ARCHIVED - July 27 to August 6 Cante de las Minas flamenco festival in La Unión 2022

The programme for the 2022 edition of the Cante de las Minas

The Cante de Las Minas Flamenco Festival, which has been awarded International Tourist Interest status, is held annually in late July and early August in the town of La Unión, celebrating the tradition of flamenco which grew up in the mining community of the Sierra Minera within both La Unión and Cartagena.

The festival has two separate sections which are of interest to the general public: the gala nights in which invited artists from the international flamenco circuit perform, and the competition to find the best up and coming artists in the disciplines of cante (song), dance, guitar and percussion. The competition is highly renowned within the flamenco world, and prize winners receive a boost to their career by winning at La Unión as well as substantial remuneration, the combination of which helps to attract the best new artists to this festival.

Music is just part of the cultural offering and attendees can also enjoy a comprehensive programme of exhibitions, talks and workshops, as well as post-performance music in some of the bars and, of course, food. All of the talks are in Spanish and can be found on the full programme.

The main square in front of the former marketplace, which is known as the “Catedral del Cante”, is filled with tapas bars and displays, making it a busy, buzzing area during the festival. On the main festival nights there will be performances in the Plaza Joaquin Costa in front of the former marketplace from 8pm onwards, bringing flamenco out into the streets where it was formerly performed.

It’s worth noting that the first two nights of the festival are free entry events, the first featuring local musical and flamenco performers and the second the competition winners from a previous year. Tickets for the rest of the galas are on sale online here.

The last four nights are dedicated to the competition to find the best emerging flamenco singers, dancers, guitarists and percussionists, the first three being semi-finals after the heats which have been held previously, and the last the final.

It should be stressed that on these four nights the performers are competing, not entertaining, so the focus is on pure flamenco. This can be hard on the ears of expats and is a million miles away from the “flamenco” served up in tourist bars! It can be a deeply moving and passionate form of music and during the competitions is as pure and true to the traditional flamenco as it gets.

Click for venue: Catedral del Cante, the former public marketplace

Programme Cante de Las Minas 2022

Friday July 29

Paco Cepero and Rancapino Chico present their works “Tradición” and Herencia” at 23.00.

Saturday July 30

Two legendary names visit La Unión: Reyes Carrasco peforms “Sentir”, and José Mercé, arguably the best-known of all current flamenco singers, is also live in concert at 23.00.

Sunday July 31

Singer and dancer Farruquito takes to the stage at the Catedral del Cante at 23.00.

Monday August 1

El Yiyo performs “Jubileo” and Rosario la Tremendita offers “Tremenda” at 23.00. Tickets from 32 euros.

Tuesday August 2

India Martínez offers her “90 Minutos” concert at 23.00. Tickets from 48 euros.

Wednesday August 3

The first semi-final of the Cante de las Minas competition at 22.00 includes competitors in the singing, dance guitar and instrumental categories. Tickets from 16 euros.

Thursday August 4

More semi-finalists take the stage, starting at 22.00.

Friday August 5

The last of the semi-finalists in each category perform, starting at 22.00.

Saturday August 6

The Grand Final begins at 22.00, the evening ending with the proclamation of the winners at the 2022 Cante de las Minas festival. Tickets from 37 euros.

For more upcoming events in the Costa Cálida go to the What’s On section of Murcia Today.