Interceltic Festival of Avilés

Interceltic Festival of Avilés
Interceltic Festival of Avilés
	File:Logo fia.svg
Genre	Folk music
Dates	July each year.
Location(s)	Avilés, Asturias ; Spain
Years active	1997 - present
Founders	Esbardu
Website	www.intercelticu.com

The Interceltic Festival of Avilés is celebrated at the beginning of the summer in Avilés and the surrounding area in Asturias, Spain and was founded in 1997. The festival is dedicated to the cultural traditions, and developments, of the Celtic nations (países celtes in Asturias), highlighting music and dance and also including other arts such as painting, photography, theatre, sculpture, traditional craftsmanship as well as sport and gastronomy. It is organized by the Cultural Association Esbardu, located in Avilés ^[1].

Background

The idea of a festival in Avilés arose after the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 1993 when members of Esbardu who took part were impressed by that festival. They started working on a similar (although smaller) idea in Avilés. In the summer of 1997 the project Interceltic Festival of Avilés (IFA) received a small budget from the Asturian regional government and another one from Avilés Town Hall. The success of the first festival meant that the organizers carried on the next year.

In 2006, 1,175 people took part in the festival with 150 acts and performances over eleven days. There were 800 hundred musicians, dancers and actors & actresses in the parade. In 2008 it was officially named, by the Regional Authorities of the Principality of Asturies, as the "Fiesta de Interés Turístico Regional"(Celebration of Regional Tourist Interest). ^[2]

2007 Festival

Participants in the 11th festival included ^[3]

Curran - Fegan from Ireland
Inquedanzas from Tui Pontevedra, Galicia
Banda de Gaitas Ledicia from Sanguiñeda Mos, Pontevedra
Dawnswyr Môn folk dancers from Anglesey, Wales
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers from Scotland
Pitlochry and Blair Atholl Pipe Band from Scotland
Capercaillie a folk band from Scotland
Ballocheam Highland Dancers from Stirlingshire, Scotland
Bagad Landi from Brittany
Lann Tivizio from Brittany
Cultural Association Esbardu: Organizers of the Festival
Xera from Asturias
La Bandina from Asturias
Dúo Astur from Asturias

Images

El Gaiteru de Veriña during the 9th Festival, 22 June,2005
During the "Sesta Feria" parade 2005

During the "Sesta Feria" parade 2005
Axe cutting (2005)
Traditional dancing couple Asturias (2004)
Fonsu Mielgo (Llan de Cubel) in a performance during the 8th Festival in 2004
Lúnasa performance at the 8th Festival in 2004

References

^ "Discover the Festival]" (in Spanish). Esbardu. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
^ "La Ascensión y el Intercéltico de Avilés, fiestas de interés turístico" (in Spanish). La Nueva España. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
^ "El Intercéltico se presenta como «el Niemeyer de la cultura tradicional" (in Spanish). La Voz de Avilés. 2007-07-19. Retrieved 2008-05-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

[ESBARDU34-1] "Discover the Festival]" (in Spanish). Esbardu. Retrieved 2008-05-12.

[LNE630308-2] "La Ascensión y el Intercéltico de Avilés, fiestas de interés turístico" (in Spanish). La Nueva España. Retrieved 2008-05-12.

[LVDA20070719-3] "El Intercéltico se presenta como «el Niemeyer de la cultura tradicional" (in Spanish). La Voz de Avilés. 2007-07-19. Retrieved 2008-05-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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