The second edition of the Nits de Barcelona festival begins to take shape with the presentation of the first artists who will perform in the Pedralbes gardens, a dozen names with which to begin preparing the concerts that will star in the urban summer.
Patti Smith, who will soon turn 77, will return to Barcelona on July 5 to continue her endless love affair with the stage now that her role as a musical composer seems completely over after more than a decade without publishing new material. Dedicated to writing, the godmother of punk navigates in her concerts through those songs that marked the era in the 70s such as Ghost dance, Because the night or People have the power. A decade that will also be remembered by Rumors of Fleetwood Mac (July 8), the tribute band of the Californian formation that has the personal support of Mick Fleetwood to bring songs like Dreams back to life.
In another musical compartment but with similar experience, Simple Minds (July 19) continue their musical adventures by releasing new albums (the latest, Direction of the heart, last 2022) although in their live performances they do not forget to play Don’t you and Alive and kicking, the keyboard-driven songs that have allowed them to sell more than 60 million records over four decades.
Michael Rosenberg, known as Passenger (July 24) and author of the hit Let Her Go, which in 2013 reached number 1 in more than 19 countries, becoming the second most listened to song of all, is not that old, but he has a long career. the times. In 2007, the British composer embarked on a solo journey that has taken him from playing on the street to publishing more than 10 albums with folk as his banner.
From the British Isles comes another of the stars of the Nits, Mika (July 17), a classic of the Catalan summers who has just published Que ta tête fleurisse toujours, a work done entirely in French that includes the song Jane Birkin dedicated to the beautiful Franco-British actress in imitation of that Grace Kelly with whom she debuted in 2007, revealing the baritone register that identifies her happy songs.
The national list highlights the presence of Luz Casal (July 10), who will open Las windows de mi alma, her 16th album with which she continues a career that is already going on for 40 years. Going along the same path is Sopa de Cabra (July 11), the Empordà group headed by Gerard Quintana that has recently announced the publication of a new album in 2024, Ànima, whose songs will appear throughout next year.
Pamplona native Mikel Izal (July 24) will present the songs from his first solo album, Fear and Paradise, an introspective tour with which he opens a new stage after a decade as a reference for Spanish indie rock at the helm of Izal. And from north to south, Vanesa Martín from Malaga (July 13), who arrives with a new show to present her eighth album, Pleasures and Sins, full of stories of love and heartbreak. The Madrid-based Taburete (July 15), who already performed at the last edition of the festival, complete the Spanish roster for now with the promise of a concert that will make those who gather at the top of the Diagonal vibrate to attend Willy Bárcenas and company.
