Ritme & Flow is a music creation workshop organised and led by the Catalan composer, singer and producer Demba Sow Banora, known by his stage name Babaflow. In this workshop, the artist guides young people in exploring the world of rap, helping them to express their emotions and thoughts in an artistic and respectful way. The workshop promotes conscious values, explores rhyme and tempo, and analyses social reality from an intercultural and gender perspective. Aimed at 3rd year ESO students at INS El Pedró in l'Escala, it will be held from March to June 2024, with sessions that include the creation of a song and video clip. The theme focuses on the migratory processes in the Mediterranean, exploring the experiences of migrants and refugees who risk their lives.

This activity is promoted by the Portalblau Festival as part of the "Portalblau Values and Commitment" programme.

Our way of understanding the world has a lot to do with the ancient civilisations of the Mediterranean, with deep roots in the Near East. Ancient cities such as Jerusalem or Damascus have had an enormous capacity for symbolic representation for us as well. If the recent terrible civil war in Syria has struck us with shocking images of human and patrimonial destruction, the persistent conflict between Israel and Palestinian institutions and organisations, which began even before Israel's declaration of independence in 1948, continues to have a decisive influence on international politics and to painfully affect its inhabitants. This dramatic scenario cannot be understood without the process of decolonisation that followed, first, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, which had left a lasting and deep imprint on the Middle East, and the subsequent British and French domination. To interpret the distressing complexity of the present, it is necessary to look back. UB professor emeritus Dolors Bramon and writer Carles Duarte invite us to take a closer look.

This activity is part of the cycle of conferences of the Portalblau Festival "Miradas Blaves"

The activity is free but registration is required by sending an email to [email protected]

The intersection between sustainability, territory and culture is crucial for the configuration of our identity and environment. Sustainability implies the preservation of the environment and society for future generations. Territory provides the setting for human and cultural life, with a unique identity influenced by geography and history. Preserving these characteristics is key to environmental and cultural sustainability, promoting a responsible use of the territory and conserving natural spaces. Culture is an essential element, reflecting human relationships with the environment and contributing to social diversity and community identity. The integration of these pillars is fundamental for an equitable future, respectful of the environment and a river of cultural diversity. The director of the Carulla Foundation's Museum of Rural Life, the leading expert in cultural heritage and sustainability, Gemma Carbó, will speak to us.

This activity is part of the cycle of conferences of the Portalblau Festival "Miradas Blaves" with the collaboration of the Carulla Foundation and the Museum of Rural Life.

The activity is free but registration is required by sending an email to [email protected]

Do you want to learn how to organise a Festival? Since 2022, the Portalblau Festival has been organising a training course for young people from 16 to 20 years old interested in learning how to organise a festival. The success of participation in previous editions, with all places sold out, shows the great interest in this subject among young people. During the course, participants are taught by professional experts in various fields related to the organisation of events, acquiring fundamental knowledge about the planning and execution of a festival. The aim of the course is to highlight the diversity of professionals involved in the production of a festival and to show young people that this can be a viable career option for their future, while emphasising the importance of academic training for the younger generation. This initiative demonstrates the Portalblau Festival's strong commitment to training and professional development.

This activity is promoted by the Portalblau Festival as part of the "Portalblau Values and Commitment" programme.

Interested persons should send a letter of motivation to [email protected] before 31 May 2024. Places are limited. The activity is free of charge.

Do you want to perform at the Portalblau Festival? After the success of the first edition of the Portalblau Stage Competition, the festival continues its commitment to the country's emerging talent with the second edition of this contest. A unique opportunity for young Catalan musicians to showcase their talent at the Portalblau festival.

Proposals can be submitted from 1 April until 20 May. A jury made up of music experts and representatives of the festival will select the three finalist groups, which will perform live at Port la Clota in l'Escala. A day full of emerging talent, energy and good music!

The competition rules can be consulted at: BASES CONCURS ESCENARI PB (portalblau.cat)

This activity is promoted by the Portalblau Festival. It is part of the "Portalblau Values and Commitment" programme. With the collaboration of the Fundació Casa de la Música de les comarques gironines.  

