The Culture Vulture

This final feria of the summer in Montejaque is not to be missed.

Spectacular, charming, quaint and exciting are all adjectives that apply to this celebration of the defeat of Napoleon's troops in 1810.

    [Diario Ronda]

La Batalla de La Puente

This year it takes place over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 26, 27 and 28 September.

The central area of the village will be transformed into a 19th century village and the villagers will dress up as French soldiers or peasants.

In the real battle in 1810, 700 French troops were defeated by a ragbag of farmers, old men and the women of the village.

A plaque outside the church commemorates the event.

[Portal Tematico de la Serrania]    

Programme

To follow

Accommodation

The village fills up for this emblematic fiesta. Relatives of montejaqueños return to the village, as well as curious tourists from lots of countries, who like to join in the fun..

The four "hotels" are always full, as are the many casas rurales.

Booking.com, AirBnb, and VRBO have long-since booked up for the three-day event. Some who rent privately or by word of mouth may have availability.

Montejaque from the mirador [Paul Whitelock]    

The property listed below has just become available following a late cancellation. Book direct with the owner.

CASA REAL, MONTEJAQUE

Casa Real has undergone a full renovation, yet has retained many original features. 

Now boasting three double bedrooms plus space for a baby, infant or child, Casa Real has become one of the largest rental houses in the village.

With its large L-shaped lounge, dining room and kitchen; shady internal patio; two modern bathrooms; laundry room; and huge roof terrace, Casa Real cannot be further enhanced. 

And, what’s more, Casa Real is situated just one minute’s walk from the village square. Access with a vehicle is good and there is ample free parking nearby.

For complete information, please click the link:

CASA REAL, Montejaque (Malaga) - Help me, Ronda

Contact:

Paul Whitelock on (+ 34) 636 52 75 16  We speak English, French, German and Spanish

© The Culture Vulture

Tags:

1810, accommodation, Batalla de la Puente, Casa Real, casa rural, feria, fiesta, French troops, mirador, Montejaque, montejaqueños, Napoleon, Paul Whitelock, The Culture Vulture, 

What a setting! The modern open-air concrete "Roman Amphitheatre", perched on Ronda's western cliff edge is a wondrous location. The mountains of the Sierra de Grazalema make a perfect backdrop for any performance.

[Photo: Diario Sur]    

We arrived just after 9.00 pm as the first act was beginning its set. "We" were myself and my German friends Iris and Rainer who I've known for some 16 years, since I immigrated to Spain, in fact, to live with my German sweetheart Rita.

Iris and Rainer owned (and still do) the house next to our home in Montejaque, a village near Ronda.

As it turns out, Montejaque is the base of the PBMF, although not back then.

This festival did not debut until 2016.

     Iris and Rainer [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

Robin Mordecai and Diego Castillo-Olivares

Robin is a talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Austin, Texas.

Robin reminded the audience, small at this early hour (the Spanish go out late!), that this was his fourth consecutive time at the festival and that four years ago was when he first met Diego from England, then a 13-year-old, born to Spanish parents who had emigrated to England.

2020 was also the first time I attended the festival and I got to know them both.

Diego made a guest appearance on drums in a jam session which also featured Robin on guitar, as well as other players from the USA and Europe. Diego was just 13-years-old at the time!

Back to the present, Diego is poised  to go to Bristol University in October to study Design/Mechanical Engineering, exactly what my brother Simon did there, albeit over 50 years previously.

Back to the concert and Robin was singing and playing electric guitar, backed by Diego on acoustic Spanish guitar.

They were fabulous! Robin's powerful voice and Diego's consummate guitar-picking really got the evening off to a a great start.

    Photos of Robin and Diego on stage in Ronda by Paul Whitelock

Leeann Atherton

Next up were Leeann Atherton and her band from Alabama via California. This band was new to me..

Before us stood an old dear dressed in cowboy gear and clutching a guitar. Towering over her was a rather large younger man. It didn't look promising!

Sitting down was a man with an electric guitar and off to the side a keyboard player. After tuning up, the band burst into song. It was an a cappella harmony. Blimey! West Coast rockabilly at its best.

     Photo by Paul Whitelock

Leeann then introduced her band. The big lad beside her at the front of the stage, was her son, Austin!

They then played a rousing set of Country and Western with a tinge of the Blues.

Austin also played mean guitar and mouth organ, as well as possessing a powerful and clear baritone singing voice.

I bumped into Leeann later and we had a great chat. We exchanged contact details, so we'll see how that goes.

Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz)

The next two groups were from my favourite place on the Cadiz coast, El Puerto de Santa Maria.

Unfortunately, as far as I and my two companions were concerned, both bands were a great disappointment. The worst was that they occupied the peak slot and the organisers couldn't get them off!

The Maddening Flames, an eight-piece with more guitars than soft Mick (whoever he was!), and just one female voice, outstayed their welcome.

They lived up to their name - they were maddening! - simply samey and boring.

The core members of The Maddening Flames [Facebook]    

Los Jaguares de la Bahia were nothing more than a joke! A parody.

Three old guys, two on guitar and one on keyboards with lights on their costumes.

The best "musician" was the synthesiser drummer.

[Photo courtesy of Vertigo Estival]    

Donovan Keith and friends

Why they kept this ensemble back to so late is beyond belief. Donovan Keith, from Austin, Texas, is amazing. He has a fabulous tenor voice and is a great ukelele player (on a par with the late great George Formby! - joke, ha-ha).

His collaborators were Robin Mordecai (q.v.) on drums, Diego Castillo-Olivares (q.v.) on guitar and Jason from Canada on bass guitar.

Donovan Keith and friends on stage in Montejaque [PW]     

We enjoyed their first few numbers, before it was time to go home and go to bed.

Conclusion

Look, the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival is all free, so we shouldn't moan.

As for me, I love live music, warts and all. It was once again a privilege to experience this amazing event.

