XX Mostachón de Utrera.

XX
FESTIVAL DEL MOSTACHÓN

Saturday, November 6,
2004. 9:30pm.
Teatro Enrique de la Cuadra, Utrera (Sevilla)

Text & photos: Estela
Zatania

Each year, just when we’ve set our watches
back, the days are shortening at an alarming pace and the
summer festivals are but a memory, along comes the Festival
del Mostachón de Utrera, organized by the “Curro
de Utrera” flamenco club to brighten up the first Saturday
of November with a program that is always varied and of high
quality.

As
in other years, critic Manuel Martín Martín
was the person in charge of presenting the lengthy show which
started out with the dance group of young Antonio Montoya,
followed by local singer Francis de Triana with Niño
Elías on the guitar.

Martín Martín presented singer Eloísa
Jiménez, Elu de Jerez, as “currently the singer
most like Paquera” and the young woman opened bravely
with siguiriya in the tone of 7 “por medio”, a
sound which inevitably evokes the much-missed singer. Fandangos
with the lovely Gloria style, and bulerías to close,
all backed up by the guitar of Diego Rubichi.

La Macanita

Chato de Utrera
is an experienced veteran who returned to settle in his hometown
in 1995 after decades singing for the most important stars
of flamenco dance. Accompanied by his fellow Utreran Niño
José Manuel, he applied his strong rich voice to soleá
in the Utrera style, bulerías and fandangos.

Manuel Amaya “El Cabrillero” closed the first
half spectacularly with his songs recalling Miguel Vargas
“Bambino”, the most international star to come
out of Utrera. With rumbas and bulerías, strolling
across the stage with the same swagger as the legendary singer,
he ended with “El Poeta Lloró”, a Bambino
classic, leaving the audience on its feet.

Chato de Utrera

Manuel Amaya 'El Cabrillero'

After intermission and a tribute to the Caja Rural de Utrera,
the second half opened with the cante of José Galán,
once again with the guitar accompaniment of Niño Elías.
With a voice and repertoire reminiscent of times past, he
sang fandangos de Alosno, bamberas, caracoles and free-style
fandangos.

Next the emcee announced a “Santiago symphony”
which turned out to be la Macanita with Parrilla hijo on the
guitar, and palmeros Gregorio, Chicharito and Mecano. The
lady came wearing flashy white polkadots upon red, and a disheveled
hairdo that oozed flamenconess. Tientos tangos, a long set
of soleá, and bulerías with dance to end.

 
Elu de Jerez

Juana la del Revuelo with her family, Martín Revuelo,
Martín chico and his sister, closed the night with
tangos, fandangos and bulería leaving the audience
begging for curtain calls at half past two.