The Backpackers Hostel Blog

Until Sun 25 May

(Picture #1 Ernest Hemingway in San Fermin Festivities, Pamplona. July 1959) Free admission

At Palau Robert (Pg de Gracia, 107) Mon – Sat 10am to 7pm Sun 10am to 2:30pm

In a room in the Palau Robert which receives daylight from the Passeig de Gràcia, an area has been set aside for periodical exhibitions illustrating the works and careers of photographers who have gained recognition for the quality and importance of their art. Representative photographs by the artist are on show there, along with specialized studies and illustrated books.

“With his Leica MP-135, his loyal travel companion, he began to work with and form part of the reporting teams of Gaceta Ilustrada and Paris Match. He also took photos for Stern and Life magazines. He produced important work on the Congo, Angola, Jordan, Pope Paul VI’s trip to the Holy Land, etc.

Another complementary activity of his was the illustration of books, some jointly with his partner and dear friend Oriol Maspons. These included Toreo de Salón by Cela, Poet in New York by García Lorca and a guide book for Barcelona. ” (Taken from www.gencat/probert).

Thu 12 Jun

Parc del Forum  (Rambla Prim 1) 68€ + booking fees Buy tickets

On June 12th the Daydream Festival will start the independent pop and rock concerts with Radiohead in its only performance in Spain.

Radiohead is an English alternative rock band from Oxfordshire. The group is composed of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, electronics), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, other instruments), Ed O’Brien (guitar, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass guitar, synthesisers) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion). Radiohead have released seven albums and have sold over 23 million records over their career.

Other confirmed artists are Bat for Lashes, Liars, Clinic, Low, Modeselektor LIVE!, Enemc presenta “Off Computer”, Cristoph de Babalon, Christian Vogel, Cuchillo, Faust, Four Tet live and M83a. (Taken from http://blog.wired.com, www.daydream-festival.es and www.wikipedia.org).

Sun 11 May

9pm at Sala Apolo (Nou de la Rambla, 113) 20 – 24€ Buy tickets

Gregory Isaacs a Jamaican reggae musician emerged In the 1970s as one of the most prolific and popular recording artists in Jamaica. With the GG’s label and its record producer, Alvin Ranglin produced hits like “Border” and “Number One”.

Isaacs signed an international release contract with Island Records, which resulted in the release of the albums Night Nurse (1982), probably his best known album among the many international music fans who had taken to reggae by then; and Out Deh! (1983).

In the 1990s the African Museum label continued to release all of Gregory Isaacs’ music, and that of artists he produced. In 1997 Simply Red covered Night Nurse and had a big hit with it. He continues to record and perform live in the 2000s. In 2005 Lady Saw produced another version of Night Nurse with her toasting over the original lyrics.

He recently performed at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Inauguration at Jamaica. Isaacs also had a prominent role in the feature film “Rockers” alongside many reggae superstars of the time. (Taken from http://mog.com and www.wikipedia.org).

Mon 19 May

8:30pm at Sala Apolo (Nou de la Rambla, 113) 25 – 30€ Buy tickets

Busta Rhymes, is a Jamaican American hip hop musician and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes (from former NFL wide receiver George “Buster” Rhymes) after watching him perform. He was a member of Leaders of the New School and released two albums with the group before breaking out with a 1996 solo hit single, “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check”. He is known for his often high-speed rhyme-delivery, as heard on his hits “Gimme Some More” and “Break Ya Neck”.

Smith’s debut solo album, The Coming, was released by Elektra Records in 1996. The album was a mix of reggae and hip hop, and it included the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) top 10 single “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check.” It was Busta’s first release on his label, Flipmode Records. The album was met with commercial and critical success and ended up going Platinum.

After leaving Elektra, Smith signed to J Records, a new label started by recently ousted Arista Records chief and founder Clive Davis. In 2001 he released a greatest hits record alongside a new album of original work.

His seventh studio album, The Big Bang, became the first #1 album of his career. The CD sold over 209,000 copies in its first week to earn the top spot on The Billboard Top 200. The album also became his highest charting album in the UK, peaking at #19 there. (Taken from www.bustarhymes.com and www.wikipedia.org)

Tue 6 may

9pm at Sala Apolo (Nou de la Rambla, 113) 20 – 22€ Buy tickets

Einstürzende Neubauten (Collapsing New Buildings)is an experimental music band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980.  The band’s name refers to buildings constructed in Germany after 1945. These are often regarded as cheaper, flimsier, and less aesthetically attractive than Altbauten, or pre-1945, especially pre-modernist buildings. Due to the extensive destruction throughout Germany during the Second World War, and the extensive rebuilding thereafter, Neubauten constitute a very familiar element of German cities.

The band is often classified as industrial music or electronica. One of their ‘trademarks’ is the use of custom made instruments (usually, but not always, made out of scrap metal and building tools) and noises, in addition to standard musical instruments. Neubauten has always experimented with sounds, originally in noise music and recently in very diverse styles.

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Blixa Bargeld is probably the best-known member of the group.  With two albums, Fünf auf der nach oben offenen Richterskala (“Five on the open-ended Richterscale”) in 1987 and Haus der Lüge (“House of the Lie”) in 1989, were great successes in the United States and Japan.

A spring tour in Europe is announced on band’s website. The band is scheduled to play 32 dates in 19 countries. (Taken from www.musicheadquarter.de and www.wikipedia.org)