[Poster courtesy of Sierra de las Nieves]    

Links:

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2022 | Cartel, entradas, horarios y hoteles - www.fanmusicfest.com

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 - Austin & Andalucía Music Festival

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival Mark VIII - Eye on Spain

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival - Ronda Today

© The Culture Vulture

Photos:

Diario Sur, Paul Whitelock, Sierra de las Nieves, Vertigo Estival

Tags:

Austin, Cortes de la Frontera, Culture Vulture, Diario Sur, Diego Castillo-Olivares, Donovan Keith, El Colmenar, Jimera de Libar, Leann Atherton, Montejaque, Mozambique, Olvera, Paul Whitelock, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Robin Mordecai, Ronda, Serrania de Ronda, Sierra de Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves, Teatro Romano, Texas, Vertigo Estival 

Yes, August is the month when Spain lets its hair down, celebrating fiesta after feria after dia santo (saint's day).

Where do I begin?

There's so much going on in Ronda and the Serrania in the coming days, it would be impossible to go to everything!

     [Poster courtesy of Facebook]

Thursday 31 July - Sunday 3 August

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival

Today marks the start of the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival. The opening night takes place in Montejaque, near Ronda.

Montejaque is the base for the festival which is in its eighth year. The musicians are all accommodated and fed in Montejaque, where there are four days of live music.

[Poster courtesy of Noticias Clave]     

Over the next four days the festival also takes in Cortes de la Frontera, Jimera de Libar, Olvera and Ronda.

The musicians, all professional, come predominantly from Austin, Texas, but there are also artistes from France, Guatemala, Mozambique, Norway, Spain, and the UK.

The full programme, giving dates, times and line-ups, is available here:

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 - Austin & Andalucía Music Festival

31 July - 3 August

Feria y Fiestas Mayores

El Gastor (Cadiz)

El primer fin de semana del mes de agosto, El Gastor celebra su Feria y Fiestas Mayores.

Entre los actos que se desarrollan destacan las actuaciones musicales, competiciones deportivas y la tradicional suelta de vaquillas a mediodía y el Toro de fuego a media noche que llenan las calles de El Gastor de visitantes.

Se suele celebrar en la Plaza de la Constitución un bingo popular con muchísima afluencia.

Muchos actos y muy diversos para la que es una de las ferias más concurridas de la sierra gaditana.

[Poster: guiadecadiz.com]     

31 July - 23 August

Conciertos de Verano en Ronda

[Portal Tematico Serrania de Ronda]     

31 July - 3 August

Feria y Fiestas de Parauta 2025

Fiestas en honor de la Virgen del Rosario

Further information here:

Feria y Fiestas de Parauta 2025 - Portal Temático Serranía de Ronda

Weekends up to 31 August

Exposición de Jennifer Waterhouse

Calle Toledillo 42, Gaucin

Sábados y Domingos de 11:00 a 16:00

Jennifer Waterhouse nació en el norte de Inglaterra y estudió pintura en Leeds College of Art, y después en el Royal College of Art en Londres.

Enseñó pintura en Rochdale College of Art , y luego en Sir John Cass College, y en un instituto para chicos, ambos en Londres. 

Ha vivido más de 40 años en España, primero en Madrid y Málaga, y ahora lleva más de 20 años viviendo en Gaucín.

Su pintura está basada más que nada en Gaucín y el campo que lo rodea. Suele pintar en exteriores, aunque también tiene un estudió en Gaucín. 

[Poster courtesy of Art Gaucin]   

Ha exhibido pinturas en Londres, Málaga, Estepona, Guadiaro y Gibraltar, pero ahora normalmente exhibe con el colectivo de artistas Art Gaucin.

Further information here:

Jennifer Waterhouse - Art Gaucín 

Friday 1 August

Casa Museo Don Bosco, Ronda

Flamenco Guitar Concert - Carlos Perez (Cadiz)

For one night only

Tickets - 20 euros - available from Casa Museo Don Bosco, Oficina de Turismo or online at the Chipta ticketing webshop:

SPECIAL CONCERT – FRIDAY 1 AUGUST 2025

Photo of Carlos Perez [Casa Museo Don Bosco]     

More information here:

Flamenco Guitar Concerts - Casa Museo Don Bosco

2-9 August

'Semana Cultural' de Pujerra (46a edicion)

     [Fiestas Singulares de Malaga]

3-4 August

'Farajan te cuenta'

     [Portal Tematico de la Serrania de Ronda]

Festival de cuentos, musica y poesia

Plaza del Mirador, Farajan (Malaga)

Tuesday 5 August

MARTES CON ARTE en Atajate

"Mujeres Frente al Espejo"

By Eduardo Galan

Performed by:

Compañia Platea de Ronda

Zona de lavadero municipal, Atajate

Entrada libre

Una propuesta teatral intima y conmovedora que invita a la reflexion sobre la identidad, los vinculos femeninos y los silencios que habitan en el interior de cada persona.

[Poster courtesy of Proyecto Platea]     

7 - 10 August

Feria de Agosto

Gaucin

Se celebra en honor de la virgen de las Nieves y en recuerdo de la feria del ganado. Lugareños, visitantes y emigrantes que retornan en estas fechas para reencontrarse con familiares y amigos, celebran las fiestas con bailes, casetas, concursos, dianas, pasacalles, cohetes y competiciones deportivas.

El recinto ferial dispone de Caseta Municipal, con actuaciones musicales, grandes orquestas y programación para todo tipo de público. Asimismo el recinto ferial dispone también de la caseta de la juventud, espacio para que los jovenes den rienda suelta en estos dias festivos. Y como no, atracciones mecánicas para los pequeños.

[Poster by M. Jose Fernandez]     

FERIA 2025

The official poster for the 2025 Fair, by M. José Fernández, captures the essence of this special celebration.

The full schedule for these four exciting days will be available very soon.

