Cabriolets' burst on to the stage fronted by a genderless vision in a black, shiny suit and short, slicked-back hair reminiscent of that asexual pop group from the 80's that no one can remember the name of.  Yet there was a kind of closer familiarity ... something I just couldn't place ... but I let myself be pulled along by their thunderous energy (the base guitar amp was banging against my rib cage so hard I thought I might go into cardiac arrest)hoping some fleeting memory would return. I watched carefully; a great voice, definitely male ... or was it? The jacket came off to reveal a black bra... a-ha so .... then a new song .. a lot of energetic, suggestive dancing... uh-huh .... then, a snap of elastic and gone was the bra.  Mmmm ... man breasts or .... ?  A moment later the trousers disappeared to reveal black briefs.  The crowd shrieked with delight.  Could it be ...? I wasn't sure .... finally, with a theatrical flourish the briefs were discarded to thunderous applause ... and before us stood a being in a beautifully crafted flesh-coloured thong. What the hell was I looking at? So familiar, yet ...
As a warm-up band they were pretty good, although the Valencians, as usual, talked through most of it with the occasional recollection that they'd come to a concert.  Of course, we were only waiting for Miguel Bosé.  The Cabriolets bid us farewell and the stage darkened followed by the usual flurry of shadowy figures silently re-arranging the props for what seemed an age.  Without warning a dazzling light appeared. The crowd roared. He was here.  
Miguel Bosé is an accomplished showman but then he's been around a long time.  He has made countless albums, the last with the likes of Ricky Martin, Michael Stipe and Laura Pausini and he should be a huge international star by now but, just maybe, he doesn't want to be.  His movements are entirely original and we, his fans, would recognise them anywhere; the arms moving from side to side, the expressive hands, the hips, that amazing, wolfish grin.  
He opened with 'Amante Bandido' and like children being given their favourite fairy story we roared our approval.  We knew the words and we sang along, loudly and, surprisingly, melodically. Suddenly, there she was! Who is The Cabriolets frontman?  Bimba Bosé: the androgynous niece of Miguel.  And now, here they were, erupting into 'Como un Lobo'.  We yelled, we air-clapped into the humid night air and we sang along; 'pasa paso' has never been bellowed with such velocity. 
The show came to an end sooner than expected but, of course, we weren't going to let him off so lightly, despite the unmistakeable hum of stale deodorant in the stifling 28º.  He came back for two ‘encores’ and then another.  Bimba returned to lend her weight to an already memorable performance and still we wanted more. 
Now gone midnight I didn't know whether it was sweat or tears running down my face ...but finally it was over and with the peculiar orderliness of Spanish crowds, we made our way back through the park for a final glass of wine in The Alameda; the perfect end to a perfect evening.   Thank you Valencia. For all your faults you certainly know how to stage a great concert.
BARBARA O'NEILL

Our friends at 24/7 Valencia have published Jul issue and we have it here

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Pasarela in Chulilla tonight

Pasarela Joven Chulilla takes place tonight in the beautiful hilltop village of Chulilla. It is the 10th edition of this competition to find the Young Valencian Designer of the Year, and the third time that it has been held in Chulilla
Entry to the event is absolutely free and all are welcome to attend.
The Pasarela Joven Chulilla kicks off at eleven o'clock on tonight, (11th July), and will be followed by a jazz concert, also free.
Love it!

Can we have our paddies in L'Albufera like this please!

As summer progresses, more crops of rice paddy art are beginning to emerge in Japan. The crop art, created by arranging and growing rice plants of different, can be seen in farming communities all over the country. The largest and finest work is grown in the village of Inakadate, which has earned a reputation for its rice artistry. This year the enormous pictures of Napoleon and a Sengoku-period warrior, both on horseback, are visible in a pair of fields close to the town hall-
Come on Valencia! We can do it - I can just see Falleras and Lo Rat Penat - or even Rita in rice!

reblogged from and more of this http://bit.ly/2eM7iK

Montesinos and Men in Skirts

La Nau exhibition, Men in Skirts
More like Sarongs really
One of the Skirts by Montesinos
more sarongs
More traditional skirts from Turkey and Arabia


Talking of Montesinos, starting today there is an exhibition 'hombres en faldas' OR Men in Skirts - it was Montesinos who first dressed Spanish men in skirts. There are several dozen on display in this curious exhibition, I have to say in all my travels the only men I have really ever seen in skirts was at the Westin Hotel in Valencia, worn by the staff and they were also designed by 'Montesinos' and Galliano who introduced the skirt for men some years ago. It is interesting that the centrepiece of the exhibition is a glass cabinet housing a Scottish kilt. Worth a look and the space at La Nau is worth seeing as well, Tuesdays there are free workshops here all through July and the first week in August Maybe after this exhibition, more men will be seen in skirts around town!

