World Music Guide to Madrid
This report was filed by Angel Romero.
Introduction
Madrid, located in the geographical center of the Iberian Peninsula, is a historically open and diverse southern European metropolis; currently considered one of the most exciting and creative cities in Europe. More welcoming and cosmopolitan than provincial Barcelona. Madrid has a thriving flamenco scene, with many of Spain's finest performers living in the area during the winter season.
The Spanish music mecca draws numerous musicians from other parts of Spain and abroad., as well Thus, it is not surprising to find Galician pipers, Canary Islanders playing timple (related to the ukulele and cavaquinho), Cuban rappers, Argentine rockers and Brazilian guitarists playing flamenco; at Madrid clubs and in the metro (subway).
The city is going through one of the largest renovations in its long history. The former outer loop, M-30, considered an eye sore by many, is being buried underground. After the construction is over, the surface gained will connect both banks of the Manzanares River.
The city of Madrid is Spain's melting pot and its largest metropolitan area. Tens of thousands of citizens have arrived from all corners of Spain. These new residents brought a constellation of regional influences and cuisines. In addition, Madrid is fastly becoming a "mestizo" city. Over 16% of the population is now formed by immigrants from other countries. There is a considerable African music community, including the largest number of Equatorial Guinean expatriates; Saharawi musicians from the former Spanish Sahara (currently known as the Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco); and many West Africans and Congolese.
You can also find a growing number of Cuban musicians who play hip hop, rock and traditional son. Likewise, Madrid has a large number of Argentine and Brazilian musicians.
In some cases, entire bands have relocated from cities like Havana, Panama and Buenos Aires to the Spanish capital. Many of these newcomers have joined forces with Spanish musicians and other expatriates to create various hybrid forms of Spanish folk music and Flamenco combined with Latin, African and Middle Eastern sounds. These new hybrids are sometimes called "música mestiza" or mestizo music. Mestizo sounds are also found in other parts of Spain.
The Lavapiés barrio (district) in central Madrid is an example of Madrid's multiculturalism. According to a report made by Madrid's Complutense University, Lavapiés, located in the heart of Madrid, has residents from 60 different nationalities. The report also concluded that 12% of the residents in the Madrid metropolitan region are immigrants.
The largest immigrant communities are formed by Argentines, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Romanians, Moroccans, Bulgarians, Equatorial Guineans, Filipinos, Chinese, Poles, and Ukrainians; as well as many citizens of the European Union, who can move freely within the union. In November of 2005, the regional government approved the creation of five immigrant cultural centers.
Many visitors already know that Madrid has the best night life in all of Europe. During the 80s, the "Movida Madrileña" was the envy of the rest of the European capitals. Sadly, there was a decline in the music scene in the 90s, but the thriving scene is back. There are new clubs, new festivals and the vibrant influence of the new immigrants and the Chueca gay district, which contributes to a rich cultural diversity.
Another enclave known as El "pequeño Caribe" (Little Caribbean) is a Dominican area in the Tetuán district. Along Almansa, Topete and Tenerife streets one can find Dominican bars, stores, beauty shops and CDs.
The locals in Madrid start dining after 10 p.m. and numerous bars, pubs, clubs and venues are open until very late.
The best place for music books is the Caseta de la Música at Cuesta de Moyano, next to the southern wall of the Botanical Gardens, very close to Atocha square. Metro station: Atocha.
Another good place is La Casa del Libro. It has four stores in Madrid at Calle Alcalá 96, Gran Via 29, Maestro Victoria, and Salud 17.
The FNAC megastore, downtown, has a good collection of books about music, in addition to CDs. Calle Preciados 28, 28004 Madrid. Phone: +34 91 595 62 0. Metro stations: Callao &Sol.
Live music
Jazz Clubs
Festivals
The city also has numerous festivals and concert series at various cultural centers so it is worth buying a copy of the weekly Guía del Ocio, the local entertainment guide.
One of the best series is Veranos de la Villa, during July. Numerous world music concerts take place at the historic Cuartel Conde Duque, former Army barracks.
A new event was added in 2005 to the San Isidro (local patron Saint) festivities, WOMADRID, the Madrid franchise of the famous WOMAD world music festivals.
The Festival Flamenco Caja Madrid is held annually, usually in January and February. It fetaures conferences and performances by the top Flamenco artists in Spain. The venues are usually La Casa Encendida and Teatro Albéniz.