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Music has served as a universal language throughout history, connecting societies and cultures. To analyse and understand the future of music in the digital society is to explore the course of culture and society itself. This musical future is a profoundly rich and complex terrain, where technology, culture and creativity meet in a constantly evolving dialogue. To understand it, we need not only to examine the forces shaping it, but also to embrace its diversity and its capacity to transform individual and collective lives. The director of the Barcelona Music Lab, Miquel Curanta, will guide us through these fundamental ideas for a deeper understanding of the future of music.

This activity is part of the Portalblau Festival's cycle of conferences "Mirades Blaves".

The activity is free but registration is required by sending an email to [email protected].

The artistic proposal of the Mallorcan singer-songwriter Júlia Colom stands out in the current independent scene as an offer of quality and uniqueness, where cultural roots are presented in a sincere and transparent way. On her debut album, Miramar, in addition to the tunes learned from oral transmission from all over Mallorca, there are her own compositions that reinforce the solidity with which the artist has begun her recording career.

The Portalblau Festival will be the setting for the presentation of Miramar, a concert where the audience will experience a balance between the singer's present and songs that fuse tradition and modernity, creating a sound mosaic rich in nuances and emotions.

Performers: Júlia Colom (vocals), Martin Leiton (guitar) and Roger Calduch (drums)

The Syrian soprano Aseel Massoud, accompanied by Ahmad Dyab and Manel Ruiz, will present for the first time her artistic project Trencadís, which vindicates the richness that the exchange and mixing of cultures generates in society. This recital will offer a repertoire full of highly suggestive reinterpretations and fusions of classical Arab music, Catalan popular music and flamenco, as well as Mediterranean opera, zarzuela and Spanish song, creating a mosaic of sound. This is how the group describes its personal and artistic universe.

The Portalblau Festival, in collaboration with the Castell Peralada Festival , presents Trencadís, a recital that will take the audience on a journey through all the sound registers of the different shores of the Mediterranean Sea, offering a sound fusion between East and West that will captivate the audience with its diversity and musical richness.

Performed by: Aseel Massoud (vocals), Ahmad Dyab (guitar) and Manel Ruiz (piano).

Culture is a highly effective tool for social transformation. Artistic expression, traditions and human interactions are foundations for dialogue and understanding, fostering tolerance and social cohesion. Cultural expressions serve to create spaces for social critique and social cohesion.

Cultural expressions serve to create spaces for social critique and awareness, addressing such important issues as inequality and human rights. Culture not only reflects social change, but actively drives it. It is a dynamic force that inspires change, facilitates understanding and enriches community life. Promoting and protecting culture is essential for a more inclusive and sustainable future. Culture also has a significant economic impact, stimulating creativity and innovation. Cultural industries generate employment and wealth, while preserving the richness of cultural diversity. Marta Esteve, director of the Fundació Carulla, will address these issues through her expert account.

This activity is part of the Portalblau Festival's cycle of conferences "Mirades Blaves" with the collaboration of the Fundació Carulla. 

The activity is free but it is necessary to register by sending an email to [email protected]

An artistic action or a sociological experiment? Love for free is the one and the other: a fresh and original proposal that suggests new forms of relationship that shake up and confront the individualism and emotional disconnection that governs our society. How? Very easily, by looking intensely into the eyes, hugging or even giving a kiss to a random person in the street, a person we don't know, but who will return our gaze or hug in a generous way. And the fact is that cordial treatment with other people is the best therapy against bad moods or mistrust.

Love For Free is a multicultural piece of social cohesion, diversity and inclusion, where the participants in the same action will be diverse people and all of them will be part of this community action. An ode to love as a possible solution to cure and transform fears, a motivational game. Let's play!

With the collaboration of the Fundació Carulla.

Artistic Details: Direction(Sergi Estebanell); Authors(Rosita Luz Calvi and Sergi Estebanell); Visual Arts(Quim Moya); Performers(Rosita Luz Calvi, Sergi Estebanell and Quim Moya).

Ju is a talented Catalan singer-songwriter and actress born in Gurb. Raised in an environment full of music thanks to her father, Ricard Puigdomènech, a distinguished guitarist and renowned producer, her training embraces the arts, including music, dance and drama. His music combines pop-rock with reggae and rhythm and blues influences, creating a unique style and personality, with a mesmerizing voice and a commanding stage presence.