Rafael Amargo's 'La difícil sencillez'

Rafael , seated with child talks to his musicians,
Francis Montesinos, the famous Valencian dress designer
Francis Montesinos, Talks to Canal Nou about the designs for the show
Armago is hot from all that dancing.
Some of Montesinos costumes
Friday night we had the privilege of attending the dress rehearsal of the world premiere of Rafael Amargo's 'La difícil sencillez' at La Nau in Puerto de Sagunto as he polished his dancers, singers and guitarists for two spectacular nights from tonight
He came across as a dedicated performer who obviously lives for his art and work his work and it overflows to his company, the pure energy of his singers, dancers and musicians was wonderful; such passion, such energy, and for us such enjoyment.
This new show is an eclectic mix of traditional and modern dance both flamenco and ballet. It is quite stunning, his choreography makes for an amazing experience.

Francis Montesinos, the famous Valencian dress designer has designed the costumes for this spectacular- but this being a rehearsal we only saw a handful of the costumes and only one of Armago's. Some gorgeous red traditional style Sevillano dresses,(though from where we sat they appeared to have just a little bit too much Weight/fabric for all that leg kicking and dress swirling which flamenco dancers endure) and a wonderful creation of feathers worn by a solo dancer. You can be absolutely sure that tonight all the costumes on stage will be spectacular.

This is the first of many shows that are part of the Festival D'Estiu, Sagunto en Escena which opens tonight and continues at La Nau in the Port of Sagunto and at the Roman Theatre in Sagunto itself. full program by clicking the headline

Chambao live in Valencia review

Idylic is what you could call Chambao's live concert at the excellent feria de julio in the Jardines Real (Viveros) last night. A lightly lit pathway up to the stage, a bar with tables and chairs and a huge stage with a comfy poof for la mari, and her band surrounding her. Despite the light shower of rain that we were served, the weather was perfect, warm with a light breeze, and the setting was perfect. Full of their adoring fans, a mix of bohemian and hippy life loving Spanish and morrocans, the indie/arabic/rap/flamencan band gave their all for a full 2 hours. The feria de julio is always beautifully organised, and this year they really have hit the spot with an amazing line up and patient and understanding staff. We really are looking forward to the rest of july. Our highlight of the night was watching a beautiful new mummy with the tiniest baby, breastfeeding as she sung along to la maris famous song Poquito a poquito, it just shows, in Valencia, you can do anything...

Chambao Play at Feria de Julio tonight

Chillout supremos play in Jardines Real (Viveros) tonight, Just one of the great concerts and events in a packed Feria de Julio Schedule. The line up over the next weeks includes Miguel Bosé, Serrat, Jan Tiersen and James Taylor.

Frommer's Valencia Day by Day

Timothy Birch, editor of this blog and thisisivalencia.com has written a brand new guide to Valencia for Frommer's. This excellent pocket sized guide contains everything you want to know about the city, with one , two and three day walking tours of the city with accompanying maps, where to eat and drink, where to shop and where is best on a day trip. There's also a handy guide to the fiestas, including Las Fallas and La Tomatina. It's a family affair as most of the photos in the book are by Diana, Tim's wife
To order your copy of this invaluable guide, click on the headline - you can even read some pages before you buy!

Pasarela Joven Chulilla

Pasarela Joven Chulilla takes place this weekend in the beautiful hilltop village of Chulilla. It is the 10th edition of this competition to find the Young Valencian Designer of the Year, and the third time that it has been held in Chulilla
Entry to the event is absolutely free and all are welcome to attend
The Pasarela Joven Chulilla kicks off at eleven o·clock on Saturday night, (11th July), and will be followed by a jazz concert, also free.
If you haven't visited Chulilla, make a day of it, it is a lovely village and there is great dining to be had in its many attractive restaurants. You could even try and get a room at the excellent Casa Rural Serena web and make a weekend of it!

