Potaje Gitano de Utrera 2013

Nearly one thousand five-hundred people filled the athletic field of the Salesianos in Utrera for the fifty-seventh edition of the oldest of all flamenco festivals, the Potaje Gitano de Utrera.

Dedicated this year to the late Josefa Loreto Peña, “Pepa de Utrera”, the program got underway with singer Tomás de Perrate accompanied on guitar by Antonio Moya.  The son of Perrate honored the memory of Pepa de Utrera with one of her most popular songs, “La Perla”, in addition to soleá, the most representative cante of Utrera, and cantiñas.

Beautiful singer Marina Heredia from Granada, with the guitar of Diego del Morao, gave a small recital ending with the tangos of her hometown.  Next, the popular comic duo Los Morancos presented the official tribute that began with a documentary about the life and work of Pepa de Utrera.  The tribute turned into music and rhythm with the extended performance of Miguel Funi and other relatives of the Pinini family, which got the numerous members of the audience to their feet.

During intermission, the traditional “potaje” that gives the festival its name, was served, and the second part opened with the popular singer from Huelva, Pitingo, who interpreted flamenco and pop music to delight his followers.  Juan Carmona, originally of the group Ketama, put the guitar accompaniment.

The high point of the evening came in the person of Jerez dancer Antonio el Pipa, with a small group that did not include his aunt Juana la del Pipa, although veteran singer Enrique el Extremeño ably filled that niche of classic cante which the dancer finds so inspiring.  First, alegrías, and then the soleá that has brought him so much recognition, ending with the excellent bulerías of his hometown.