Fiestas in El Médano & Los Abrigos – Sansofé 2009

As if El Médano wasn’t a cool enough town to hang out in already, July and August sees its plazas and beaches buzzing with concerts, exhibitions, film screenings and all sorts of goodies as part of the Sansofé festival.

Nearby Los Abrigos also gets in on the act, making two of the south of Tenerife’s most attractive coastal towns the perfect places to spend your summer.

Click here for the full agenda

Espacio Enter – Free Rock Concert at the Auditorio

A dozen plus bands pay homage to Spanish rock music from the 1980s at the Auditorio in Santa Cruz this month. I realise that if you’re not Spanish, that’s unlikely to have you nostalgically strolling down Español pop memory lane, but the concert is free and seeing live bands is always worthwhile.

Location: Auditorio, Santa Cruz

Date: 22nd July

Time: 20.00

The July Fiestas and the Virgen del Carmen – Puerto de la Cruz

It’s party month in Puerto de la Cruz – when isn’t – as the town celebrates its July Fiestas which last for...the whole of July.

There’s something sporty, concerts and exhibitions happening most days, but my pick of the highlights are:

Sunday 5th July: The triathlon between 09.30 and 13.00 – lot’s of fun in the water at San Telmo (maybe not for the competitors though).

Thursday 9th July: Election of the Fiesta Queen at Plaza Europa at 21.30 – okay beauty queen contests went out of fashion in the UK a long time ago…but hey, we’re not in the UK, so bring on the pretty girls.

Friday 10th July: Summer Dance at the harbour at 22.00 – Don’t know what the music will be, but the idea of a summer dance sounds nice.

Saturday 11th July: Fiesta parade at 20.30 followed by fireworks, Canarian dinner and the traditional Baile de Magos in Plaza Europa – lot’s of oohs and aahh’s and locals in traditional costumes.

Sunday 12th July: Classic and antique car exhibition from 10.30 to 14.00 – Avenida Colón full of shiny old things…so what’s new (okay, I’ve done that one before, but it still amuses me).

Monday 13th July: Sardinada and Verbena at San Telmo at 21.30 – plates of fried sardines and plastic beakers of country wine for a couple of euros; now you’re talking. There’s bound to be a band as well.

Tuesday 14th July: The big day; embarkation Tuesday. The Fishermen’s procession and the nervy loading of the Virgen del Carmen and San Telmo onto their boats takes place at somewhere between 18.00 and 19.00, but the rest of the day is devoted to getting wet. Running water pistol battles in Plaza del Charco, music, people throwing themselves into the harbour and the classic and very funny ‘slippery pole’ competition at around 15.00 guarantees fun all day. Don’t wear anything you don’t want to get wet if you want to get close to the action.

Sunday 26th July: the air display traditionally marks the end of the July Fiestas – model display, usually a few aeronautic surprises and a humongous paella at the harbour.

Remind me again – why do most people choose to holiday in the south of Tenerife?

Fimucité 3: Film Music Festival – In Tenerife no-one can hear you scream!

As a nerdy kid I had ‘Great War Movie Themes’ and ‘James Bond Movie Themes’ in my music collection…still have a Bond CD, (the David Arnold compilation), so I was interested to hear about Fimucité 3, a festival celebrating movie soundtracks held annually in Santa Cruz and La Laguna.

This year’s theme is the Alien Movies, but also includes homage to the granddaddy of movie composers, Jerry Goldsmith.

Performances will take place in The Auditorio, TEA and Teatro Leal with a complimentary season of films being screened in the Filmoteca Canaria.

Special guest performers include Oscar winner Jan Kaczmarek, Mark Snow and Clint Mansell. With music covering films from Disney classics to Star Trek, the Omen and the X Files, there’s a right mix of moods from chirpy cheeriness to spine tingling chillers. The festival is rounded of at the Auditorio with a performance of music from the five alien movies and some of Jerry Goldsmith’s finest work.

Dates: 20th to 26th July

For more information about the programme check out their really cool website…but be careful a facehugger doesn’t jump out at you.

Santa Cruz 2010 Carnaval Poster and Theme: “La Historia de la Humanidad”

In some places people moan about Christmas arriving earlier and earlier when Santa Claus starts making an appearance on supermarket shelves. In Tenerife, the sounds of Carnaval seem to be still ringing in the ears when the first signs of madness and mayhem and hedonistic fun (i.e. Carnaval) appear on the horizon again.

Next years’ Carnaval poster has just been unveiled in Santa Cruz. The rather grand sounding theme is ‘The History of Humanity’, but Waldemar Lemanczyk’s winning carnaval poster design illustrates how to interpret the theme with wit and imagination.

