The Backpackers Hostel Blog

Sun 8 Jun

8pm Sala Apolo(Nou de la Rambla, 113) 35€ Buy tickets

Kansas is an American progressive rock band which became a popular arena rock group in the 1970s, with hit singles such as “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind”. Kansas has remained a classic rock radio staple and a popular touring act in North America and Europe.

From 1974 to 1979, Kansas rose to national prominence with the promotion by Kirshner and touring behind the debut album and its two follow ups, Song for America and Masque, increased awareness of Kansas.

On the strength of the major hit single “Carry On Wayward Son” the band’s fourth album, Leftoverture, released in 1976, was a hit which garnered a lot of airplay on the burgeoning AOR radio format. The follow up Point of Know Return, released in 1977, featured the title track and “Dust in the Wind”, both hit singles.

Progressive metal band Vanden Plas has covered Kansas, making a somewhat heavier cover of “Point of Know Return.” The band’s biggest single, “Dust in the Wind,” was later used in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, a Subaru commercial, and in the film Old School. It was also prominently featured in several episodes of the television series Highlander.

“Dust in the Wind” has been covered by Sarah Brightman, the German rock band Scorpions (during their 2001 acoustic album Acoustica), Christian artists Billy Smiley and Acappella and by former New York Yankees center fielder and aspiring jazz guitarist Bernie Williams on his 2004 debut album The Journey Within. In 2006, ex-Kansas lead singer John Elefante also covered “Dust in the Wind” as a single. (Taken from www.wikipedia.org)

Fri 27 Jun

8pm at Razzmatazz (C/Almogàvers, 122) 25-28€ Buy tickets

This duet composed with the actress and singer Najwa Nimri and the producer Carlos Jean, started in 1997 with “Like Those Roses”.

Now they are promoting their new album “Till it breaks”.

Wed 4 Jun

10pm at Sala Apolo (Nou de la Rambla, 113) 28€ Buy tickets

Zucchero, is an Italian rock singer. His music is largely inspired by gospel, blues and rock music, and alternates between ballads and more rhythmic boogie-like pieces.

He started his career in 1970 and made his first appearance in the famous Sanremo Festival next year with the songs “Una notte che vola via”.

In 1989 Zucchero and his band recorded the album Oro incenso e birra in Memphis. The album, which is greatly influenced by American soul music. Oro, incenso e birra still stands as one of Zucchero’s most successful albums, outselling even Blue’s and includes the Italian hit singles “Diamante”, “Overdose (d’Amore)”, “Il Mare” and “Wonderful World”.

It was of this album that Zucchero’s is best known hit “Senza una donna” (“Without a Woman”), in a duet with Paul Young, was a great success worldwide, reaching the top 10 in European charts.

Between 1991 and 1993 Zucchero continued duetting with some of the world’s most famous artists, such as Sting, Luciano Pavarotti, a young Andrea Bocelli, Peter Maffay, Elton John, Brian May and Eric Clapton.

The compilation The Best of Zucchero “sugar” Fornaciari´s greatest hits was released in 1996, shooting into all European charts, and up to the number one position in France and Italy.

In September 2006 his latest album, entitled Fly, was released. Produced by Don Was and in November 2007 Zucchero released a new compilation album with several new tracks, including a cover of Black’s “Wonderful Life”. (Taken from www.wikipedida.org)

Mon 9 Jun

9pm at Luz de Gas (Muntaner, 246) 18-22€ Buy tickets

Maria de Medeiros, is a Portuguese actress and director who has been involved in both European and American film productions.

Among de Medeiros’ most memorable film appearances are three early 1990s roles. Her considerable resemblance to Anaïs Nin landed her the primary role in Henry & June. She played the role of Maria in Ken McMullen’s film about the rise of the Paris Commune 1871 and, in 1994, Medeiros appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, playing Butch Coolidge’s (Bruce Willis) girlfriend Fabienne.

In 2003, she appeared in the Spanish movie My Life Without Me, starring Sarah Polley. She has starred in the Canadian movie The Saddest Music in the World (2004) directed by Guy Maddin, co-starring with Isabella Rossellini and Mark McKinney.

In 2007, she released an album, A Little More Blue, in which she performs songs by Brazilian musicians, including Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins and Dolores Duran. On the album, she sings in French (“Joana Francesa” by Chico Buarque), Portuguese and English (“A Little More Blue” by Caetano Veloso).

(Taken from www.mariademedeiros.net & www.wikipedia.org)