#feria #gaucin #visitgaucin #balcondelaserrania #virgendelasnieves #agosto #tradicion #verano

9 - 16 August

'Festival Arte Vivo 2025'

Genalguacil (Malaga)

Exposiciones de arte, conciertos, talleres y presentaciones

     [Diputacion Provincial de Malaga]

14 August

Vanesa Martin

Recinto Ferial 'Angel Harillo' de Ronda

     [Poster: Grupo Mundo]

15 August

'Los Morancos'

Recinto Ferial 'Angel Harillo' de Ronda

     [Poster: Grupo Mundo]

23 August

Festival de Cante Grande

Las Murallas del Carmen, Ronda

22.00 horas

Ezequiel Benitez, Remedios Reyes y Juan-Fran Carrasco al cante;

Paco Leon, Julio Romero y David Arahal al toque.

[Portal Tematico Serrania de Ronda]    

El flamenco: Patrimonio Cultural de Andalucía

El flamenco es una de las expresiones culturales más profundas y emotivas de Andalucía. Este arte, que ha sido reconocido como Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad por la UNESCO, es una parte integral de la Feria de Ronda. El Festival de Cante Grande es una manifestación de esta rica tradición, ofreciendo a locales y visitantes la oportunidad de disfrutar de actuaciones de altísimo nivel en un entorno histórico incomparable.

29 - 31 August

'Gala Folklorica Internacional de Ronda'

Auditorio de Blas Infante, Ronda

22.00 horas

Evento organizado por Asociacion Cultural Folklorica Abul-Beka con el apoyo del Ayuntamiento de Ronda, de la Diputacion de Malaga, la Fundacion Unicaja y CIOFF.

[Poster sponsored by Ayuntamiento de Ronda]    

30 August

20th Anniversary Celebration

Hotel Molino del Puente, Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda

Featuring Marcus Myers 'live'

The Love Family, successful restaurateurs on the coast ('The Harbour Lights', Cabopino), decided to move inland at the turn of the century and bought a dilapidated mill just outside Ronda. After a major renovation project which turned the molino into a bijou boutique hotel and a fine restaurant, they opened their doors on August 30, 2005.

    The Love family in 2005 [Karl Smallman]

Marcus Myers

Originally trained as a plumber, Marcus was also an accomplished singer/songwriter, which gained him a berth in the backing band for the internationally famous duo Alisha's Attic in the 1990s/early 2000s.

Marcus moved to Spain, to Cortes de la Frontera (Malaga, Andalucia), with his half-Spanish wife, Carmen in 2000. He no longer "plumbs" - he earns his living from music.

Marcus Myers [MMMusic]    

Marcus Myers embraces new challenges in a music career that has spanned more than 40 years | Sur in English

As for the 20th Anniversary Celebration, I've already reserved - just for me. My wife Rita will be away in Germany, so, unless I find myself a dinner date, I shall be dining de Rodriguez!

PLEASE NOTE: This article is not yet completed. As further information becomes available, it will be added

© The Culture Vulture

Links:

Feria y Fiestas de Parauta 2025 - Portal Temático Serranía de Ronda

Flamenco Guitar Concerts - Casa Museo Don Bosco

Gaucín - Ayuntamiento de Gaucín

Jennifer Waterhouse - Art Gaucín

Marcus Myers embraces new challenges in a music career that has spanned more than 40 years | Sur in English

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 - Austin & Andalucía Music Festival

SPECIAL CONCERT – FRIDAY 1 AUGUST 2025

Acknowledgements:

Art Gaucin, Atajate, Ayuntamiento de Atajate, Ayuntamiento de Gaucin, Ayuntamiento de Parauta, Casa Museo Don Bosco, Compañia Platea, Diputacion Provincial de Malaga, Facebook, Grupo Mundo, guiadecadiz.com, Jennifer Waterhouse, Karl Smallman, M. Jose Fernandez, Martes con arte, "Mujeres enfrente al espejo", Noticias Clave, Portal Tematico Serrania de Ronda, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, SUR in English, Tony Bryant, Virgen de las Nieves

Tags:

Alisha's Attic, Art Gaucin, Atajate, Ayuntamiento de Atajate, Ayuntamiento de Gaucin, Ayuntamiento de Parauta, Cabopino, Carlos Perez, Casa Museo Don Bosco, Compañia Platea, concert, Convento, Cortes de la Frontera, Culture Vulture, Facebook, Festival de Cante Grande, flamenco, Gaucin, guiadecadiz.com, Harbour Lights, Jennifer Waterhouse, Jimera de Libar, Karl Smallman, La Muralla, Marcus Myers, M. Jose Fernandez, Marcus Myers, Martes con arte, "Mujeres enfrente al espejo", Noticias Clave, Olvera, Plaza de Toros, Portal Tematico Serrania de Ronda, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Ronda, SUR in English, Tony Bryant, Virgen del Rosario.

Yes, another year has passed and live music on a grand scale returns to the Serrania de Ronda from Thursday July 31 to Sunday August 3, 2025. 

Some venues were changed in 2024. Montejaque remains the hub, Ronda is still a major venue, but two previous participants, Grazalema and Villaluenga del Rosario, dropped out.

In came Cortes de la Frontera, Jimera de Libar, and Olvera.

     [Poster by Noticias CLAVE]

The Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 will feature 25 bands from around the world, including a dozen from Austin, Texas.

    Donovan Keith from Texas [Facebook]                    Los Widowmakers from Barcelona [Ruta 66]

The concerts are free to attend.