Palau de les Arts tonight and Sunday

If you missed the Placido Domingo Performance in Plaza de la Virgen last night or you saw it and want more of it all, head on down to the Palau de les Arts tonight or Sunday 28 jun for Anell de LLum, a stunning spectacular outside and ON the Palau. It all starts at 22:00 but get there early to reserve a good spot

Placido Domingo live across Europe

Citizens of Brussels, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Swansea, Ímola, Rávenna and Sofía will be able to see a live performance of Die Walkure starring Placido Domingo wednesday at 19h local tIme. The performance is being beamed live from the Palau de les Arts as part of the 2009 European Year of Creativity and Innovation under the Patronage of Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth.
http://www.vivaeuropajune24th.eu/

Things to do This Weekend

Hogueras de San Juan Alicante
Olive Oil Fair in Viver
Summer Magic in Peñiscola
Alicante's version of Las Fallas, Hogueras de San Juan, starts Today 20 June through to the 24th. Partying in the street, Papier maché Sculptures (to be burned on the final night) and bullfights. Lots of fun for all the family.
Meanwhile, to the north, Peñíscola has its own bit of Summer Magic with a festival of witchcraft and Magic fro the 19th to 23 June- street theatre, street magicians, star gazing and concerts are the order of the day (and, more importantly, the nights). The festival culminates on noche de San Juan with what sounds like a wondeful show of Fire (what else?) on the beach below Papa Luna's Castle.
you are a lover of a good olive oil then this weekend, 20-21 Jun you should head on up to Viver for the Tenth annual Olive oil festival, not just for the oil but for the foods on offer, and it is a pretty village. it is on the N234 towards Teruel about an hour's drive from Valencia

thisisfib - on twitter and tumblr

Anita Darling and Lolita Devine will be your eyes and ears and FIB Benicassim this year, they'll be tweeting from now on here and tumblring photos here and writing here - gonna be fun! We also have coming, over the weekend a guide to visitors to FIB and a forum here
FIB management say that tickets are now sold out and that they have now finalised the line up with the heroes of Spanish indie rock, Los Planetas, as the crown jewel of what is without doubt the most important programme of Spanish bands in FIB's history, and with Tom Tom Club, the perfect ending for this summer party.

ThisisValencia Community - ALL NEW SITE, JOIN NOW!

Our readers wishes have been granted today and a thisisvalencia community site is born!
Join today for forums, classifieds, photos (yours and ours!) ValenciaWiki, Valencia events calendar and all you need to know about Benicassim (and a way to connect with people who are coming) here

Frontiers at the IVAM in Valencia

Wednesday I had an email inviting me to a press conference for the major new IVAM exhibition CONFINES/FRONTIERS. I had heard about it several weeks ago when a lady from New York emailed me to tell me she was visiting Valencia with her family to witness the opening of which her son son was one of the artists in the Robert Wilson section. They all wanted to know what else they should see whilst visiting. I emailed the lady back with architectural and monumental information and asked her to expand a little on this exhibition. I got a very polite thanks and very little additional information on the show. It turns out that the exhibition is to celebrate 20 years of IVAM. It is a major undertaking as it fills four of the main galleries, in Consuelo Ciscar's words 'a risky undertaking'
What did we make of it all? click the headline to find out more.

XIII FESTIVAL DE JAZZ DEL PALAU DE LA MÚSICA DE VALENCIA.

Two glorious weeks of the best of the world's Jazz, were announced today at a press conference. The Concerts are scheduled from the 07 July in Valencia, with the music Gershwin, Miles Davis and Nina Simone as part of a great lineup including Lizz Wright, Winton Marsalis, Hubert Laws, Bill Evans, and a host of the biggest names in the industry. Not to be Missed

CLOWNS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

PAYASOS PLA Y PLA THIS WEEKEND AT LA BENEFICENCIA
Los Payasos Pla y Pla perform for kids this saturday 23 May at 18:30 y Sunday 11:00 y 12:30 as part of the Centro Valenciano de Cultura Mediterránea at the Beneficencia.The clown duo present “Un Memento” , a frantis and hilarious mix of movement, piroettes and pratfalls that is sure to have every child in the place roaring with laughter. Rafael and José M. Pla are the clowns Payasos Pla y Pla who have been with the Circo Gran Fele since 1972. Admission is free, but get there early it is sure to be busy.

A PDF GUIDE TO VALENCIA

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Festival Season has officially begun!

The Sun is shining cheerily this month in Valencia's bright blue skies, and thoughts inevitably turn to the scorcher of a Summer we are expecting to break free of Spring any minute now.
Skimpy dresses, microshorts, gladiator sandals and colourful Wayfarers are the order of the day and we want candy. Candy for our ears, yes indeed, bring on some outdoor dancing at a Music Festival near you...