A new Flamenco festival was introduced in June 2006 by the regional government. Suma Flamenca is intended to show the importance of Madrid in the world of Flamenco. Top singers, dancers and guitarists perform in the capital, as well as in other locations throughout the Madrid autonomous region. More information is available at: www.sumaflamenca.com.
Madrid Encanto, produced by the regional government around late May and early June usually features international and Spanish world music acts, as well as other artists that are harder to classify.
Féminas is a festival dedicated to women. It showcases dozens of female acts, ranging from folk and rock to world music. It also features other forms of art; photography, painting, etc.
Madrid's metropolitan area is very large and there are numerous festivals and fairs in the surrounding towns and cities.
Parla, south of Madrid presents the annual Interparla world music festival. That same month, Las Rozas, northeast of Madrid, hosts Folkinvierno, which is a world music festival featuring top Spanish acts.
Folk Chinchón takes place in June in the enchanting medieval town of Chinchón, near Madrid. Several traditional and modern Spanish folk music bands from Castile, Galicia and other parts of Spain, are usually featured, together with a small trade show with booths representing instrument makers, bands, labels, crafts and publications. E-mail: aljibe@castillayleon.com.
The cities in the southern metro area of Madrid are larger than many provincial capitals. The Festival Internacional Madrid Sur presents internationally renowned world music artists in the cities of Fuenlabrada, Getafe and Leganés. The festival is usually held in October.
A new world music festival was created in 2005, Festival Folksticio de Verano, in San Fernando de Henares. It is intended to be the largest summer world music event in central Spain, with artists from Spain, various European countries and the Magreb region. It is held at Parque Dolores Ibárruri. To get there you can catch the Interbus bus line. They depart from the transportation hub (Intercambiador) at Plaza de Castilla (Metro station: Plaza de Castilla). There is also a commuter train service that leaves from the Chamartín train station.
Also in June, jazz festivals are plentiful. Many of them feature Latin jazz and flamenco jazz: Alcalatinjazz (Alcalá de Henares, which runs through July), A Todo Jazz (Móstoles), Galapajazz, (Galapagar) and Villalba Jazz (Collado Villalba).
The fall is jazz festival season. Most include world music and Latin Jazz as part of its programming.
The Sierra Norte mountains north of Madrid has its own world music festival. The Festival Étnico Colores del Mundo is held in the mountain towns of El Vellón, Cervera de Buitrago, Lozoya, Rascafría, Gascones, Prádena del Rincón and Cabanillas de la Sierra.
Another city in the mountains near Madrid, Collado Villalba, has two large events, a Celtic festival and a Jazz festival. The Celtic festival, Festival Internacional de música Celta de Collado Villalba - Viacelta, is held in September and normally features top international actrs, as well as some of the best Celtic acts from Spain. More information at www.ayto-colladovillalba.org.
There are many options in Madrid's radio dials. Radio Nacional de España (Spanish National Radio, heard nationwide), Radio 3, 93.2 FM, has several national shows produced in Madrid that feature world music:
Onda Latina, 87.6 FM, has a show called Tráfico de Tarareos hosted by Fernando Martínez every Sunday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and repeated on Mondays from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
Radio Carcoma, 96.2 FM, has a program called El ágora de la música hosted by José Daniel López.
Radio Círculo, 100.4 FM, has a show called Entre Lares hosted by Sonia Frías. Friday, 12:00-13:00 - sonfrias@terra.es.
Guitar shops
Guitars were invented in Spain and Madrid is one of the paramount places to visit guitar shops. You can buy the best flamenco, classical or acoustic guitars in the world.
Hermanos Conde manufactures guitars used by Paco de Lucía. Calle Gravina 7, 28004 Madrid. Phone/Fax: +34 91 3196675.
The José Ramirez guitar shop was founded in 1882. Store: Calle La Paz 8, Madrid. Phone: +34 915 314 229. Shop (Taller): Calle General Margallo 10, Madrid. Phone: +34 915 718 431, Fax: +34 915 715 945. E-mail: info@guitarrasramirez.com
Jorge de Gubia makes classical and flamenco guitars as well as violins, violas, and harps. Calle Santa Engracia 44, Madrid. Phone: +34 914 455 527.