An ape in a glitzy bikini wearing Dame Edna glasses. You just know there’s some troubled soul out there who’s going to be turned on by this image…

International Canaries Jazz & Mas Heineken Festival 2009 – Jazzing up the Streets

The hot summer in Tenerife is just about to get a lot cooler. But don’t worry I’m not talking about the weather, July kicks off with the 18th Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz & Mas Heineken.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but Jazz is just about the coolest music going and for me conjures up images of smoky Manhattan clubs and cool dudes making their saxophones ooze sensuality…okay, I’ll calm down and get on with it.

If you’re anywhere near Santa Cruz, La Laguna or Puerto de la Cruz you’re in for a treat as Jazz heroes from New York to Japan and Iceland to the Ivory Coast add an extra sizzle to Tenerife’s sultry summer nights. If you’re not, start arranging your transport now.

Be there, or be square…Daddy-O.

Dates and Tenerife Line Up

3rd July: Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet & René Glez Sexteto, Puerto de la Cruz, Plaza de Europa, 21:00h. (FREE)

4th July: James Taylor Quartet & ST Fusión, Puerto de la Cruz, Plaza de Europa, 21:00h. (FREE)

5th July: Mezzoforte & Diego Barber Quartet, La Laguna, Teatro Leal , 21:00h. (Tickets)

6th July: Christian Mcbride & Inside Straight & Okou, La Laguna, Teatro Leal, 21:00h. (Tickets)

7th July: Fra Fra Sound & Mayra Andrade, La Laguna, Plaza La Concepción, 21:00h. (FREE)

8th July: Chris Potter's Underground & Viktoria Tolstoy, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Casa de la Pólvora, 21:00h. (FREE)

9th July: Steve Lukather and band "Tour Ever Changing Times" & Martín Leiton“Médium”, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Casa de la Pólvora, 21:00h. (FREE)

10th July: Kind of Blue 50 concert, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Auditorio de Tenerife,
21:00h. (Ticket)

11th July: The CTI All Stars, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Auditorio de Tenerife, 21:00h (Ticket)

See www.canariasjazz.com for artists’ details and ticket information

Provincial Motocross Championship in San Miguel

Here’s mud in your eye…well it is if you get too close to the action at the second round of Provincial Motocross Championship in San Miguel.

It looks like an exciting day out; pity the poster and website for the event concentrates more on including its sponsors than mentioning little details like time and address and whether there’s an entrance fee…but maybe I’m just picky that way.

Location: Motocross Circuit in San Miguel de Abona

Date: Sunday 28th June

Time etc: Now just let me consult my crystal ball...

*Update*- the motocross trials begin from 09.00

Tapas in Tenerife – Puerto de la Cruz ‘Ruta de la Tapa’ competition

With 300 or so restaurants choosing where to eat in Puerto de la Cruz can be a bit mind boggling. If you fancy a bit of tapas tasting, then the results of the town’s recent ‘Ruta de la Tapa’ competition might help with the decision making.

Winner of the competition was La Casa Gallega on Calle Puerto Viejo, with neighbouring restaurant the stylish La Clave coming second and Los Tulipanes in Calle Cruz Verde in third place.

El Baño de las Cabras – The Bathing of the Goats

For anyone who’s still got any energy left after the Midsummer Eve partying, El Baño de las Cabras is one of the more bizarre little rituals. Goats descend on the harbour in Puerto de la Cruz from early morning for their annual seaside outing and dip in the water. It’s quite a sight and despite the animals’ protestations is said to be good for them. Make sure you’re there early otherwise you’ll miss it.

Fiestas of San Juan – South Tenerife – El Puertito, Costa Adeje

The celebrations might not be on the scale of Puerto de la Cruz and Las Teresitas, but El Puertito in Adeje is a lovely little setting to bring in Midsummer. With grilled sardines, fires and Reggae music it sounds like a really cool scene to celebrate Midsummer.

Location: El Puertito

Date: 23rd June

Time: From 18.00 till Midnight

Fiesta of San Juan in Puerto de la Cruz

It’s party time in Puerto de la Cruz (again). The beach party to celebrate midsummer and the fiesta of San Juan is one of the best shindigs of the year, and that’s saying something. During today, Puerto’s drinking fountains are decorated with flowers and fruit; however it’s tonight when the party really gets going on Playa Jardín.

There are a couple of new activities like turtles being released into the sea at Playa de Punta Brava between 17.30 and 20.30.

The entertainment on the beach gets going from 20.40 with the group Parranda Portuense followed by the lighting of the bonfires and 21.40, the Sky Productions show at 21.50, the group, Magec at 22.15 and a Music and fireworks show at 23.15 and the group Salvapantallas. After that it’s off to the magic waters for a refreshing dunking.

If that wasn’t enough, there are three different groups entertaining the folks at the Punta Brava end of the beach.

Don’t forget to keep a lookout for San Borondón on the horizon…but only if you last till dawn.