What with "La Crisis" and all, it has to be said that the festies, are fewer and further between lately, but this weekend kickstarts festival season of a handful of really high quality events promising to be well worth the parting with of euros.
Back a second year, SOS4.8, this Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd of May in Murcia, brings Babyshambles, Duffy, Underworld, Duffy, Russian Red, The Prodigy and more to España for a two day tunefest for what they call the Festival Internacional de Acción Artística (Int'l Festival of Artistic Action) and its not all about the music either - this is a 48 hour stint of all kinds of artistic activities, to incite you to reflect on politics, science, philosophy and of course, the economy, with exhibitions, conferences and performances running alongside the concerts to blow your mind while you rock it out. Check it out here: sos

This weekend also may offer something to appeal to the more hardcore at heart. If this applies to you, you may like to take yourself off to Villarobledo for the XIV edition of Viña Rock. Moshpit action is guaranteed but also the best Spanish and Valencian music around, from flamenco fusion, rap and hip hop to rock and heavy metal. lineup is here and the tickets are pretty cheap for a three day event.

I myself am already scheming plotting and planning for July- FIB (Festival Internacional de Benicassim) is also back again for their fifteenth year of a week of beachside fun in the sun. Fashion, art, drama and music music music comprise a lineup that gets stronger and more diverse as the years fly by. Headlining this year we have Oasis, Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand and The Killers headline the four days, in that order, but it tends to be the names in the slightly smaller print underneath that float my boat. My girl Lily Allen (I think we'd make excellent friends, I've always said so) will be playing on the Saturday and we ladies at thisisvalencia (and the boys, go on admit it!) can't wait to clock her enviable wardrobe - Chanel, anyone? - and sing along to her songs from her amazing new album It's Not You It's Me under the stars.
2ManyDJs, also making an appearance this weekend at SOS always guarantee a wicked time and we will expected an impressive setlist of their brilliant bootlegs, mashups and remixes, clearing our FIB Agenda for them without fail. The DJs and the electronic music generally forms quite a large part of the lineup to the festival and I am particularly excited about the recent announcement of Steve Aoki's addition to thangs. I am surely not the only one who has joined the dots here and made the connection, but Aoki being at the Valencian Community's hippest event of the year must definitely mean he will be accompanied by party photographer and fun-seeker extraordinaire, best buddy Mark Hunter, a.k.a. the cobra snake . I have always kept a watchful eye out for him and his lens at Benicassim, it is, of course, our very own Coachella, and this year I am willing to put money on his showing up.
The last time I saw Peaches onstage at FIB she was sporting a strap-on and a 70s pornstar moustache so she is sure to entertain too and her backstage ensembles always make for brilliant photos (read - thigh-high silver boots and fishnets in 40º heat.)
To be frank though, despite all of the exciting new acts confirmed, when Kings Of Leon were announced back in they had me hook, line and sinker, those Morán boys. My obsession with the Followill brothers has escalated this year into something unhealthy. Don't fret though, dear reader, I am not the sort to plaster my walls with Kings of Leon posters to plant with a snog before bed, nor do I know all of their personal details by heart including birthdays, favourite colours and preferred nightcaps, I am simply captivated by the vocals (oh, Caleb, what a voice!) and lyrics. And their live performance is something spectacular - can't wait for them to grace the Heineken Green Stage with their presence. click here, tickets are still available!


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YOUTH AND NEW EUROPEAN MEDIA CONFERENCE

The YOUTH AND NEW EUROPEAN MEDIA conference, with the tagline, TAKE THE INITIATIVE, CREATE YOUR OWN MEDIA will take place from 7 – 9 May in La Pobla de Vallbona, 20 Kms northwest of Valencia City.
The conference will entertain journalism students, graduates and professionals from all over Europe for three days. With debates, workshops and activities, the event will be a must for anyone interested in current affairs, journalism and multi-media. 
The main focus will be on European communication and new media, with expert input from Valencian, Spanish and European media specialists.
Among the growing list of journalists and broadcasters attending are Brussels Media guru, Raymond Frenken, Susanne Henn of Deutsche Welle, Journalist and founder of EUobserver Lisbeth Kirk, the British broadcaster and writer Patricia Kelly and Sky News Europe Correspondent Greg Milam.
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