José Romero has been making guitars since 1983. His workshop is at Calle Espoz y Mina 30, 28012 Madrid. Phone/Fax: +34-91-521 4218.
Luthiers specializes in concert, classical and flamenco guitars. They have a workshop and store at Calle Mayor 66, Madrid 28013. Phone/Fax: +34-91-542 6921. E-mail: info@luthiers.net.
To purchase percussion instruments you can visit the Taller de Percusión Gámez shop. Calle Goiri 11, 28039 Madrid. Phone: +34-91-733 1221. Metro station: Estrecho.
There are also two branches of Total Percusión at Calle Alberto Aguilera 50 and Calle Valverde 8.
Tununtunumba sells music instruments from many countries. Calle Santa María 34, Madrid. Phone: +34 91 420 04 50.Madrid has quite a large number of labels involved with world music and flamenco.
The Nubenegra label, founded by Manuel Domínguez, was recording Cuban artists before the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon. It also produces recordings by Spanish artists and African and Brazilian musicians based in Madrid.
Juan Alberto Arteche started the Música Sin Fin label in the 1980s. Originally from the island of Mallorca, Arteche is a multi-instrumentalist and a pioneer of contemporary folk music in Spain. His recording studio, known as "the cave,"has produced some of the most innovative world music from Spain. Radio Tarifa started with Música Sin Fin and many other top Spanish artists have recorded for or collaborated with the label.
Nuevos Medios, led by producer Mario Pacheco, became the benefactor of new flamenco artists while none of the other labels showed any interest. Its compilations of young flamenco artists called Los Jóvenes Flamencos, opened many people's ears to the sounds of flamenco guitar wizardry and young Gypsy bands fusing timeless flamenco with salsa, blues, jazz and African music.
Ediciones Resistencia produces contemporary folk music by Spanish artists from the northern parts of the country: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country.
For Celtic music from Galicia, one of the best labels is Boa's Do Fol imprint. Boa also started a Flamenco divisiony.
Fonomusic has been around for quite a while. This former independent (now part of Warner Music) has a considerable catalog of flamenco, Gypsy rumba and Galician music.
Nuba Records has a good catalog of new flamenco, Spanish world music and jazz, including flamenco jazz pianist maestro Chano Domínguez.
Sonifolk has one of the largest catalogs of traditional Spanish folk music. It also produces new artists from various parts of the country that play contemporary folk sounds.
Most of the Spanish branches of the majors have imprints or divisionsdedicated to either flamenco and / or world music.
Cultural CentersA visit to Madrid would not be complete without visiting its great museums. One of the finest museum districts in the world can be found in Madrid. Three of the world's most excellent art museums (all of which are being expanded) are located along the Paseo del Prado. The spectacular El Prado is perhaps the most famous. There is also the impressive Thyssen-Bornemisza museum which holds the collection of the late Baron von Thyssen, the largest private art collector in the world. Both can be accessed by Metro (station: Banco de España). The nearby Reina Sofía Museum holds a unique collection of contemporary art, including a large number of Dalí paintings.
Several museums in the Spanish capital include musical instrument collections. The Museo de América includes musical instruments from the American continent. Avenida Reyes Católicos 6, 48040 Madrid. Phones: +34 91/549 2641/543 9437, Fax: +34 91 544 6742
The Museo Nacional De Antropología includes traditional Spanish musical instruments. It has two separate locations. The Alfonso XII museum contains the collections of the former Museo Nacional de Etnología. Address: Calle Alfonso XII 68, 28014 Madrid. Phone: +34 91 539 5995/530 6418, Fax: +34 91 467 7098. The other museum is located at Avenida Juan de Herrera and it holds the former Museo Nacional del Pueblo Español assets. Address: Avda. Juan Herrera 2, 28040 Madrid. Phones: +34 91 549 2290/549 7150, Fax: +34 91 544 6970.
The Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas includes some musical instruments, specially elaborate percussion instruments and flutes. Address: Calle Montalbán 12, 28014 Madrid. Phone: +34 91 532 6499/521 3440, Fax: +34 91 523 2086.
There is also an African museum (Museo Africano). It only opens Thursdays and Sunday afternoons. Address: Calle Arturo Soria 101, Madrid.
Schools and Workshops
There are high quality music schools that teach many of the musical traditions of Spain.
The Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music (Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid) not only offers courses in classical instruments, it also teaches flamenco guitar, accordion, various Spanish string instruments, traditional instruments and ethnomusicology. Address: Calle Doctor Mata 2, 28012 Madrid. Phone: +34 915392901, Fax: +34 915275822. E-mail: infosecre@real-conserv-madrid.es. Metro station: Congosto. Train station: Atocha.
The Escuela de Danza y Música “Marta De La Vega” was opened in 2001. It includes courses in Galician pipes, flamenco guitar, flutes, tin whistle, darbuka, riq, bodhran, Galician percussion, mandolin, hurdy gurdy, and musical theory. There are also Spanish culture and musical history classes, as well as seminars, workshops and concerts. Address: Calle María Teresa 11, 28028 Madrid, Spain. Phone: +34-91 725 55 69. E-mail: beatriz_barcelo@hotmail.com.
The Escuela de Música Creativa (Creative Music School) is a reputable school that teaches Jazz instruments and techniques, as well as Flamenco (primarily guitar and cajón). Address: Calle Palma 35, 28004 Madrid, Spain - Phone: +34 915 211 156.
Aprende Flamenco provides weekend workshops in Madrid with some of the best teachers in Spain. Carmen Cortés, El Viejín (José Jimenez), Enrique Vargas etc.
For flamenco dance classes there is the Escuela de Flamenco Puro, which teaches traditional flamenco dance in the style of the Gypsies of Lower Andalusia. Address: Raquel Quijano de la Fuente, Flamenco Puro, Calle Castellón de la Plana 7, E - 28006 Madrid, Spain. E-mail: raquel@jmorao.com.
The Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas is a center founded May 2000 inside a restored building located right above the famous Casa de Patas Flamenco tavern. Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas is Madrid's first Flamenco conservatory. It includes a hall for conferences and presentations and several classrooms for teaching music theory and Flamenco guitar. The center also includes a store, library, audio library and video library. Address: calle de Cañizares 10, Madrid, Spain.
For Galician pipes and drums there is the Escola de Gaita Tradicional Galega. This Galician bagpipe school was founded by Xoán Brandón, a Galician piper who moved to Madrid. The school offers pipe and drum courses. Address: Xoan Brandón, calle San Claudio 41, Local 3, 28038 Madrid, Spain. Phone: +34-606-411895. E-mail: xoanbrandon@telepolis.com.
A new school dedicated to Castilian folk music, Escuela De Folklore Castellano "Plaza Castilla", is located next to Plaza de Castilla square. Founded by musician Fernando Llorente, one of Spain's finest dulzaina players. Other teachers include Eliseo Parra and Manuel Pérez. The school also has storytelling and theater workshops. Info about traditional music and dance workshops: Fernando Llorente. Teléfonos: +34 670.05.71.63 / +34 91.315.62.37. Info about storytelling workshops: Maísa Marbán: 607 604 633. Metro station: Plaza de Castilla.
If you are interested in Indian tabla, there is Tapan. Run by Tapan Bhattacharya, a professional musician from India and tabla teacher. The classes in Madrid take place at the Yoga Center, calle Lagasca #32 - 1ero. Izq. Phone: +34- 600 03 09 79.
Luis Lumbreras teached didjeridu (didgeridoo) classes. Phones: 91 5287160 - 652636018. E-mail: didgeridoo@chandra.es. Address: calle Salitre, 34, bj. 7. Madrid. Metro stations: Lavapiés, Antón Martín or Atocha.
Mamá Africa teaches West African and dance classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 20:00 to 22:00 at Centro Cultural Ramiro de Maeztu. Calle Mayorazgo (Leganés).
Tlf.: 635 27 72 24 / 91 250 18 71. E-mail: info at mama-africa-ritmos.com.
Danzas del Mundo is a world music dance school. It includes Indian, Oriental (Middle Eastern), Africa, Capoeira, Brazilian and Afrocuban. Gran Vía 22, 28013 Madrid, Spain. Phone: +34 91 531-6869.
Bloco de Baliza is a samba group that also teaches Brazilian percussion and dance. Phone: 607852962.
Trade is a new school for DJs, offering basic and advanced DJ courses, turntablism, production, Protools, Logic, Reason, live, final scratch and DJ tools. Avda de Moratalaz 149 post. Phone: +34 902 900 495. E-mail: info at trade.com.es
Nieblas de Avalon is an Oriental (belly dance) school, specializing in tribal fusion and Goth. Calle Andalucía 4, 28007- Madrid. Phone: + 34 91 4339019. Email: muir_gen@hotmail.com.