For details of the acts, more photos, dates, venues and times, check the weblinks below:

Links:

International music festival takes over 'pueblos blancos' in Ronda mountains | Sur in English

Pueblos Blancos Music Fest #5

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 | Ronda | Andalucia.com

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival - Fairs & Festivals - Visit Costa del Sol - Costa del Sol Málaga

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival - Portal Temático Serranía de Ronda

Pueblos Blancos Music Fest presenta su cartel para su octava edición – Magazine Rock

Ya casi llega la octava edición... - Pueblos Blancos Music Festival | Facebook

© The Culture Vulture

Further Links:

Gallery - Help me, Ronda

Pueblos Blancos Music Fest

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival - Ronda Today

Thanks:

Facebook, Juan de Castro, Karl Smallman, Noticias CLAVE, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Today, Ruta 66

Tags:

Austin, Cortes de la Frontera, Donovan Keith, Facebook, Grazalema, Jimera de Libar, Montejaque, Noticias CLAVE, Olvera, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Ronda, Ruta 66, Texas, Villaluenga del Rosario, Widowmakers, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.pueblosblancosmusicfestival.com 

In Christian countries Easter Sunday signifies the end of the Easter celebrations, although in the UK and the USA Easter Monday is a Bank Holiday. In other Christian cultures, this particular Monday is a normal working day, eg in Germany, Italy and Spain. 

    [Image courtesy of My Postcard]

The Story of Easter

According to Christian tradition the Easter period starts with Palm Sunday, recalling the day Our Lord entered Jerusalem to a great welcome riding on a donkey.

By the following Friday He had been crucified by the Roman governors along with some petty thieves and died. He rose from the grave on Easter Sunday and ascended into Heaven to sit alongside His Father, God.

In secular societies such as the UK and France not much happens, whereas in Roman Catholic countries like Italy and Spain there is a much more religious aspect on display.

[Photo: Ascension Press]    

Semana Santa in Spain

In Spain, especially in Andalucia, from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday (Semana Santa - Holy Week) there are Easter processions (desfiles) every day. This is when the various cofradias linked to different churches in a town or village, get out their tronos, wooden "carriages" with statues of the Virgin Mary and of Christ on the Cross, which are carried through the streets on the shoulders of costaleros, usually, the menfolk of the parish.

[Photo: Hike and Bike the Sierras]    

I find these parades spectacular and very moving, whereas my German wife does not and avoids them like the plague. Many foreigners find them fascinating, more so tourists than residents. The local Spanish, however, turn out en masse, "dressed to the nines". A time to see and be seen.

On Palm Sunday morning this year I chanced upon the opening two processions, just as they were starting out. After a week of heavy rain we were blessed with a dry day and they started off in bright sunshine around noon. Some processions later in the week were sadly rained off.

Easter shut-down

In Ronda (Malaga), where I live, the town shuts down from jueves santo until domingo de Resurreccion, although these days the foreign-owned supermarkets tend to open, eg the German discounters Aldi and LIDL and French-owned Al Campo, Carrefour and Supeco.

The Spanish-owned Dia, Eroski, Mercadona and Super Carmela keep their doors firmly shut.

Some businesses close for the entire week, compelling their employees to take leave whether they want to or not. In Ronda Big Mat La Toma, the builders merchants, is a prime example.

[Image: Good Housekeeping]    

So, construction companies either have to plan ahead or also shut down. The only places open all week are bars, cafes, restaurants and tourist shops, because they can make a fortune!

Final thoughts

I love the atmosphere and tradition of Easter in Spain. A time of sadness and joy, of spectacular processions and warm community spirit, of families coming together.

I hope it will survive forever.

[Image: ACI Prensa]    

Note: This post also appears on The History Man thread:

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/thehistoryman/23755/happy-easter---spanish-style.aspx

© The Culture Vulture and The History Man

Photos and images:

ACI Prensa, Ascension Press, Charry TV, Good Housekeeping, Hike and Bike the Sierras, My Postcard, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Semanal, Trip Advisor, Wikipedia

Acknowledgements:

Diario Sur, Paul Whitelock, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, Wikipedia

Links:

Guide to Semana Santa in Ronda | Andalucia.com

Semana Santa 2025: A Guide to Spain's Holy Week Celebrations

Semana Santa Archives - Ronda Today

SEMANA SANTA (Holy Week)

Will Spain's hallowed Semana Santa be another washout? Storm Olivier brings orange alerts to Andalucia - Olive Press News Spain

Tags:

ACI Prensa, Ascension Press, Al Campo, Aldi, Andalucía, ascended into Heaven, a time to see and be seen, atmosphere, Bank Holiday, Big Mat La Toma, builders merchants, Carrefour, Charry TV, Christian tradition, Christ on the cross, Clive Muir, cofradias, community spirit, construction companies, costaleros, crucified, desfiles, Dia, Diario Sur, domingo de Resurreccion, "dressed to the nines", Easter Monday, Easter processions, Easter shut-down, Easter Sunday, Eroski, families coming together, foreigners find them fascinating, foreign-owned supermarkets, France, French-owned, German discounters, Germany, God, Good Housekeeping, Happy Easter, Hike and Bike the Sierras, Holy Week, Italy, Jerusalem, jueves santo, LIDL, make a fortune, Mercadona, Michael Coy, normal working day, My Postcard, Olive Press News, open all week, Palm Sunday, Palm Sunday morning, Paul Whitelock, processions rained off, residents, Roman Catholic countries, Ronda Semanal, Ronda Today, sadness and joy, Semana Santa, Spain, Spanish-owned, spectacular processions, Supeco, Super Carmela, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, tourists, tourist shops, tradition, Trip Advisor, tronos, UK, Virgin Mary, Wikipedia

"How Green Was My Valley" is a novel by Richard Llewellyn, published by Michael Joseph Publishing Ltd. It's about a Welsh family and the mining community in which they live.

It was turned into a Hollywood film, two BBC TV series, a Broadway musical and a theatre play.

    Valle de Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda [Trip Advisor]

The Book

This historical novel is set in South Wales during the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. It tells the story of the Morgans, a respectable mining family of the South Wales Valleys, through the eyes of the youngest son, Huw Morgan.

