Basques around the world

Dear Basques all around the world,

How is August going on? We guess many of you will be on holiday at the moment and we hope you are all enjoying yourselves wherever you are!

If you are in the Basque Country do not forget to visit Bilbao on Saturday 21st as the ‘Big week‘ or ‘Aste Nagusia‘ will be celebrated for 8 days. However, if you cannot visit Bilbao during those days, you still have the chance to visit London, as Marijaia will also be present in London.

Last month London Basque society celebrated the San Fermin festival and some months ago they also celebrated Herri Urrats with a picnic and festival. Now it is the time for ‘Aste Nagusia‘.

Or if you prefer you could visit the Basque town of Zarauz since it will be hosting Zinematik Surfing, a get together around surfing films. Surf, cinema and music will be the protagonists of the festival that will take place on August 27th and September 10th and 27th.

We have good news for Julia Roberts fans as she will receive Donostia Award 2010 at Zinemaldia. Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins and director Ryan Marphy will present Eat Pray Love at the 58th San Sebastian Festival in Donostia-San Sebastian. The film will be presented in the Official Selection of the Festival, out-of-competition. The Velodrome will host the world release of the first Spanish digital 3D animated film, Holy Night!, in the shape of the directorial debut by Juan Galiñanes.

And to finish with,  enjoy these two photo galleries on Basque designs Kukuxumusu and Kiribiltxo.

Agur!

Share on Facebook

Kaixo lagunak!

Zer moduz?

The Symphony Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre opens the 71st edition of Donostia Musical Fortnight. The festival will be held from Saturday, August 7th to Friday, September 3rd.

Basque sailor Unai Basurko will begin a sailing expedition to the North Cape (Norway) this Saturday, August 7th. The aim of the expedition is to develop educational materials about the environment for primary students.

The mayors of Vitoria and Bilbao have both expressed their satifaction with the decision to bring the Spanish Vuelta back to the Basque Country in 2011 after a 34 year absence.

To finish with, Basque group Ken Zazpi have begun recording their latest album Hortzemugak Begietan which they will release at the end of 2010. Watch this video:

Don’t forget to have a look at our latest blogs:

Discover the Basque Country blog: Winemaker joins San Sebastian Food team! Jon Warren proudly announces that San Sebastian Food now has the expert knowledge and premium guiding of a very exciting young talent in winemaker Jean-Paul Trijsburg.

Basque Pelota blog: Virgen Blanca: Plain Sailing for Irujo and Beloki. Manomanista champion Juan Martinez de Irujo and Ruben Beloki qualified on Thursday with ease for the semi finals of the Torneo Virgen Blanca at Ogueta. They will now meet Xala and Barriola for a place in Monday’s final.

See you later!

Agur!

Share on Facebook

Kaixo Basques!

With just four days to go to reach the 12,000 dollar funding target, Ipuina Kontatu has received 3,090 dollars backing and a mountain of moral support. Each donation offers a special incentive. have a look at the images from Ipuina Kontatu, new documentary on the Basque Country. The Gallery shows a series of stills from Ipuina Kontatu, a documentary made by Emily Lobsenz which uses first hand accounts to tell the story of one of the world’s most ancient people.

The 45th edition of Heineken Jazzaldia will kick off in Donostia on Wednesday with Patti Smith, Elvis Costello, Ron Carter and Portico Quartet, among others.

Basque Country’s most powerful observatory opens in Bilbao. The observatory, built on the roof of Bilbao’s Technical College boasts a dome of more than 3.5 meters in diameter.

Basque unemployment rate stood at 9.1% in 2nd quarter of 2010. The number of people in work stood at 951,000, which was a net increase of 8,400 people compared to the previous quarter (+0.9%), according to Eustat data.

Don’t forget to send us your Pyrenees photos! The Tour de France enters the Pyrenees: take photos of the cyclists and atmosphere and send them to Udablog, or landscape photos to Eguraldiblog.

Have a nice day!

Share on Facebook

Hey Basques,

There are only minimum services today due to industrial action, though the sun certainly isn’t on strike.

Remember we told you a few weeks ago that Bilbao had been awarded a ‘Nobel’ prize thanks to its ‘liveability’ and post-industrial rejuvenation? Well the City Mayor is currently in Singapore to pick up that award.

Mugalari has written about another good reason to visit the city. You may or may not know about the hanging bridge, actually classed as a World Heritage Monument by UNESCO. A fantastic piece of machinery, it’s been running since 1893.

Don’t forget of course that AC/DC played in the Basque capital last night. By all accounts the whole of the San Mames stadium rocked to the Australian band’s gig, possibly their last ever – and they played it in Bilbao! Why would that be, we wonder..?

Don’t forget the next big musical event is BBK Live, starting on July 8th. If you don’t know already, here’s a sneak peak at some of the acts playing on the first night.

That’s all for now!

Gero arte.

Share on Facebook

Hi lagunak!

Azkena Rock Festival 2010 came to an end on Saturday night in the Basque city of Vitoria-Gasteiz with great success.

More than 44,000 people attended Azkena Rock Festival 2010 during its three days, breaking the record set in 2006.

