La Roda kicks off this Friday the VII Doo Wop Fever festival, with the presence of genre legends like Jimmy Gallagher in an edition that will feature 8 groups from countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and the United States.
The mayor of La Roda, Juan Ramón Amores, accompanied by the councilor of Culture, Luis Fernández, attended the presentation of the seventh edition, along with José Adrián Serrano, festival director, and the artists Jimmy Gallagher and Gustavo Castañeda, two legends of this musical genre.
«The atmosphere at this festival is unique, making us the European capital of this musical genre and also showcasing our culture abroad, as 50 percent of the audience comes from the United States, Germany, or England,» explained the mayor, adding that «this is how we promote the Spanish brand, the Castilla-La Mancha brand, and the La Roda brand.»
The Culture councilor assured that just two days after tickets went on sale, the event was already fully booked, indicating that this type of music is well-established both within and outside our country, as reported by the City Council in a press release.
As the organizers have pointed out, Doo Wop Fever celebrates seven editions with the stellar presence of Jimmy Gallagher, the leader of the New York group The Passions, in a lineup that includes eight more Doo Wop formations from Spain and Europe, «forming one of the best lineups of this musical style that can be enjoyed in the old continent.»
During the press conference, Jimmy Gallagher himself mentioned that «after three years of negotiations with the organizers, this collaboration has finally come to fruition.»
«For me, coming here from New York, at my age and on a 9-hour flight, is a great effort, but upon arrival, everything has been worthwhile; La Roda is beautiful, the place is beautiful, and the reception has been amazing, so I can only express my gratitude for continuing to hold these types of festivals in places like La Roda, with Don Quixote as the backdrop,» he explained.
The groups joining Gallagher in this edition of Doo Wop Fever will be Mallor-Kings, Blueberrys, New Angels, and Velvet Candles (Spain), Metrotones and Class of 58 (United Kingdom), and New Tones (Italy). These groups will perform eight musical acts, with Velvet Candles performing a double set recreating The Passions’ repertoire and supporting the headliner.
For this edition, both the welcome party on Friday, April 4th, and the Saturday concerts will take place at the San Sebastián Cultural Center, transformed into a concert hall. On Sunday morning, starting at 12:00, and with free entry for anyone who wishes to attend, «members of the different groups will sing a cappella, improvising, in a more relaxed atmosphere that was a success last year,» explained José Adrián Serrano. This will take place at the Posada del Sol, an emblematic location on the Don Quixote Route.
THE ARTISTS
Jimmy Gallagher led, during the golden age of Doo Wop music (late 50s and early 60s), The Passions, one of the most beloved and remembered groups by fans of this musical style worldwide. Formed in Brooklyn at the end of the decade, they achieved high levels of popularity with songs like ‘Just to be with you,’ ‘Sweeter than,’ or ‘I only want you,’ which have been covered by numerous groups in different revivalist eras.
«It is undoubtedly a luxury to be able to enjoy the presence of a legend of this caliber,» stated José Adrián Serrano. In addition to the musical performances and the ‘Jam Session,’ the event will be animated by DJs Lonesome Cat, Dj Cocran, Javi Tequila, and Dolfi Hepcat.
Gustavo Castañeda and Mar Quijada will introduce the bands, joined this time by Joe Conroy, visiting from North Carolina, United States. In addition to music, on Saturday morning there will be a presentation of the book of stories ‘En el Bronx,’ by Lorenzo Millo Cortés, which explores Doo Wop in two fictional tales.
«Doo Wop Fever continues to establish itself with each edition as a reference among fans worldwide of this musical genre based on vocal harmonies and rhythmic onomatopoeias. A fusion between Gospel choirs and the youthful energy of the booming Rock’n’Roll of the mid-20th century,» concluded the event organizer.