She will be performing for the first time at the Portalblau Festival , presenting her third album Venus in a concert where the audience will be able to enjoy her wide vocal range and impeccable staging.

Performers: Ju (vocals) and Arnau Burdó (keyboards and bases)

The impact of heritage on tourism is not limited to visiting monuments and historical sites; it is the essence of a destination, attracting travellers with its unique stories and landscapes. This heritage not only enriches visitors' experiences, but also benefits the local economy, generating employment and promoting sustainable development. However, this tourism model faces challenges such as overcrowding and waste management, especially in coastal areas. Experts Lurdes Boix and Rosa Duran will explore this relationship between heritage and tourism, highlighting its importance as a driver of economic and cultural growth.

For this activity, the Portalbau Festival has created a route from the sea to discover the coastline of the Costa del Montgrí Natural Park, discovering unique coves and caves such as the Contraband Cave, Punta Montgó with its 16th century tower, Cala Montgó and Cala Farriol. 

This activity is part of the Portalblau Festival's cycle of conferences "Mirades Blaves" 

The activity is free but it is necessary to register by sending an email to [email protected]

Throughout history, art and writing have represented the images we have had of ourselves and our relationship with others. From Ovid's Metamorphoses to contemporary poetry, accompanied by pictorial images, we can take a journey through history that will allow us to see other faces of myths.

With the architect and art populariser Miquel del Pozo and the poet Mireia Calafell, we will follow this path to explore the metamorphoses that we have been creating and deconstructing over the centuries. Moderated by Raül Garrigasait. 

This activity is part of the cycle of conferences of the Portalblau Festival "Mirades Blaves" with the collaboration of the Festival dels Clàssics

The activity is free of charge but registration is required by sending an email to [email protected]

The debate about the limits of humour is common in our society today. In a democracy, it is difficult to draw a clear line between freedom of expression and respect for individual sensibilities. As a result, there has been an increase in cases of judicialisation of humour, which can lead to self-censorship. In addition, controversies arise on topics that were previously joked about but are now considered more sensitive, leading to a sense of unease. However, it is important to remember that throughout history, the limits of humour have been debated and that humour can be a powerful tool for social critique and awareness-raising.

Isa Calderón and Lucía Lijtmaer, creators of the podcast Deforme Semanal Ideal Total, accompanied by Marc Giró, winner of the National Communication Award 2024, will unpack their particular provocative and feminist vision of life and contemporary culture with laughter and redundant explanations. Deforme Semanal Ideal Total is one of the most listened to podcasts in Spain with followers in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Chile. It has been awarded the Ondas Award for Best Podcast to 2021 and Best Podcast of the Year at the Global Podcast Ondas Awards to 2022.

HENRIO is the stage name of singer-songwriter and producer Enric Verdaguer. After spending four years in Liverpool and having been the voice on pianist Clara Peya's last tour, he decided to embark on his own project under this new identity. Her debut album, "Somewhere, Sometimes", represents a masterful fusion of sophisticated pop with lyrics in both Catalan and English. This work follows her return to Catalonia after a period of exploration, reflecting the transition and changes experienced during her return home, and offering a profound reflection on life, nostalgia and the inexorable passage of time.

The Jardí del Clos de Pastor stage will stand as the perfect venue for HENRIO's first presentation at the Portalblau Festival, promising a night full of emotions and unforgettable moments for all those attending.

Performers: Enric Verdaguer (vocals and guitar), Abril Saurí (drums) and Jordi Bastida (electric guitar).

Meritxell Neddermann, with her exceptional skill, fuses captivating melodies that transcend musical genres, from the serenity of classical music to the vitality of jazz, funk and indie. With his second album, "Suelta", he transports us to a rich and deep universe of sound, where every note is an expression of emotion and meaning. Neddermann is synonymous with subtlety and a deep love of music, where sensations and atmospheres combine to build unique universes and proposals.

The Portalblau Festival will have the honour of hosting the presentation of "Suelta", offering the public the opportunity to enjoy the artist's skill and sensitivity through his evocative melodies.