Huw's academic ability sets him apart from his elder brothers and enables him to consider a future away from the dangerous coal mines. His five brothers and his father are all miners. 

After his eldest brother, Ivor, is killed in a mining accident, Huw moves in with Ivor's young widow, Bronwen, with whom he has always secretly been in love.

Huw's father is later killed in a mine disaster. After everyone Huw has known either dies or moves away, and the village is reduced to a contaminated shell, and the house is being destroyed by a slag heap, he too decides to leave, and tells the story of his life just before going away.

Book cover courtesy of Iberlibro             

The first edition was published in 1939 by Michael Joseph Ltd, London.

In the United States, Llewellyn won the National Book Award for favourite novel of 1940, voted by members of the American Booksellers Association.

The Film

The 1941 Hollywood film adaptation of "How Green Was My Valley" was highly successful, with a cast that included Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall (as Huw), Donald Crisp, and Barry Fitzgerald.

None of the leading players was Welsh.

Film poster courtesy of WordPress    

Directed by John Ford, "How Green Was My Valley" was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning five, famously beating "Citizen Kane", "Sergeant York" and "The Maltese Falcon" for Best Picture, while Ford won for Best Director, Donald Crisp for Best Supporting Actor, Arthur Miller for Best Cinematography, and Richard Day, Nathan H. Juran and Thomas Little for Best Black-and-White Art Direction-Interior Decoration. 

In 1990, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The Academy Film Archive preserved "How Green Was My Valley" in 1998.

TV Series

The book has twice been adapted by the BBC for television, in 1960 and 1975. 

The 1960 adaptation featured Eynon Evans, Rachel Thomas and Glyn Houston.

The 1975 production starred Stanley Baker, (Dame) Siân Phillips, and Nerys Hughes. Phillips won a BAFTA award for best actress in 1976 for her portrayal of Beth Morgan. 

Baker and Phillips [Photo: Historic Images]    

Musical and Theatre

The novel was adapted as a Broadway musical, called "A Time for Singing", which opened at the Broadway Theatre, New York, on 21 May 1966.

The play starred Ivor Emmanuel, Tessie O'Shea, Shani Wallis, and Laurence Naismith.

A stage version, adapted by Shaun McKenna was performed at the Theatre Royal in Northampton in 1990. It marked the stage debut of Aled Jones as the teenage Huw. 

[Courtesy of Spotify]    

A Personal Viewpoint

I was struck the other day by how green was my valley. Much greener than normal. But we've had a load of rain. I live in the Valle de Fuente de la Higuera just outside Ronda (Malaga).

My Welsh dad's background was not dissimilar to that of Huw, the protagonist of the novel (see above). John Albert was the second youngest of five boys born into a South Wales mining family. His older brothers all went down the pit but my dad was deemed to be bright, so his dad, who had been invalided out of the pit following an injury, sent him to England. And there he stayed.

He met and married Vera Valerie, in Barnstaple (Devon), and they had me in 1950 and my brother Simon three years later.

[Photo courtesy of the BBC]   

How Green is my valley?

As I indicated earlier, I've never seen it so green at this time of year, the start of Spring. And I've lived round here for over 16 years.

  Valle de Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda [Photos: Paul Whitelock]

After all the rain we've had since before Christmas, it's no wonder. But at last buds are appearing on bushes, shrubs and trees, and vegetables are poking through the earth in my huerto. The ground is so wet we should get a bumper crop this year.

"How Green Was My Valley" and I

The amateur drama group I was a member of in the 1980s put on the play. I wasn't in it, but I enjoyed the production. The group was known as S.P.A.D.E.S. based in Swinton & Pendlebury (Greater Manchester).

I also saw the film on TV, although it was a bit too "Hollywood" for my taste.

And I remember watching the 1975 TV series with Stanley Baker and Sian Phillips (see above).

S.P.A.D.E.S. in Swinton & Pendlebury [Facebook]    

© The Culture Vulture (alias Paul Whitelock)

Acknowledgements:

Amazon, Paul Whitelock, SPADES, Wikipedia

Photos and images:

BBC, Facebook, Historic Images, Iberlibro, Paul Whitelock, Spotify, Trip Advisor, WordPress

Tags:

Aled Jones, Amazon, Anna Lee, "A Time for Singing", Barnstaple, Beth Morgan, BAFTA, BBC, Broadway musical, "Citizen Kane", Facebook, Historic Images, "How Green Was My Valley", huerto, Huw, Iberlibro, Ivor Emmanuel, John Albert, Laurence Naismith, Malaga, Maureen O'Hara, Michael Joseph Ltd, Nerys Hughes, Paul Whitelock, Richard Llewellyn, Roddy McDowall, Ronda, "Sergeant York", Shani Wallis, Sian Phillips, South Wales, Spotify, Stanley Baker, SPADES, Tessie O'Shea, Theatre Royal in Northampton, "The Maltese Falcon", Trip Advisor, Valle de Fuente de la Higuera, Vera, Walter Pidgeon, Wikipedia, WordPress 

An article listing the top ten guitarists in history popped up on my computer the other day - quite out of the blue.

I took a look to see how that list compared with my favourites.

    [Image courtesy of posters.es]

Well, there were quite a few in common. eg Eric Clapton, Dave Gilmour, Brian May, Jimmy Page and Carlos Santana, but astonishingly, no Peter Green, Mark Knopfler nor Joe Walsh.

Other contenders

I took a look at other top ten lists. The same four or five guitarists were on most lists, but, frankly, I'd never heard of some names on these lists.

At the end of this article are the five websites I looked at - the first five on my Google search, in fact.

My top ten

Here is my definitive list. I've excluded classical guitar maestros like Andres Segovia and John Williams and focused only on pop/rock/blues guitarists since 1960.

I list them alphabetically, although I do have a stand-out number 1, which I shall reveal at the end!

