April News and May events in Spain 2009

Round-up of News for April and Events in May

The Night in White
The night in White – no, we´re not talking about a knight in shining armour ladies but a cultural event La Noche En Blanco takes place in Malaga centre on the 9th May which follows contemporary tendencies and encourages all to take part! Last year over 30,000 people descended upon the city which is transformed with surprises around every corner all night long, with guided visits to museums and monuments, theatre, street performances, concerts and much much more. The best thing is it´s all free! Be sure not to miss this – check out some of the exciting things going on below!
Live Music
Zenet: At the Centro Cultural Ollerías
Efecto Mariposa: at thel Recinto Eduardo Ocón.
Russian Red: in the Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso
Clara Montes: at 9pm at the commercial centre Málaga Plaza
Street Art
Atlantis: By the Guadalmedina river opening
Murmullos luminosos Portadores del Ojo Primitivo: Plaza de las Cofradías.
¿En cuál encajas? Street Arquitectura: C/ Alcalde Pedro Luis Alonso
Graffiti in the City: Plaza del CAC ( C/ Alemania).
Scenic Art
Danzando en la noche: Sala Gades. Plaza Fray Alonso de Santo Tomás.
Visual Art
Luces en el Carbón: Plaza del Carbón, 3- 2ª.
Videocreaciones Málaga Crea: Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga, CAC Málaga. C/ Alemania.
Proyecto Video Clips: Teatro Cánovas. Plaza del Ejido, 5.
Exhibitions
Museo del Vino: Plaza de Viñeros, 1.
Museo Taurino Antonio Lopez Ardoñez: Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta. Paseo de Reding.
Museo Flamenco Juan Breva: C/ Ramón Franquelo, 4
Malaga Spanish Film Festival
April is of course the month when the best of the Spanish celluloid is in town – Malaga town of course. The Malaga Spanish Film Festival took place from 18th to 25th April. Fourteen films competed against each other for the much coveted Golden Biznaga award which was finally won by the director David Planell for his first feature film La Verguenza.
Ronda Fair
The mayor of this lovely town has created much controversy this year by cancelling their annual May Fair in favour of using the money to create work and pay salaries for over 100 people that are in financial difficulties. The Ronda Fair is the oldest livestock fair in Southern Spain and goes back to 1487 when Ronda was conceded permission by Royal Charter to hold a May Fair by the Catholic King and Queen.
The political party opposition has of course used this decision to criticise the Mayor for not pre-empting the economic crises within his past budget… well they do say all is fair in love and war…
Hells Angels
Spanish police arrested 22 members of the gang operating from 7 different provinces. Homes were searched in Fuengirola, Mijas and Malaga
Drag Queen
Now moving to Barcelona, a drag queen sentenced to 12 years in prison has just been granted a pardon by the Spanish Government after only spending 5 months in jail due to public support. But here come the fascinating facts. The accused allegedly gave oral sex to an 18 year old in the toilets of the discotheque Montornés del Vallés with a helping hand of two other drag queens and a go-go dancer. Their version is that the man had consented to the act despite being handcuffed at the time. … So, sexual aggression or just a question of being caught in the act??
Shark in Marbella
Well last month we told you about the deadly Portuguese Man O War jellyfish found in Malaga port but this month… I think we can top that story with this one… a 5 metre long shark was fished out of Marbella waters. At first the fishermen thought they had caught a dolphin but then realized that in fact they had caught a Long Tailed Thresher – it’s name is certainly justified as it uses it’s long tail to catch their prey.
Lenny Kravitz
Time to get your flower child on! One of the kings of rock and velvet flares is back in our country playing a series of dates. Nearest to us down south though is the show in Cordoba at the Instalaciones Deportivas Municipales El Fontanar on the 3rd May.
Spiritualized
The dark, neo-psychedelic band (or so says NME - the UK´s favourite music mag) are performing at the Teatro Cervantes on the 31st May bringing their combination of soul, gospel and rock and presenting their new album entitled Songs In Accident & Emergency – aptly named due to the lead singer Jason Pierce almost dying in 2005 of pheumonia…
Ferias in Spain
Well the feria season has just kicked off. Yes it´s time to don a Sevillanas dress, put a carnation in your hair and pretend you love Sherry! We recommend the local festivities in the picturesque and authentic Puerto De Santa Maria which take place from the 7th  of May to the 11th.