There were many bands performing at Mendizabala: Teddy Thompson, The Damned, Imperial State Electric, Dan Baird, Imeda May, The Saints, Slash, Kiss Gov’t Mule, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, The Hold Steady, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, The Jim Jones Revue, El Vez, Audience, Maggot Brain, The Cubical, The Russian Roulettes, Robert Gordon Bob Dylan, Chris Isaac, The Hives, Bad Religion…

AC/DC will give a concert as part of their Black Ice tour at the Basque city of Bilbao tomorrow Monday, June 28th at 22:00.

Watch this weekend’s videos:

Eneko Llanos and Virginia Berasategi, winners of European Triathlon Championship

Thousands of people attend the ‘Festival of Culture’ in Pamplona

B Aldea at Azkena Rock Festival: Day 2

Kiss, on the stage at Azkena Rock Festival

Basque band Audience at Azkena Rock Festival 2010

The Russian Roulettes at Azkena Rock Festival

The Cubical at Azkena Rock Festival

Maggot Brain at Azkena Rock Festival

B Aldea at Azkena Rock Festival: Day 3

Basque radio station Gaztea interviews Bad Religion at Azkena Rock

An to finish with, check Kepa Junkera’s Inside & Out blog: AFRIKA

See you tomorrow.

Agur!

Share on Facebook

Hi Basques,

Sadly, our main news today is about Basque poet Sergio Oiarzabal, who died suddenly on June 12th at the age of 36. Award-winning Sergio’s family asked us to spread the sad news about their son and brother. Those who knew Sergio and want to leave a tribute will find a blogsite address contained in the obituary.

Big sports news is that Pelota start Martinez de Irujo won his fourth ‘txapela’ on Sunday in the final of the Manomanista. He beat Yves Xalaberri (better known at Xala). As always, Tiffany gives a full rundown of the match in her blog post, and there are also videos and photos to enjoy.

Lastly, Basques All Around the World member Mary Culley wrote on our Facebook Wall to inform us of the 4^th July Basque Festival in Elko Nevada. Check out Mary’s post or visit the website www.elkobasque.com.

Gero arte.

Share on Facebook

Hello Basques!

The Basque town of Salvatierra/Agurain hosts the 30th edition of Araba Euskaraz, the festival of Basque schools in Alava under the slogan “Gogoz Biziz”.

The Arriaga Theatre in the Basque town of Bilbao is staging a new production of ‘Mirentxu’ with the Basque Symphony Orchestra from June 19th to 26th.

Watch today’s videos:

Basque dancers performed ezpatadantza (”sword dance”) in homage to Don Diego Lopez de Haro, who founded Bilbao 710 years ago.

Stairs in San Miguel (Vitoria/Gasteiz) are now ‘Piano Stairs’. Jesus Guridi Conservatory and the town council decided to celebrate the Music Day in this original way.

Cycling march in favor of road safety in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The aim of this march is to raise driver and cyclists’ awareness to respect each other.

New posts:

Dos paredes Basque Pelota blog: Asegarce sign Albisu

See you tomorrow!

Agur

Share on Facebook

Hello Basques,

Ibilaldia 2010 kicked off in the Basque town of Bermeo this morning. Basque sea was the protagonist of Ibilaldia 2010, which was attended by Urdaneta project’s director Jose Barrio and the son of the Canadian researcher Selma Huxley, specialized in the history about Basque sailors.

From May 29th to 31st, musician Miquel Ortega will be presenting Josep Carner’s ‘Bestiari’ at Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao. The show, based upon Josep Carner’s book of poems about animals, is recommended for children aged 7 and up.

On Saturday, the Foral Government of Biscay auctioned 113 Pyrenean cattle in the Basque town of Gorliz.

Also on Saturday, Basque ballet-star Lucia Lacarra (Principal Dancer of The Munich Opera Ballet) succeeded at Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao.

Laslty, we have found out through Kepa Junker’s blog Inside & Out that he will give a Masterclass and a small musical performance at the Stanford University, California on Tuesday, June 1^st.

See you tomorrow

Agur!

Share on Facebook

Hello-

Well I don’t know what the weather’s like where you are, but it’s typical Basque weather here today. However, it would seem we’re promised good, stable weather for the weekend, so here’s hoping.

The big news on this side of the Atlantic is that ex-Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman is playing a gig in the Basque capital Vitoria on Friday night. He’ll be heading up his new band, ‘The Rhythm Kings’.

We have three exciting new blog entries, firstly on our Tourist ‘Off the Beaten Track’ blog; Kepa Junkera has left his latest post about this year’s Jaialdi; and catch the latest from Tiffany about the Pelota.

And for Athletic fans, a new signing. Alaves player Igor Martinez will play for the team next season.

Ondo pasa!

Share on Facebook

Hello Basques,

Finally the sun is shining and it looks like spring is on its way.

If you live outside the Basque Country and are thinking of visiting soon, you might be interested to read about a new tour of cultural and culinary discovery. Set up by two non-natives, but confessed lovers of the Basque Country, the Discover the Basque Country tour promises a no-holds-barred insight into the more authentic side of Euskadi; this time, the lesser known San Fermines fiesta of the village of Lesaka.

Remember the news from a couple weeks back that Bilbao was to become the first ever Nobel prize-winning city? Today we can officially confirm that Bilbao City Council will receive the Lee Kuan Yew city prize for all its hard and conscientious work during the city’s post-industrial regeneration.

If you’re following the Manomanista, check out the latest post on our Dos Paredes, Basque Pelota Blog. Some interesting news about two of its main stars Barriola and Olaizola.

That’s all from us today.

Laister arte!

Share on Facebook