***

Jeff Beck RIP

- as a young man Beck played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before joining The Yardbirds. He was a very under-rated yet top guitar player. He sadly died in 2023, aged 78. 

Eric Clapton

- A young Clapton played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before moving on to form Cream and then Blind Faith. He left them after one tour and one album, and despite a long solo career Clapton never achieved greatness on the guitar again.

Clapton was distracted by his obsession with Patti Boyd, the wife of his best mate George Harrison ..... and later by the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who fell from a balcony at his estranged wife's home. Now aged 78 he is no longer active.

   The late Jeff Beck [Britannica]                          Eric Clapton [El Español]

David Gilmour

- Pink Floyd improved when he joined the group following the disappearance of Syd Barrett. I’ve always rated Gilmour highly. His playing on Dark Side of the Moon make it my favourite album of all time.

    A young Dave Gilmour with Pink Floyd [Britannica]                   Gilmour in 2024, aged 78 [Wikipedia]

Peter Green RIP

- Peter Green also "trained" with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before going on to form the original Fleetwood Mac, where he was sensational as the front man. But after he fried his brains on drugs, and spending years in rehab, he never produced great guitar playing again. He is now dead.

Mark Knopfler - Mark Knopfler as the lead guitarist of Dire Straits, proved himself over a decade. Subsequently played with The Traveling Wilbury's alongside Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison. Outstanding!

    Peter Green in Fleetwood Mac [Primicias]                                  Mark Knopfler in Dire Straits [Reddit] 

Hank B Marvin 

- Hank was a pioneer on the guitar. His playing on those great instrumental hits by The Shadows in the 60s was superb.

Brian May 

- was as important to Queen as the late Freddie Mercury. Their "Bohemian Rhapsody" was fantastic and gets in my top three songs of all time. His playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee in 2002 was astonishing.

   Hank Marvin [Wikipedia]                     Brian May on the roof at Buckingham Palace [Photo: X]

Jimmy Page

- Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page wouldn’t have achieved greatness, despite having a great drummer in John Bonham and a wonderful singer, Robert Plant. Page also played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in his younger days.

Carlos Santana

- Carlos Santana is amazing. His distinctive playing dates from the 1970s. He still plays live concerts, although he is now 77 years old.

  Jimmy Page [YouTube]       Carlos Santana still going strong, aged 77 [La Razon de Mexico]

Joe Walsh

- Joe Walsh of The Eagles was a great guitarist who contributed hugely to the success of this California folk rock band.

    Joe Walsh [Billboard]                                                      [Photo: rafabasa]      

Others who came close to getting on this list were George Harrison RIP, Jimi Hendrix RIP, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor and Pete Townshend.
 

These are links to the other top ten lists:

The Top 10 Greatest Rock Guitarists Of All Time - Forbes

Top 10 Best Guitarists of All Time - The Top Tens

The Top 10 Guitarists of All Time (Sep 2023) | LedgerNote - Ledgernote

Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time, Ranked - Rolling Stone

The Top 10 Guitarists Of All Time - American Songwriter - American Songwriter

And my number one guitarist of all time?

The virtuoso blues guitarist Peter Green. 

His playing for John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the original Fleetwood Mac was the soundtrack to my late teens and early 20s.

His early capitulation to drugs, mental instability, an ill-advised comeback and early death do not mar his short legacy in any way.

Peter Green RIP [The Irish Times]    

Quiz question:

Who are the musicians on the sleeve of this emblematic album? [Clue: They are all still alive and kicking except Mayall, who died in July 2024, aged 90.

    Album sleeve [Amazon]

Check out these links:

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/theculturevulture/23537/guitar-legends.aspx

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/theculturevulture/23258/the-best-guitarists-and-drummers-since-music-came-alive-in-1950---revised-and-completed.aspx

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/theculturevulture/23191/viva-la-musica.aspx

© The Culture Vulture

Photos:

Amazon, Billboard, Britannica, El Español, La Razon de Mexico, posters.es, Primicias, rafabasa, Reddit, The Irish Times, Wikipedia, X, YouTube,

Acknowledgements:

John Mayall, Paul Whitelock, The Culture Vulture

Tags:
Amazon, American Songwriter, Andres Segovia, Billboard, Bluesbreakers, Brian May, Britannica, Carlos Santana, David Gilmour, El Español, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Forbes, George Harrison, guitarists, Hank B Marvin, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, John Mayall, Keith Richards, La Razon de Mexico, Ledgernote, Mark Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Paul Whitelock, Peter Green, Pete Townshend, posters.es, Primicias, rafabasa, Reddit, Rolling Stone, The Culture Vulture, The Irish Times, The Top Tens, Wikipedia, www.eyeonspain.com, X, YouTube

No, not the 1815 romantic novel by Jane Austen, but Emma Cherry Rolf, professional actress based in Ronda.

Emma was born in England but grew up in Ibiza. She trained as an actress at the prestigious Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, Kent and has worked professionally in the West End, throughout the UK and much of Europe.

She now lives in Benaoján, 20 minutes drive from Ronda. She is married to Paul Rolf who is a property designer.

[Footnote: My son, Tom Whitelock, also trained as an actor/musician at Rose Bruford College, 20 years after Emma. They met last year for the first time in Benaojan .]

    Publicity photo of Emma [ECR]    Tom, Su and Emma meet in Benaoján [Paul Whitelock]

Su, professional name Susannah Austin, is a great singer. Tom often accompanies her on double bass and as a backing singer:

Susannah Austin Don't Turn Out That Light - live gig in London club featuring Susannah and Tom

Forgive and Forget (Let It Go) - Susannah Austin - video of Susannah

West End Live 2016 Sunny Afternoon - Tom performing live in Piccadilly to promote the Kinks musical "Sunny Afternoon"

'Sunny Afternoon' acoustic cover | Sunny Afternoon cast

Why is Emma in the news?

