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The programme for the 2023 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.

The first two nights of the festival are free to attend, 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.

First held in 1961, the festival has been awarded "Intangible Cultural Heritage" status by UNESCO.

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

Program Cante de Las Minas 2023 (only the leading acts are listed, see the full program for other events):

Thursday August 3

Flamenco Gala with performances by Guadiana and Pedro Ojesto Trio at 22.00.

Friday August 4

A gala performance at 22.00 featuring the top prize winners at last year’s Cante de las Minas festival: Esther Merino, Álvaro Mora, Irene Lozano, David Romero and Ángel Bocanegra.

Saturday August 5

Flamenco gala at 23.00 featuring a performance by Marina Heredia. Tickets 31.64 euros.

At 1.00, Irene Lozano and David Romero offer a special performance in the Plaza Joaquín Costa.

Sunday August 6

At 23.00 another Flamenco Gala features Polito and Carmen Linares. Tickets 31.64 euros.

Monday August 7

At 23.00 Los Vivancos perform at the Antiguo Mercado Público. Tickets 31.64 euros.

Tuesday August 8

Tonight’s Flamenco Gala at 23.00 features Estrella Morente live in concert at the Antiguo Mercado Público. Tickets 36.91 euros.

Wednesday August 9

The first competition semi-finals begin at 22.00 in the disciplines of “cante”, guitar, dance and instrumentalist. Tickets 15.82 euros.

Thursday August 10

The second first competition semi-finals at 22.00 in the disciplines of “cante”, guitar, dance and instrumentalist. Tickets 15.82 euros.

Friday August 11

At 22.00, the third semi-finals in the same categories as previous nights. Tickets 15.82 euros.

Saturday August 12

The grand finals begin at 22.00 in all of the competition categories, the evening ending with the proclamation of the winners at the 2022 Cante de las Minas festival. Tickets 36.91 euros.

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

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