Festival de les Arts: en valencià no parlem, però doneu-nos els vostres diners

Posted by Mireia on 24 mayo, 2016 Leave a Comment

El Festival de les Arts és un festival urbà que se celebra a València al juny. Al contrari que els festivals tradicionals, on els assistents van d’acampada, té lloc al recinte de la Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències de València. És la resposta valenciana al SOS 4.8, festival murcià indie que començà menut i ha acabat per convertir-se en una de les cites ineludibles del panorama musical independent de l’estat, o al Primavera Sound, el festival que ara com ara més prestigi té a Espanya (després del FIB). Està controlat per una empresa que pertany als germans David i Antonio Sánchez, madrilenys, … [Read more...]

El problema de la música i València

Posted by Mireia on 16 febrero, 2016 Leave a Comment

Sempre he sigut conscient que no havia nascut a un lloc on els artistes internacionals venien. En vaig ser conscient per primera volta quan era ben menuda, i les Spice Girls van fer un tour que anà a Madrid, però no a València, i a partir d’aleshores ha sigut decepció rere decepció. (Els Backstreet Boys sí que vingueren a València, però jo sempre he sigut de les Spice). València és una ciutat anèmica quant a cultura musical, cosa estranya per a una ciutat amb un festival de bandes i una tradició popular molt forta de cercaviles i agrupacions musicals als barris. Però sembla que hi haja una … [Read more...]

¡Larga vida al Festunizer!

Posted by Jorge on 1 noviembre, 2015 Leave a Comment

Resulta difícil escribir del Festunizer sin sonar como un pelota miserable porque, sinceramente, fue la leche. Otra vez. Los de Betunizer han vuelto a organizar, con la excusa de presentar su nuevo álbum Enciende Tu Lomo (bcore, 2015), un día de conciertos que es prácticamente un all-star de todo lo que vale la pena en la escena musical nacional. Todo casero, muy bien hecho y con mucho amor. Me & the Bees abrieron el día con una buena dosis de melodía, ruido y buen rollo. Suenan mucho mejor que esta vaga descripción. Mucho. Juventud Juché ofrecieron toda una demostración de intensidad, … [Read more...]

DAVID DE LIMÓN – Valencia Acid Street Art

Posted by Lucy on 19 octubre, 2015 Leave a Comment

Valencia's old town is awash with graffiti and it's hard to walk down its winding alleys without encountering at least some form of captivating street art. We're sure you'll have seen this little guy hiding in nooks and crannies in and around El Carmen and over the past year or so you may have noticed an increase in David de Limón's ninjas. These simple, balaclava-clad figures -often life-sized and wielding a can of spray paint- seem to have downright invaded the city, forming an integral part of the urban landscape. And now they're set to take on a whole new dimension. David de Limón will … [Read more...]

Marty arrives in the future and #bttfday trilogy screenings in Valencia

Posted by Lucy on 16 octubre, 2015 Leave a Comment

It's been a great year for Back to the Future fans, what with the release of the Marty McFly replica self-lacing Nikes and the long awaited -and much disputed- arrival of the hoverboard. Fans of the trilogy will also be well aware that 2015 marks the 30 year anniversary of the Back to the Future franchise and, most importantly, October 21st is the date that Marty travels to in the future (despite what this cheeky Tumblr account may try to make you think). We won't go into too much depth about the similarities and differences between the fantasy version of 2015 versus actual 2015. Let's … [Read more...]

Festival de les Arts: un buen principio

Posted by Jorge on 24 junio, 2015 1 Comment

Hace poco más de dos semanas se celebró el Festival de les Arts en Valencia, al que tuvimos el gusto de acudir. No contaba con un cartel extremadamente sólido, pero estaba cerca de casa, el precio era razonable y tenía unos cuantos elementos de interés que ya reseñó Lucy en su post. En mi caso, el atractivo se reducía a Nueva Vulcano, Triángulo de Amor Bizarro, The Wave Pictures y Toundra; los cuatro habían pasado en el último año por Valencia y sólo me había perdido a los últimos. A última hora se sumó a la fiesta ese monstruo llamado Betunizer, reemplazando a las Hinds, Deers, Grijanders o … [Read more...]

Countdown to Festival De Les Arts

Posted by Lucy on 2 junio, 2015 1 Comment

The first edition of the Festival De Les Arts is set to rock the Turia capital this weekend, bringing with it an array of national and international bands. Here's our pick of the bunch... Triángulo de Amor Bizarro Loud guitars, rapid drums, synth, distortion and dreamy vocals. Hailing from Galicia, Triángulo de Amor Bizarro are probably one of the loudest bands playing the festival. And here at Sepia we like loud. The band last visited Valencia in February of this year when we were treated to their melange of energetic shoegaze-pop-punk in Sala Wah Wah. We're looking forward to see how they … [Read more...]