Next weekend Emma stars as the mother in “Bodas de Sangre” (“Blood Wedding”) by Federico Garcia Lorca, the Granada playwright murdered on Franco’s orders in 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War which ushered in nearly forty years of fascist dictatorship In Spain.

Considered, along with “Yerma” and “The House of Bernarda Alba” to be the finest three plays written in Spanish of the 20^th Century.

This modern production will materialise on Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 January 2025 at the Teatro Vicente Espinel in Ronda.

A few remaining tickets are on sale at Intersport Cary on Calle La Bola and at Restaurante Miyagi Exprés on Calle Jerez.

Proyecto Platea

Emma works at the Proyecto Platea Theatre Company, where she assists owner Marcos Marcell, a professional actor and director from Ronda. The company provide drama classes for all ages, and it is from these amateur actors and actresses, that some real talents have emerged.

I first saw this company perform a delightful one-act play in the open-air patio at the Convento de Santo Domingo in Ronda during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The play was called “Novias” and took place in the wedding dress shop of Dolores, where three brides-to-be had assembled for the final fittings of their wedding dresses.

    [Poster courtesy of Red Escena]

The plot, which revealed the truth behind the “weddings” of the three novias, was fascinating and with well-known songs interspersed, the whole thing was a delight.

As a result, I joined the adult class at Proyecto Platea.

Emerging talents

The amateur “stars” include a retired doctor, the owner of a Sports shop, a restaurant manager, teachers and students.

My favourite amateurs – in alphabetical order by surname - are Charo Carrasco, Avelino Écija, Nieves Rodríguez and Ana Belén Sánchez.

    Avelino Ecija [PP]              "Novias" (L to R: Charo, Emma, Ana Belen, Nieves) [PP]

Back to Emma

As well as her acting achievements, Emma has written a number of original play scripts with best friend Charo Carrasco, including the afore-mentioned “Novias”.

In August 2023 an anthology of their scripts, “Yo soy teatro”, was published and is available from Amazon.

    Publicity photos courtesy of Amazon and Charry TV

© The Culture Vulture

Links:

Live theatre is back! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

TREADING THE BOARDS: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Photos:

Amazon, Charry TV, Facebook, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Red Escena

Tags:

Ana Belén Sánchez, Avelino Écija, Benaoján, “Blood Wedding”,  “Bodas de Sangre”, Calle Jerez, Calle La Bola, Charo Carrasco, Charry TV, Convento de Santo Domingo, Covid-19 pandemic, Culture Vulture, “Emma”,  Emma Cherry Rolf, fascist dictatorship In Spain, Federico Garcia Lorca, Ibiza, Intersport Cary, Jane Austen, Marcos Marcell, Nieves Rodríguez, “Novias”, Paul Rolf, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Restaurante Miyagi Exprés, Ronda, Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, Susannah Austin, Teatro Vicente Espinel, “The House of Bernarda Alba”, Tom Whitelock, West End, “Yerma”, “Yo soy teatro”

Who?

These consummate musicians are British, despite their Hispanic-sounding names; the former a long-time collaborator with Roxy Music, Phil Collins and others; the latter the mainstay of Tears for Fears together with Curt Smith.

Phil Manzanera

Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, OBE (born 31 January 1951), and known professionally as Phil Manzanera, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer.

Manzanera is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music, and was previously the lead guitarist with 801 and Quiet Sun.

In 2006, Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On an Island, and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America.

Early life

Manzanera was born on 31 January 1951 in London, England, to a Colombian mother (née Manzanera) and an English father, who worked for the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), and spent most of his childhood in different parts of the Americas, including Hawaii, Venezuela, Colombia, and Cuba. It was in Havana, Cuba, that the young Manzanera, aged six, encountered his first guitar, a Spanish guitar owned by his mother.

His earliest musical accomplishments were Cuban folk songs inspired by the Cuban Revolution.

In Venezuela, the eight-year-old Manzanera started experimenting with the sounds of the electric guitar.

During his teenage years he was absorbing the twin influences of 1960s rock and roll and Latin American rhythms of merengue, cumbia, and particularly the boleros of the Mexican Armando Manzanero.

Music links:

Guantanamera Phil Manzanera

Phil Manzanera - 801 (Live)

Phil Manzanera: My Go-To Guitars

PHIL MANZANERA LIVE AT RONNIE SCOTTS - EAST OF ASTEROID

Roxy Music - Avalon

Roland Orzabal

Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana (born 22 August 1961) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and author.

He is the guitarist, co-lead vocalist, main songwriter, co-founder, and the only constant member of Tears for Fears. He is also a producer of artists such as Oleta Adams.

In 2014, Orzabal published his first novel, a romantic comedy.

Early life

Orzabal was born Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 22 August 1961.

Orzabal's father, George Orzabal de la Quintana, was a Frenchman of Argentinian and Basque/Spanish roots and was often so ill that he was rarely seen by his children. 

Orzabal wrote his first songs when he was seven years old. The family later moved to Bath, Somerset, where he attended Culverhay School (later Bath Community Academy) and became a member of the Zenith Youth Theatre Company.

Early career

Orzabal met Curt Smith while both were in their early teens in Bath.

Orzabal and Smith went on to form Tears for Fears, a new wave music/synthpop outfit.

Orzabal sings and plays guitar for the band, while Smith sings and plays bass guitar. Orzabal is also the band's main songwriter.

Orzabal and Smith were responsible for discovering pianist/vocalist Oleta Adams, whom they invited to collaborate on their 1989 album The Seeds of Love.

Adams appeared on several tracks on the album, most notably the hit single "Woman in Chains", which she performed as a duet with Orzabal.

Orzabal then co-produced Adams' album Circle of One (1990). The album reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 20 in the US, and featured her transatlantic top ten hit "Get Here".

Orzabal also co-wrote the lead track "Rhythm of Life" for the album, which was originally intended for The Seeds of Love. As well as playing guitar and singing backing vocals on the track, he also appeared in the song's accompanying promo video.

