48th POTAJE GITANO DE UTRERA

48th POTAJE
GITANO DE UTRERA
Colegio Salesiano de Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Utrera (Seville).
June 26th, 2004. 10:30pm

For forty-eight years the wheels have been turning on the gypsy cart
that symbolizes the Potaje Gitano de Utrera, Spain’s longest-running
flamenco festival. But that longevity doesn’t keep the festival
from renewing itself and adapting to modern trends, at the same time it
honors its own glorious present and past as reflected in this year’s
line-up of artists.

The
festival which is to be celebrated as always on the last Saturday in June,
the 26th, features young singer Arcángel from Huelva who’s
been surprising flamenco fans for several years with his knowledge and
spirit of renewal. Another young singer, Marina Heredia, is coming from
Granada to give her fresh, upbeat touch.

Gaspar & Bernarda de Utrera

But Utrera is a flamenco town with a long tradition and the town never
skimps when it comes to remembering their own who, far from being mere
local heroes, have been an integral and important part of the flamenco
landscape from the very dawn of this art. Bernarda Jiménez Peña
«Bernarda de Utrera» sister of Fernanda, and Gaspar Fernández
«Gaspar de Utrera» from the Perrate dynasty, survivors and
standard-bearers for Utrera’s «festival generation»
will once again prove that the music and sounds of traditional flamenco
continue to be absolutely relevant.

Alejandor Sanz	Arcángel	Farruquito	Marina Heredia

This message clearly was not lost on the group of young people who make
up «Ahora Utrera». The members of the group are descended
from Utrera’s flamenco families and they will offer their updated
take on the flamenco they grew up with.

The dance department will be spectacularly filled by Farruquito and his
group.

As has always been the custom, one exemplary figure will be honored for
his career and contribution to the art. This year it’s none other
than the popular singer and composer Alejandro Sanz who has always maintained
a close relationship with flamenco and does quite credible bulerías….a
grande finale por bulerías is in sure to be in store.

Estela Zatania