Spanish Rock…Err, Rocks

It’s not only famous British names who perform in Tenerife. The main music scene is vibrant and Spanish and one that exists outside of the radar of many British visitors and residents.

Lead singer Enrique Bunbury from Spanish 90s rock giants, Héroes del Silencio is set to pump up the volume in the capital, Santa Cruz, with his "Hellville de Luxe".tour at the Municipal Sports Centre on the 7th December.

It’s time to squeeze into the leather pants and dust down the air guitar.
Time: 22:00h
Tickets: in advance €18. At the venue €25
Tickets are available at: El Corte Inglés (Tel: 902 400 222) www.elcorteingles.es and at www.cajacanarias.es

Something to get animated about…

When it comes to sexy, stylised animation, Japanese cinema is arguably the world leader. Movie buffs should stock up on the popcorn and settle down into a seat at Cine Victor in Santa Cruz for a month of classic Japanese films from animation legends such as Satoshi Kon and Isao Takahata.

It’s guaranteed the graphics will have punters as wide eyed as the cartoon characters in the movies they’re watching.

Location: Plaza de la Paz s/n; Santa Cruz de Tenerife; Tel: 922. 15 16 51.

Northern Club Scene

Electronic House and Latin Music are introduced to each other at the first Festival Electro-Latino at the Republic Club in San Jerónimo, La Orotava. I suppose it depends how well they get on as to whether there’ll be a second festival.
DJs include Juan Magan, David Laurentini, Ray Castellano and Danger Beat & Kike Barroso, who’ll try their best to ensure clubbers get suitably hot and sweaty to their electric/Latino fusion ably assisted by some Latin Go-Go dancers.

Entrance: €20 (on the door €25)
Tickets available at:
Evolution (C.C. Al Campo, La Orotava); Doña (Puerto de la Cruz); Figaro (La Laguna); Tiendas Base, Doña, Exclusive, Duran Peluqueros (Santa Cruz)

You’ll enjoy this lot…and that’s Gospel.

For a change of musical styles, check out one of the gospel concerts taking place across Tenerife in December as part of the 3rd Festival of Gospel in the Canaries. Performers include local and international singers such as Ann Peters and the world famous South African Soweto Gospel Choir.

There’s sure to be some sweet soulful music for the ears.

Dates & Locations

4 December 2008: Soweto Gospel Choir: Teatro Leal - La Laguna
7 December 2008: Soweto Gospel Choir: Auditorio de Arona - Arona
12 December 2008: Rainbow Gospel Choir: La Laguna
13 December 2008: Choir Connexion: La Laguna - Teatro Leal
13 December 2008: Rainbow Gospel Choir: Santiago del Teide
13 December 2008: Anne Peters Gospel: Icod de Los Vinos
14 December 2008: Rainbow Gospel Choir: Candelaria
14 December 2008: Anne Peters Gospel: Guia de Isora

Check out the website for more info –The Spanish version is more accurate than the English, whose calendar seems to relate to last year’s festival.

This Old Heart of Mine - Rod Stewart in Tenerife

Considering his age, the song title might mean something else these days as another grandfather of rock seems to be heading to Tenerife’s shores.

Rod Stewart looks all set to follow in Elton’s footsteps and play the south of Tenerife on 16th May 2008.

Details of the concert are expected to be announced within the next few days.

The promoters say that they have three other major artists lined up for Tenerife for 2009. Great news for Tenerife, but personally, I hope that next time it’s somebody a little bit more contemporary; both Elton and Rod were past their best when I was 20 and that was a long, long time ago.

Venue: Golf Costa Adeje
Time: 21.00
Tickets: Click here for ticket prices and tickets

Christmas Concerts in Los Cristianos

Make a note in your diary now. Just what you need to get into the mood for Christmas is a festive concert in the street, or in Los Cristianos’ case, the Plaza de la Iglesia.

On the 9th, 10th, 11th and 13th December from 21.00 the sound of music (no, not the film) will fill the square as musicians and dancers from the Grupo de Ballet de la Escuela Municipal de Música y Danza de Arona turn the plaza into an ideal spot to soak up the Christmas spirit and snuggle up to a loved one.

You can be guaranteed on Tenerife, that all that’s missing from this festive scene will be the snow.

An Extreme cure for a hangover…

The Tegueste Ayuntamiento have come up with a particularly sadistic way of clearing the fuzziness after quaffing too many ‘vasos’ of new vino de país during the San Andrés celebrations on the 29th November – the 1st carrera popular entre viñedos.

The nine kilometre run on the 30th November starts from the Plaza de San Marcos in Tegueste at 11.00. If you’re fit, or just a masochistic, this might be the ideal way to celebrate Saint Andrews day, personally I’d rather stay in my bed.

The Best Tapas in Town

Pssst…want to know where you can eat the best tapas in La Orotava, or enjoy the finest dining in Puerto de la Cruz?