Music links:

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Official Music Video)

Tears For Fears - Shout (Official Music Video)

Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love

Tears For Fears - Woman In Chains ft. Oleta Adams

© The Culture Vulture

Photos:

Wikipedia, YouTube

Tags:

1960s rock and roll, Argentinian, Armando Manzanero, Basque/Spanish, bolero, British Overseas Airways Corporation, Circle of One, co-founder, co-lead vocalist, Colombia, Colombian mother, constant member, Cuba, Cuban folk songs, Cuban Revolution, Culverhay School, cumbia, Curt Smith, David Gilmour, electric guitar, English father, Frenchman, George Orzabal de la Quintana, guitarist, Havana,  Hawaii, Latin American rhythms, merengue, Oleta Adams, On an Island, Phil Collins, Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, Phil Manzanera, "Rhythm of Life", Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana, Roland Orzabal, Roxy Music, songwriter, Spanish guitar, Tears for Fears, The Culture Vulture, The Seeds of Love, Venezuela, "Woman in Chains"

áéíóú

A few years ago I wrote an article about the best rock and blues guitarrists. They included the likes of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Dave Gilmour, Hank B Marvin, Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, Mark Knopfler and George Harrison.

[Image: www.posters.es]

So, what’s new?

I’ve been sorting out my CDs and came across a double live album by Dave Gilmour playing in the docks in Gdansk, Poland.

    Dave Gilmour as a young guitarrist with Pink Floyd [Britannica]           Gilmour in 2024, aged 78 [Wikipedia]

I’ve always rated Gilmour highly from his days with Pink Floyd, but this album blew me away. His playing was sensational, better than Clapton at his peak, I reckon.

Let’s be honest, since he deserted Blind Faith after one tour and one album, Clapton never achieved greatness on the guitar again.

Distracted by his obsession with Patti Boyd, George Harrison’s missus .....

..... and later by the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who fell from a balcony at his estranged wife's home, he’s done very little of worth since.

Now aged 78 he is no longer active.

                        Eric Clapton [El Español]

***

Peter Green was sensational as the front man of the original Fleetwood Mac, but after he fried his brains on drugs, he never produced great guitar playing again. He is now dead.

Carlos Santana is amazing. He still plays live concerts, although he is 77 years old.

Peter Green as a young guitarist in Fleetwood Mac [Primicias]   Carlos Santana still going strong, aged 77 [La Razon de Mexico]

Jeff Beck from The Yardbirds was a top guitar player. He sadly died in 2023, aged 78.

Joe Walsh of The Eagles was also a great guitarrist who contributed hugely to the success of this California band.

The late Jeff Beck in his heyday [Britannica]                         Joe Walsh [Billboard]

Hank Marvin was a pioneer on the guitar. His playing on those great instrumental hits by The Shadows in the 60s was superb.

Brian May was as important to Queen as the late Freddie Mercury. His playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee in 2002 was astonishing.

         Hank Marvin [Wikipedia]                                             Brian May [Photo: X]

Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page wouldn’t have achieved greatness, despite having a great drummer in John Bonham and a wonderful singer, Robert Plant.

Mick Taylor’s spell as a Rolling Stone marked him out as a great guitarist. Keith Richards? I’m not sure about that.

Jimmy Page [YouTube]    Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards [Wikipedia]

Mark Knopfler as the lead guitarist of Dire Straits, proved himself over a decade. Outstanding!

Towards the end of The Beatles and subsequently, George Harrison demonstrated not only his ability as a songwriter but also his great guitar playing.

Mark Knopfler in Dire Straits [Reddit]                        The late George Harrison, ex-Beatle [Rolling Stone]

Interestingly, of all the guitarists I’ve mentioned here, a number were given their big break playing for John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Mayall was no slouch on the guitar either, by the way.

                                 [Photo: rafabasa]                                   [Album sleeve: Amazon]

There are other great guitar players from the 60s and 70s. I’m thinking of Jimi Hendrix, Chris Rea, Pete Townsend of The Who, and Jet Harris of the original Shadows.

© The Culture Vulture

Links:

Best Of Joe Walsh - Joe Walsh Greatest Hits Playlist Full Album

Blind Faith - Sea of Joy

Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home - London Hyde Park 1969.

Brian May on the roof of Buckingham Palace- Queen's Jubilee - God Save The Queen - YouTube

Dire Straits Greatest Hits Full Album 2022 | Best Songs Of Dire Straits

Fleetwood Mac Peter Green - Black Magic Woman (Live Boston Tea Party) 1970

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

Hank Marvin - Apache

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (50th Anniversary) [2023 Remaster] {Full Album} - YouTube

Santana - Black Magic Woman - 8/18/1970 - Tanglewood (Official)

The Best Live Perform Ever!!! Jeff Beck - Beck's Bolero | HD

And what about this for a bonus treat? George Harrison on stage at Wembley Stadium with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Phil Collins, Jeff Lynne in a concert in aid of The Prince's Trust in 1987:

George Harrison & Ringo Starr - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 1987)

Photo acknowledgements:

20Minutos, Amazon, Billboard, Britannica, El Español, Facebook, La Razon de Mexico, Primicias, rafabasa, Reddit, Rolling Stone, Royal Albert Hall, Wikipedia, www.posters.es, YouTube, X

Tags:

Blind Faith, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Chris Rea, Dave Gilmour, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Freddie Mercury, Gdansk, George Harrison, Golden Jubilee, Hank Marvin, Jeff Beck, Jet Harris, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, John Bonham, John Mayall, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Keith Richards, La Razon de Mexico, Led Zeppelin, Mark Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Patti Boyd, Peter Green, Pete Townsend, Pink Floyd, Poland, Primicias, rafabasa, roof of Buckingham Palace, Queen, Robert Plant, Rolling Stone, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, The Shadows, The Who