Catalan Flamenco Artists Around the World
Barcelona has given birth, and continues to give birth, to major figures in the history of flamenco. It is home to singers, dancers, guitarists and percussionists who have shaped entire generations and who carry the identity of Catalan flamenco across Spain and around the world. At the same time, it is a city where many artists born elsewhere arrive to develop their careers, finding in Barcelona a place to grow and learn through tablaos, flamenco schools and festivals.
Catalan artists who succeed abroad
Flamenco singing from Barcelona can be defined through two names: Duquende and Mayte Martín. Mayte, one of the most respected and valued singers of her generation, still lives in the neighborhood where she was born, Poble-sec. Duquende, born Juan Cortés Santiago in Sabadell, has lived for several years in Benajarafe, Málaga, by the sea. From there, in addition to composing and producing his music, he performs regularly at the many flamenco festivals held across Andalusian towns.
There is also a slightly younger voice that must be mentioned when speaking of the Catalan flamenco sound: Miguel Poveda. Born in Badalona, he developed a passion for flamenco singing from a very early age, even recording songs at home as a child. He worked at Tablao Cordobés and Tablao de Carmen, and made his breakthrough in 1993 when he won the prestigious Lámpara Minera at the Festival de Cante de Las Minas in La Unión. Since then, he has become one of the most recognizable voices in flamenco and a leading figure representing flamenco born in Catalonia. Since the early 2000s, he has lived in Andalusia, first in Seville and more recently in Estepona (Málaga).
If flamenco singing in Barcelona is represented by Mayte, Duquende and Miguel, contemporary dance finds its figure in El Yiyo. Although he has never left his home in San Roque (Badalona), he lives between Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, where he frequently performs in tablaos.
International artists thriving in Barcelona
As a key hub of flamenco culture, Barcelona attracts artists from around the world who arrive with a suitcase and the ambition to perform on the city’s stages. From Argentina, three artists have been living and working in Barcelona for over a decade: Lucas Balbo (percussionist), Betiana Barros (dancer) and Exequiel Coria (guitarist). From Mexico came Karen Lugo, a dancer and choreographer based in Barcelona whose distinctive style has led her to collaborate with renowned artists both within and beyond flamenco.
From Venezuela, the dancer Mariana Martínez has become a regular presence in Barcelona’s flamenco venues while maintaining strong ties to performances and teaching across the Americas. Also raised in Latin America, specifically in Cuba, two young dancers, Montserrat Martínez and Ivelisse González are emerging within the local scene.
Flamenco developed in other parts of Europe has also found its place in the city. From France come dancer Mathilde Antón, guitarist Iwan el Francés and flamenco pianist Mélodie Gimard, all of whom chose Barcelona to further their careers. In London, guitarist Jero Férec was born; he is the creator of Las Brujas, a small tablao in the Gothic Quarter, and a regular performer on local stages.
Barcelona is also home to leading flamenco figures born and raised in southern Spain. Paloma Fantova, from Puerto Real (Cádiz), has lived and worked in Barcelona for years alongside her husband, singer Antonio Fernández, and their two daughters. She is one of the most respected dancers in contemporary flamenco, performing both in tablaos and at major festivals such as the Festival de Jerez and Suma Flamenca in Madrid. Both she and Antonio perform regularly at Tablao de Carmen.
Also from Andalusia is La Tana, a legendary flamenco singer from Seville whose reputation expanded internationally after collaborating on two tracks from Cositas buenas, the album by the iconic guitarist Paco de Lucía. In 2010, she released her own album Tú ven a mí, and in recent years she has worked closely with artist Antón Álvarez, better known as C. Tangana, participating in both his El Madrileño tour and the project La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cortés. La Tana has lived in Barcelona for over a decade with her husband, Mariano Santiago, and their daughter Carmen, and frequently performs in the city’s tablaos.
Finally, three emerging Andalusian female artists who have made Barcelona their home should be highlighted. In singing, Ana Lorenzo (from Huelva) and Laura Marchal (from Jaén), both regular performers in local venues. In guitar, the young artist Ángela Zarzuela, from Cádiz. All three moved to Barcelona to study at one of Spain’s most prestigious music institutions, the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, one of the few offering university-level training focused on flamenco guitar and singing.