Restaurant La Barraca (C/ Dr. Sixto Pérez González, 2) recently won first prize for serving the best traditional tapas in La Orotava, whilst Café El Cuartito (C/Dr. Glez. García, 24) picked up first prize in the category for the best creative tapas.

In Puerto de la Cruz, the 2nd Ruta gastronómica de Puerto de la Cruz took place in early November with the perennially popular El Regulo (C/ Pérez Zamora, 16 ; 922 384 506) taking top prize with Los Tulipanes (C/Cruz Verde, 4) and Casa Pache (C/La Verdad, 6) taking second and third spot respectively.

Tall Tales

Christmas is a magical time in many ways, and Los Silos in Isla Baja gets the festive season off to an appropriately enchanting start with its Festival of Storytelling (Festival Internacional del Cuento Los Silos) between 29th November and the 8th December.

Storytellers from all over the world descend on the picturesque little town to fill the streets around the plaza with stories and musical performances for the kids and, after dark, tales of terror and dark deeds for the grown ups.

If you want to know where it’s all taking place, just look out for the giant spider!!!

"Fear is Natural"

Don’t know if that slogan is the best way to attract people to sign up for the Puerto de la Cruz’ first Carrera Canary Extreme on 14th December, but it’s certainly enough to entice me to go and watch others risk if not life, at least limb in this test of nerve and stamina.

The futuro parque maritime (known to non-politicians as the car park at the harbour) will be transformed into an assault course for up to 300 men and women to compete in a grueling 10 kilometre course over obstacles.

It’s €15 to take part (what…you have to pay to torture yourself?) with prizes totaling €750 to be won.

Participants must register before 9th December on 922 302 845.

After Dark

Anyone who’s familiar with La Orotava knows it’s one of the prettiest towns on the Canary Islands, however when darkness falls parts of the town become even more enthralling.

Over the Christmas period (on 29th November & 13th, 20th, 27th December), the town hall is putting on free guided tours of La Orotava by night.
The tour begins at 19.30 and groups are limited to thirty people so booking a place in advance is essential (call 922 324 444 (Ext. 269), or arrange at the town hall in person.

The Big Noise in Tenerife in November

Some visitors to Tenerife might think the place is overrun with Scots when they spot the saltire proudly billowing in the breeze all over the place; it just happens that Tenerife and Scotland share the same flag and both celebrate Saint Andrews (San Andrés) day. In Tenerife's case most of the fun takes place during the evening of the 29th November 2008.

If you want to join in, head down to the harbour at Puerto de la Cruz at around 18.00 and grab your poke of roasted chestnuts and glass of country wine (or two, three, four...). And if you want to know why there are armies of kids dragging cans on a string behind them, you better read this…

For those who’d prefer a bit of extreme action, take to the hills on the eve of San Andrés, or rather the near vertical streets of Icod de los Vinos to watch the traditional ‘Arrastre de las Tablas’, when the local youths go all ‘Jackass’ and scream down almost vertical streets on metal trays hoping someone’s remembered to put the ‘mountain of tyres’ safety net at the bottom.

The Circus with a difference

If you think the circus belongs to bygones days, then you’ve never seen anything like Taganai. Part visual extravaganza, part circus…100% pure magical. The Russian creator of this mind blowing feast for the sense was a product of the Cirque du Soleil and so if you’ve ever seen any of their unforgettable performances, you know you’re in for a treat.

The company’s website claims that it’ll be the fastest 80 minutes you’ve ever spent in a theatre. Which is a shame, because you won’t want this show to be over quickly.

Venue: Teatro Guimerá, Santa Cruz
Dates: 25th to 30th November 2008
Entrance: €20, €25, €30
Tickets available through: Caja Canarias

An Explosive Fiesta

Re-enact scenes from Tenerife’s last eruption in 1909. This Sunday (23 November 2008) Santiago del Teide sees various saints being carried across the Valley of Santiago to El Calvario at Las Manchas just as they were nearly a hundred years ago. Then it was as a last ditch attempt, this time it’s much more relaxed…as there’s no worry about the village being barbecued.

The Dance of the Gypsies

It’s not Canarian, but it is incredibly passionate and sensual and is guaranteed to get the old ticker pounding. The Pirámide de Arona is usually the place to catch the stamping heels, swirling dresses and the beat of Flamenco; however on 29th November, El Sauzal Auditorium plays host to the famous Familia Sánchez Cortés and their spectacular show, Tierras Flamencas. You’ll be stamping those heels and clenching a rose between your teeth for weeks afterwards.

Time 21.00
Entrance: €6

The Most Famous Man in the World to Visit Tenerife

If any proof was needed that 'Tenerife Matters', how about this?

It's just been anounced by Ricardo Melchior, President of the Tenerife Cabildo, that the new President of the United States, Barack Obama will visit Tenerife.

But here's the rub, it might not be in 3 months, 6 months, or even a year, but we're definitely in his travel plans...presumably Barack's got a few things to sort out before he can jet off for some R&R in the Tenerife sunshine under the guise of an official visit.