A NEW YEAR HEEL-STOMPING START FOR THE PALAU

The 13th Festival of Flamenco is to take place in Valencia from 17 January to 20 February Valencia plans to bring in the New Year with songs, guitars and dances of a distinct Mediterranean flavour. The festival gets under way with the spirit and emotions of Southern Spain from the guitar of Vicente Amigo. On 7 February, a total of 14 Spanish artists will be on stage accompanying Antonio Alvarez, Pitingo, as he presents his show, Soulero while 15 February is reserved for local flamenco, with artists of the calibre of dancer Paco Berbel and guitarist Juan del Pilar lending a Valencian touch to the festival. And rounding off this series of shows in the purest Spanish way, the Andalusian group Chambao will bring the festival to a close with a fusion of sounds from east and west, casting off the chill out-flamenco label that has defined them until now. For 2009, the Palau de la Musica offers an eclectic bill to initiate the youngest members of society into an art form full of passion and emotion.