Interpretation: Meritxell Neddermann(Piano and voice)

Pau Alabajos presents "La Paraula Viva i Amarga", a special show in commemoration of the centenary of the poet Vicent Andrés Estellés. This show includes some of his most iconic songs, inspired by Estellés' verses, as well as new unpublished adaptations that form part of his latest recording project. With an intimate theatrical scenography, the show invites us to explore the writer's office, where some of his most important works were born. "La Paraula Viva i Amarga" is a tribute to Estelles' poetry and offers us a journey through time, transporting us to the historical moments of Franco's dictatorship and the democratic transition, while celebrating life, love and the struggle for freedom.

Pau Alabajos, one of the most renowned musicians in the Valencian Country and a leading voice of singer-songwriters in the Catalan Countries, has more than 20 years of experience on stage.

Interpretation: Pau Alabajos (voice and guitar)

Ginestà, the duo formed by siblings Júlia and Pau Serrasolsas, has emerged as one of the most inspiring new Catalan bands. With less than five years on the stage, they have captivated a whole generation with moving lyrics and evocative melodies. Between established pop-rock and the emerging urban scene, they have naturally found their own space in the Catalan music scene. Their fourth album, "Vida Meva", fuses pop with electronic rhythms and rock, featuring collaborations with prominent artists such as Maria Hein, Triquell, Niña Polaca, Maio and Ferran Palau. Like a sigh of the sea, with Mediterranean flavour and spirit, Ginestà invites us on an emotional journey.

Their performance at the Portalblau Festival, where they will present "Vida Meva", will provide a unique opportunity to enjoy one of the best groups in our country on one of the most outstanding stages in the territory, the Mar de en Manassa in l'Escala.

Performers: Júlia Serrasolsas (vocals), Pau Serrasolsas (vocals and guitar), Cesc Valverde (drums and samplers) and Gerard Sala (keyboard).

Mishima remain faithful to closeness, close contact with the audience, and horizontal communication through a repertoire that is already history. Songs like traces of lipstick, which speak of the decline of the public man, the one who plotted at home, collected the photos and paid the fine, but who kept thirsty all his life; songs that taught us disorder and adventure, that show us that there is no such thing as happy love, that longing cures and that we are everything and nothing. This is a very personal way of understanding rock, where it is intertwined with chanson, Tin Pan Alley and indie. After nine studio albums and hundreds of concerts, Mishima has played a crucial role in the renewal of music.

Mishima return to the Portalblau Festival on the Mar d'en Manassa stage after 6 years. On this occasion, they will present the songs from their latest album, "L'Aigua Clara", in a concert that promises to be an amalgam of sensations, halfway between communion and catharsis.

Performers: David Carabén (vocals and guitar), Marc Lloret (keyboards), Dani Vega (guitar), Xavi Caparrós (bass) and Alfons Serra (drums).

"Tatuajes" is the new project of the singer Mayte Martín, presented in quartet format (voice, piano, double bass and drums), which includes immortal titles that are part of the legacy of universal music. Mayte Martín 's versatility leads her to explore different soundscapes, going beyond flamenco and allowing us to enjoy unique versions of unforgettable hits such as "Gracias a la vida", "Ne me quitte pas", "Te recuerdo Amanda", "Lucía", "El breve espacio en que no estás", or "Alfonsina y el mar".

The Portablau Festival presents Mayte Martín in concert, offering an emotional journey through these timeless songs, paying tribute to those who gave life to these masterpieces. An exquisite experience, full of nuances and colours, that will captivate the audience.

Performers: Mayte Martín (voice and musical direction), Nelsa Barón (piano and arrangements), Guillermo Prats (double bass) and Vicens Soler (drums).

After almost five years without presenting unreleased songs, Sopa de Cabra will release a new album in 2024 entitled Ànima. Each song on the new album will feature the collaboration of an artist with soul. Coinciding with the release of the new album, the group will start a tour in 2024 that will last until March 2025, with a limited number of concerts. In this way, Sopa de Cabra will return to the stage after the successful tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album Ben adentro.

Note: The concert will be standing room only. Doors will open at 8:30 p.m.

