by Justin | Aug 5, 2011 | On the Costa del Sol, What's On
There’s just one week to go! Next Friday the 12th August 2011, the city of Málaga celebrates its yearly “Feria” (Fair) in which citizens and visitors indulge in good old fashioned fun: Dancing, singing, drinking (in moderation!), eating all contribute to making this one of the most popular festivities in all of Andalucía, if not Spain.
Originally established to commemorate the re-conquest of the city by Isabella and Ferdinand in 1487, the “Feria de Málaga” boasts an average yearly attendance of 3 million people! (That’s some party ;-)).
The fair officially starts on Friday 12th August at midnight with the “Pregon” (opening speech) which is usually carried out by a famous personality; this year the honour falls on local singing sensation, Pablo Alborán. Following the “Pregon” there will be a firework display and a free concert with Pablo Alborán. All the above takes place on theLa Malagueta beach. (more…)
by Justin | Aug 3, 2011 | On the Costa del Sol, What's On
Get ready to Rock this Friday evening with the amazing Queen Tribute Concert which will be held in the El Pinillo Beach inMarbella.
It will be 25 years to the day since Queen and Freddy Mercury played to an audience of 25,000 people inMarbella’s football stadium (I was there!!!!). So, a quarter of a century laterMarbellawill once again “Rock” to the amazing music of Queen.
The headline act for this amazing tribute are Gary Mullen & The Works, who will be performing their acclaimed international show “One Night of Queen”. Regarded as the most successful Queen tribute band in the world – they’ve played sell out concerts all over the world including to 45,000 die hard queen fans at London’s Hyde Park – they recreate Queen’s songs and live performances to perfection (See video below).
You’ll be able to hear all your Queen favourites: We Will Rock You; Bohemian Rhapsody; A Kind Of Magic;Barcelona;RadioGaGa and lots more… Soprano Ruth Kerr will also make an appearance to join Gary Mullen & The Works on stage to sing the classic hit “Barcelona”; a rendition put together especially for Friday’s concert. (more…)
by Justin | Aug 2, 2011 | On the Costa del Sol, Things To Do, What's On
We’re in for a real treat this Thursday evening (4th August) as contemporary Jazz artist, Jamie Cullum, takes to the stage in the amazing setting of Sohail Castle in Fuengirola.
Known for his passionate and energetic live performances, the 31 year old visits the Costa del Sol for what will be his only show in Andalucia (even more of a reason to go!). The foundations of Sohail Castle will be literally shacking as he performs songs from his own albums as well as hits from other famous artists.
Although his music is rooted in Jazz, he delves into a vibrant mix of pop, rock ‘n roll and jazz. He’ll be pounding away at his piano, but if we are lucky, we’ll also be able to sample his talents on the guitar and drums too! An interesting fact: Jamie never works to a set list in his live performances, it’s all improvised! Should make for a very entertaining evening…
The doors of Sohail Castle will open to the public at 8:30pm and the show starts at 10pm. If you’re looking for tickets, you can buy them online at www.ticketmaster.es or at any El Corte Inglés department store. Prices start at €35 if you buy before the event and go up to €45 on the night.
Note: If you’re heading to the Costa del Solspecially to see the concert and you are looking for somewhere to stay, you can check our availability on www.sunsetbeachclub.com
by Justin | Jul 19, 2011 | On the Costa del Sol, What's On
Dusk at Sohail Castle...
I’ve got some good news for all you beer lovers out there; as from next Thursday the 21st July, the Sohail Castle in Fuengirola will be the venue for the 4th Beer Festival (Bierfest).
For 10 days, visitors will be able to sample some of the finest German beers. This year, the organisers of the event have tried to make things a little more “international” by setting up various stands with a wide variety of foods from around the world.
Obviously, there will be a German stand with their frikadellen, chucrut and wide variety of German sausages, but you will also be able to try a whole range of Moroccan delicacies; an authentic Argentine “Parrillada” (BBQ); some spicy Mexican food and even fresh sea food. With hunger no longer being a problem, you might want to head over to the Cocktails stand and try a cool and refreshing Mojito – or whatever tickles your fancy.
On the 24th and 31st July, there will be Formula One races and theSohailCastle will be the perfect place to watch the top motor sport event! There will be a large TV screen so that visitors can watch their favourite drivers without giving up their delicious German beer.
The fair starts at 7:00 pm from Monday to Friday and at 12:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday; entrance is free 😉
by Justin | Jul 13, 2011 | Holiday Tips, On the Costa del Sol, Things To Do, What's On
For those of you who enjoy taking in a little Spanish culture during your holidays, I highly recommend you take a couple of hours this Saturday (16th July) to go and see one of the many “Virgen del Carmen” processions taking place along the Coast.
Last year I went along to the Virgen del Carmen procession in Los Boliches – just a 15 minute drive from the hotel – and thoroughly enjoyed the experience (follow the link to the blog post I wrote).
I won’t provide a long winded explanation of what this day represents – you can see this post about the Virgen del Carmen celebrations for that – but I will quickly explain a little about the reason for this colourful and emotional event.
The Virgen del Carmen, or Stella Maris, as she is often referred to is the patron saint of fishermen and of the Spanish Navy! If you visit one of the processions which take place in most of the “traditional” fishing villages along the Coast – Los Boliches, Benalmádena,La Carrihuelain Torremolinos, Marbella and Estepona, to name but a few – you will witness the pure devotion the local villagers towards their patron saint.
The processions usually start off in the afternoon as the fishermen carry their “Virgen” – which is usually handcrafted in wood and porcelain (more…)
by Justin | Jul 7, 2011 | On the Costa del Sol, What's On
Next Tuesday the 12th July sees the start of the 52nd edition of the famous Nerja Caves Festival, one of the most important music and dance events on the Costa del Sol.
Since the opening of this spectacular cave in 1960, this Festival has been held every year, attracting artists and musicians from all over the world. Thanks to its incomparable beauty and exceptional acoustics, the Nerja Caves attract thousands of spectators every year – approximately 800 people are seated every night in the “Sala de Ballet” auditorium to enjoy the very best music and dance shows.
This year, the festival will be split into four separate parts: An evening of Flamenco, an evening dedicated to music of the world, an evening of Spanish dance and opera and last, but by no means least, a lyrical concert.
The programme for the 5 day event is as follows:
Tuesday 12th July at 10 pm – Flamenco Evening
The Festival starts with a true andalucian flavour; Málaga flamenco dancer, Rocio Molina’s show “Danzaora”, winner of the 2010 Dance Prize. (more…)
