21 bands from all over the world to perform at Vilanova i la Geltrú’s International Traditional Popular Music Festival

Vilanova i la Geltrú (CNA). - The International Festival of Traditional Popular Music (FIMPT), held at Vilanova i la Geltrú (40kms south of Barcelona), features rumba legend Peret and Sabor de Gràcia among the stars in a  21-group lineup from 10 countries that will offer a total of 45 shows. This year’s Festival, dedicated to the Catalan rumba, will be held from July 15^th to the 17^th. It features Sharon Shannon, Neila Benbey, Blue, Nácara or 17 Hippies. The organisation hopes that attendance at the Festival will follow recent years and reach 35,000 visitors.

As well as the artistic feel of the festival, the organisers have also looked after the social side. According to its director Jordi Bertran, this year’s FIMPT has paid attention to the recent wave of pro-democracy demonstrations concerning the Mediterranean area.  Due to this fact, the FIMPT has programmed the band Fanfaraï from the Maghreb area and Algerian singer Neila Benbey, who will make her debut at the Festival.

The “rumba” will be at the heart of the festival with classic Catalan bands like Peret or Sabor de Gràcia. Neither have performed at the FIMPT before. Peret will be performing 50 years on from when his first songs were recorded and Sabor de Gràcia will offer a show in honour of “Gato Pérez”, a master of the rumba who died 20 years ago.

Chilean band Chico Trujillo and the band 17 Hippies are two big bands that according to Bertran will attract large crowds and are proof that the Festival is going from strength to strength. Chico Trujillo performs on Friday night and 17 Hippies will be on stage on Saturday.

One of the most striking characteristics of the 31^st edition of the Festival is that out of a total of 21 groups, 17 of them will be performing for the first time. For director Jordi Bertran, this gives the Festival an innovative feel. Some bands like El Pont d’Arcalís return to present their latest album and Irish accordionist Sharon Shannon will offer the final show on Sunday afternoon.

In all, the International Traditional Popular Music Festival (FIMPT) includes 21 bands from around the world, including Germany, Algeria, Cuba or Belgium. The three-day festival has a budget of 200,000 euros. The brand new Eduard Toldrà Auditorium will host some shows along with the main squares of Vilanova including the Plaça de la Vila, Foment Vilanoví, Plaça de les Cols and the Plaça de Font i Gumà.

FIMPT offers parallel activities like workshops or family oriented activities. Isabel Pla, the councillor for Culture at Vilanova City Hall highlighted the pedagogical side of the Festival which, she said, helps to explain different cultures around the world through music.