F

Mama Dousha, the stage name of Barcelona musician and singer Bruno de Fabriziis, has stood out as one of the brightest promises of the Catalan music scene. His song "Rikiti" has captured the public's attention, becoming a social and viral phenomenon, becoming the most listened track on the country's radios throughout the fall of 2023 and one of the most searched songs in Catalonia on the Shazam platform. His first work, entitled "Segur que m'equivococo", presents a very personal rhythm, combining an original fusion of electronic music, singer-songwriter and urban pop, with a notable presence of Spanish guitar in all the tracks. With a unique musical style and intimate lyrics full of sensitivity and tenderness, the artist will perform at the Portalblau Festival on Friday night, in a double concert with Figa Flawas.

Figa Flawas represent the new generation of Catalan urban pop. In 2022 they won the Sona9 contest and also published their debut album, "Joves Tendres". This duo from Valls, who have collaborated with artists like Mushkaa or Lluís Gavaldà to continue filling their discography with hits like "Diabla" or "Xalalà", has managed to captivate the public with their own style, a mixture of costumbrismo, reggaeton and authenticity. Recognized as one of the most relevant proposals of the current scene, the duo from Valls arrives at the Portalblau Festival to present live their latest work, "La Calçotada". With high expectations, this concert promises to be an unforgettable sound experience and become a great summer night in l'Escala. 

Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Or, they must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years old and present the signed parental form found in the Important Information section of this website.

The talented Catalan trumpeter, saxophonist, singer and composer Andrea Motis continues to evolve and now performs in the captivating and intimate trio format at the Portalblau Festival, on the stage of the Fòrum Romà d'Empúries. On this occasion, she offers an original reinterpretation of the English singer-songwriter tradition, maintaining its distinctive Mediterranean and Latin essence.

Accompanied by two musicians who master the art of woodwind on their instruments, violinist Christoph Mallinger and percussionist Zé Luis Nascimento, Motis embraces warm and soft sonorities. This musical experience is designed to invite reflection and enjoy the small moments that enrich life. It is intimate jazz with a warm touch of wood, surrounded by the magical atmosphere of Empúries.

Performed by: Andrea Motis (vocals and trumpet), Christoph Mallinger (violin, mandolin and guitar) and ZéLuis Nascimento (percussion)

Finally comes "Balla la masurca!", the solo debut of Guillem Gisbert. Manel is a golden page in the history of Catalan song, with Gisbert as singer and main songwriter. The announcement of the Barcelona quartet's break after their acclaimed "Per la bona gente" tour left many in a state of helplessness until rumours were confirmed last September: Gisbert was starting a new project with previews of 'Les dues torres' and 'Waltzing Matilda' first, and 'Cantiga de Montse', 'Hauries hagut de venir' and 'Un home realizat' later. This dispelled any doubt: Gisbert has not taken his foot off the accelerator. "Balla la masurca!" will confirm Gisbert as one of the great Spanish composers of his generation, with eleven songs of the highest quality and exquisite lyrics. The Barcelona artist knows popular song in detail and continues to play with it as he pleases, taking it from its furthest reaches and mixing them with total naturalness: from the most cerebral contemporary pop to narrative folk, from 20th century orchestral song to urban music.

Performers: Guillem Gisbert (vocals and guitar), Jordi Casadesús (bass and synthesizers), Arnau Grabolosa (guitar and keyboards) and Glòria Maurel (drums).

Note: Seats will be available in the stalls of the Roman Forum, but they will not be numbered. Doors will open at 20:30 h.

The sea, especially the Mediterranean, has been an intrinsic part of the essence of L'Escala since its beginnings. It represents culture and history, both as a means of subsistence and leisure for people, as well as being the habitat of a wide variety of animal and plant species that contribute to creating its unique landscape. These values must be preserved for the present and for future generations.

This exhibition is the fruit of the collaboration between the Alive Foundation and the Club Nàutic l'Escala, the creators of MedFoto, the first Mediterranean Photography Competition. The exhibition shows a selection of the finalist entries from this competition, offering different perspectives on the relationship between the sea and people, with a focus on sustainability as the key to its future.

Visiting the photographic exhibition "The sea and people" is an opportunity to discover the finalist images of the fourth edition of MedFoto. A visual tour of the best photographs that reflect the authors' different interpretations of the relationship between people and the sea.