The thirtieth edition of the Mercat de Música Viva de Vic begins its journey on September 12, with an inaugural show that the organizers have defined as a "retrospective of the variety of genres and generations" that have marked its history. Three decades - it's easy to say - that, among other aspects, have solidified it as the great showcase of Catalan music, both in terms of internal consumption and in relation to the projection of the country's proposals to other parts of the Spanish State and beyond.
We are talking about an initiative that is a cross between a festival and a professional fair, with an economic impact that in 2016 climbed to 3.6 million euros, according to the latest available annual study, carried out by the Open University of Catalonia.
Beyond business figures, the Mercat is also an unavoidable point of interest for music lovers, given the large presence of new features in the program. From the MMVV itself, they indicate that more than thirty percent of the shows presented in 2017 were premieres, a percentage that rose to forty percent in the case of the Catalan market. The lineup for 2018 hosts almost one hundred artists in the official sections and the Off Mercat, distributed across the fourteen stages located in various places in the capital of Osona. A most healthy musical labyrinth, with proposals of all kinds. We thus offer a necessarily partial and incomplete selection:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
With the presentation by Natza Farré based on a script co-written with Albert de Balanzó, the Inaugural Show of the thirtieth Mercat (6:30 PM, Teatre Atlàntida) is a mystery that will not be fully revealed until D-Day at H-Hour. The list of participating artists, however, promises a lot, due to its transversality, with doses of pop-rock (Quimi Portet, Lluís Gavaldà, David Carabén, Núria Graham), folk (Miquel Gil, Kepa Junkera, Mercedes Peón), jazz (Andrea Motis), fusion (the ex-Ojos de Brujo Marinah), or flamenco (Kiki Morente, Alba Carmona); all of them will perform accompanied by the ex-Antònia Font Jaume Manresa. Also pay attention to the new proposal by the always surprising pianist Xavi Lloses (8:30 PM, Auditori Atlàntida), who has teamed up with the Quartet Brossa in the staged music show Els Benaurats. At 9:00 PM (Carpa Yurta), Marc Parrot will present Refugi, a promising show with intimate touches directed by the theater company Los Galindos.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Each year, in the context of the MMVV, the Premi Puig-Porret for musical creation is awarded, intended to finance a new project that will premiere in the following edition. The winners of 2017, The Pinker Tones & Quartet Brossa, will offer us the première of the show dedicated to Leon Theremin (18:30, Teatre Atlàntida), inventor of the fascinating instrument that bears his surname. With stage direction, choreography, and dance by Toni Mira, the production will combine original themes and musical landscapes around this character who in 1919 patented what is considered the first artifact of electronic music. It also seems like a good idea to experience firsthand the unclassifiable creativity and sarcasm of the indie singer-songwriter Joan Colomo, with songs from his new album La oferta y la demanda (19:15, Carpa Negra), and the solvency of Toti Soler and Gemma Humet presenting their first joint album, Petita festa (20:45 Auditori Atlàntida). Another of the day's big highlights is the presence of Niño de Elche on the bill, who in this new visit to Vic will present Antología del cante flamenco heterodoxo (20:00 Teatre Atlàntida). A splendid album that further enhances the legend of this unparalleled cantaor.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
An intense day, with highly anticipated premieres. One of the possible routes for the day begins with the Mallorcan Joan Miquel Oliver (19:15, Carpa Negra), who will preview his upcoming album, Elektra, with which he closes the trilogy that began with Pegasus and continued with Atlantis. A golden opportunity, as Elektra will not be released until September 21. Guillamino, who shows signs of life after four years of silence, also presents a new album at the Mercat (20:00 Teatre Atlàntida). The album in question is named Fra Júpiter, and most of the songs it contains were written in a cell of the Poblet monastery, where the musician secluded himself for a week to immerse himself in a certain mysticism. Also presenting new creations in Osona are the indie rock band Barbott (20:30, Jazz Cava), the Neapolitan singer-songwriter based in Barcelona Alessio Arena (21:30 Carpa Vermella), and the flamenco guitarist Chicuelo (22:15, Auditori Atlàntida). As for the international vector, three free performances at the Casino de Vic are generating expectations: Welsh folk singer-songwriter The Gentle Good (20:00), Brighton duo Peggy Sue (21:15), and the London-based pop band Jack Found Band (22:30).
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
A less packed agenda, with morning and early afternoon programming oriented towards family audiences in the Carpa Negra, and free performances at dusk-night-early morning in El Sucre and Plaça Major. Highlights include the proposals of the young singer from Manlleu Paula Valls (8:30 PM, Plaça Major), who will present her first album, I Am, which explores soul, blues, and folk. In the same location (9:45 PM), the also Osona-based Nyandú will unveil their third work, with a rather amusing title: Fernando Rogelio Estévez. The performance by the power pop group, which will serve to celebrate the Mercat's thirty years in the city center, will feature guest artists such as the historic Duble Buble, Est Oest, and Oques Grasses, who will also offer a concert in Plaça Major at 11:15 PM.