56th Potaje Gitano de Utrera 2012

These days, when Jerez de la Frontera is celebrating its annual Feria del Caballo, the 56th edition of the Potaje Gitano de Utrera, oldest of all the historic flamenco festivals, has just been presented in Utrera.

The festival organization, Hermandad de los Gitanos, has always had the custom of paying tribute to someone related to flamenco.  On this occasion, it is to be a posthumous tribute to the charismatic Jerez guitarist, Manuel Moreno Junquera, “Moraíto Chico”, who died last year in August, leaving an empty space difficult for flamenco fans to assimilate.

And the line-up of artists is correspondingly related to Jerez.  Heading the bill is singer José Mercé who on so many occasions filled the stage of the Potaje with his art, accompanied by Moraíto on guitar.

Two very much admired women from Triana will share the spotlight with Mercé: singer and dancer Aurora Vargas, and Manuela Carrasco, the goddess of racial flamenco dance.  With these three main performers, no one will have to complain about commercial concessions or fusions, because they represent flamenco as it is understood by its most traditional fans.

The quota of local artists will be admirably filled by singers Mari Peña and her brother Jesús de la Frasquita.  And as if that were not enough, the program will be rounded out with a Jerez group that includes Enrique el Zambo, Fernando Soto, José Gálvez, Felipa del Moreno, Mercedes Pantoja and Carmen Jiménez with Chícharo, Rafa and Fernando de la Mini on palmas and Diego del Morao, son of Moraíto, on guitar.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 30th at 10:30pm in the patio of the Colegio Salesiano.