#Fallas2015 in photos

Posted by Lucy on 25 marzo, 2015 1 Comment

As the final tear trickles down the cheek of the fallera mayor, Valencia looks mournfully into the smoke-filled distance and, like a phoenix flying out of the ashes, announces the silver lining that is the arrival of #Fallas2016. That's it. It's over. Se acabó. But, like every year, emotional falleros take to the web to reassure each other that, in a mere 350 days, they'll be back to causing a nuisance. Meanwhile for others: Peace and quiet return. Your liver breathes a sigh of relief. Spring is welcomed. Here are some photos of Fallas 2015: Caloret, misteleta, fallas y … [Read more...]

Benimaclet Carnaval 2016

Posted by Lucy on 25 febrero, 2015 Leave a Comment

The annual Benimaclet carnival is back this year on the 13th of February. Festivities include a fire run courtesy of the local Colla de Dimonis and typical local music by the Colla Dolçaina i Tabal Roja de Benimaclet, organised by Joves Benimaclet and the Benimaclet neighbour's association. Parades, dancing, castells (human towers) and communal meals follow. The Benimaclet carnival is usually celebrated one week after its famous counterparts in Tenerife and Cadiz, yet this year shares the same weekend under the new name of #Festimaclet. Just like other years we'll witness the XXVIII … [Read more...]

Countdown to Deleste

Posted by Lucy on 30 septiembre, 2014 Leave a Comment

Valencia's 2 day indie explosion is back this Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October in Espai Rambleta, and we're ready and raring to go. The third edition of Deleste Festival is set to bring such big names as Pony Bravo, Grupo de Expertos Sol y Nieve and Nueva Vulcano. Check out the full line-up and the newly released day split: Other top names to watch out for are Barcelona alt-rockers Za! who look set to please crowds with their ecclectic mix of energetic, off-beat drumming and electronic injections. Fuckin' Bollocks, who treated us to a great performance in the BCore Showcase at … [Read more...]

Spotlight on: Juan Llorens and Extramurs

Posted by Lucy on 27 junio, 2014 1 Comment

Extramuros might not be first on your agenda when planning a night out in Valencia city. Appearing somewhat off the radar in comparison to other nightlife hotspots such as Ruzafa or El Carmen, Extramuros, or Extramurs in Valencian, lies just to the west of the old town, within walking distance from El Carmen. Here's why you'd be wrong to overlook it... The area is often simply referred to as "Juan Llorens" after the main road running through the neighbourhood, a nod to the one of the men behind the Germanías rebellion in the 16th century. Think wide, tree-lined streets with bustling terraces … [Read more...]

San Juan festivities in Valencia

Posted by Lucy on 18 junio, 2014 Leave a Comment

Felicidades to all the Juans, Joans and Johns - why not celebrate by getting chased by a devil with a 6 foot sparkler? You may have noticed that last weekend was a bit more crowded than usual in Valencia city. You will have most definitely noticed if you live near a casal fallero and subsequent lairy verbena aka. mobile disco/karaoke/"I'm gonna play the Game of Thrones theme tune at full blast at 3am" fun times. This all comes as standard in the run up to San Juan, a popular festival that welcomes in the Spanish summer. The 23rd of June marks the eve of San Juan, or the day of Saint John … [Read more...]

Primavera Sound 2014: a memoir

Posted by Lucy on 11 junio, 2014 1 Comment

I've always been vaguely aware of Primavera Sound's pretentious reputation, a bit -dare I say it- hipster? Come on. Stereotype with me. You've got Download: metal heads in a field, FIB Benicàssim: guiris camping on the surface of the sun, T in the Park: Scots on mandy jibbing at other Scots on coke, Primavera Sound: a big ball of bohemian yah. So I can't really complain... I knew what I getting myself into. But when a group of Glaswegians invited me on a lairy weekend in, possibly, one of my favourite cities on the planet, how could I refuse? I hastily packed all the denim I could … [Read more...]

Feria de Abril: A Guiri’s Guide

Posted by Steph on 8 mayo, 2014 4 Comments

Since moving back to the UK last year, I am reminded with alarming regularity that, Toto, we’re not in Spain anymore. I’m reminded every time I pay more than a Euro for a beer; I’m reminded every time I stand nicely in a queue; and I’m reminded with every breakfast, lunch, and 6pm-sharp dinner. But there’s no time of year I am more harshly reminded of my residency than this week: the Feria de Abril (that’s April Fair to you and I). I was lucky enough to experience Feria in Seville: its birthplace and biggest fan. Feria in Andalucia is a pretty big deal. Don’t make the mistake of going in … [Read more...]

Holy Week traditions in Spain: More sinister than the Easter bunny

Posted by Lucy on 9 abril, 2014 1 Comment

Easter in the UK means two things: 1) a long weekend and 2) the inevitable onset of nausea after eating one too many Lindt chocolate bunnies. In Spain, things are a little different... Don't be alarmed if you're confronted by an army of solemnly marching locals, shuffling along to the beat of a drum, dressed in what can only be described as a Ku Klux Klan uniform. There, I said it. And don't deny that you haven't thought it too. But what does it all mean? At university we had it drilled into us that Catholicism is still very predominant in Spain. Despite the illusion that the cura, … [Read more...]

Cultural interest magazine for locals and guiris. Valencia.

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