Cultural Festivals
Madrid's carnival was revived in the 1970s. It is slowly becoming a large popular event. Although the best carnivals in spain are the ones in Tenerife (Canary Islands) and Cádiz (Andalucia), Madrid's is worth checking out.
The Virgen de la Paloma celebration in August includes a religious procession and Madrid's traditional dance, chotis, with participants dressed in typical costumes. There are also music concerts and street performances.
Guides for foreign students
Pasodecebra.net not only provides students with the tourist information about Madrid, but also gives advice on the everyday student life. All the information about Madrid universities and language schools, as well as the important hints on the apartment/job search are very helpful for students. There are also useful tips about restaurants, bars and discos.
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid's student guide in English.
Board of European Students of Technology (BEST) - BEST Madrid's Survival Guide
Books, Maps and Web guides
Immigration
A new portal dedicated to immigrants living in Madrid is available at www.madrid.org. The site is called Inmigramadrid. It provides information about immigration paperwork, social services, employment, housing and other resources. The site is available in Spanish, English, French and Romanian.
Food
Spaniards are used to very long lunches and late dinners, where slow food is appreciated and waiters are not in a hurry to get you out of the restaurant.
Tapas are a Spanish invention and Madrid has some of the best. They are served at numerous bars and restaurants. Some of the most popular tapas are aceitunas (olives), which are marinated and stuffed in many forms; jamón serrano (serrano ham), jamón de pata negra (dark red acorn-fed ham made from free range pigs, an expensive and rare delicacy), patatas bravas (spicy fried potatoes), callos (tripes), tortilla de patata (potato omelet), boquerones en vinagre, (pickled sardines), calamares (calamari, fried squid), croquetas (croquettes with ham, cod, cheese or chicken), pescaíto frito or fritura (fried fish), gambas a la plancha (grilled shrimp), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), pulpo a la gallega (octopus Galician style), adobo (marinated fish), ensaladilla rusa (literally means Russian salad, but it is really Spanish potato salad with homemade mayonnaise), pinchos morunos (pork kebabs), montados de lomo (marinated pork loin sandwiches), and chorizo.
Bocadillos are sandwiches made with crusty Spanish bread. The English word sandwich is used for sliced bread sandwiches.
The Bar de los Bocadillos is very popular with students. They sell inexpensive bocadillos de calamares (fried calamari sandwiches). You can find it at Paseo del Marqués de Urquijo street, near Calle Princesa, in the Argüelles district.
If you are looking for Spanish food, you won't find much under generic Spanish food. Instead, you need to seek the various regional styles. For example, gazpacho is Andalusian, paella is Valencian, grilled lamb is Castilian, etc.
There are many restaurants representing the different Spanish regions: Cocina andaluza (Andalusian, southern Spain), asturiana (Asturian, northern Spain), aragonesa (Aragonese, northern Spain and Pyrenees), balear (Balearic), cántabra (Cantabrian, northern Spain), castellana (Castilian, central Spain), catalana (Catalonian, northeastern Spain), extremeña (western Spain), gallega (Galician, northwestern Spain), leonesa (Leonese, northwestern Spain), madrileña (from Madrid), navarra (Navarrese, Northeastern Spain), murciana (southeastern Spain), riojana (central Spain), valenciana (Valencian, eastern Spain), vasca (Basque, northern Spain), and canaria (Canary Islands).
For lovers of international cuisine, there are restaurants representing American (US), Arabic, Argentine, Armenian, Belgian, Brazilian, Chilean, Chinese, Colombian, Ecuadorian, French, German, Greek, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Peruvian, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Uruguayan and Vietnamese, styles.
For those with a small budget, there are many resturants that offer an affordable menú del dia for a fixed price. It usually includes a two course meal, water or house wine and a dessert.
Restaurant guides:
Cycling
Madrid has been building a network of paved bike paths. A 60 kilometer ring around the city was completed iny 2007. The path has no barriers. Road crossings and other obstacles are avoided with bridges. The main loop allows riders to cycle through several parks and connect to other parts of the city with numerous side trails.
Last Updated Saturday, May 26 2007 @ 01:14 PM EDT|55,552 Hits 
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