Interceltic Festival of Avilés

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Interceltic Festival of Avilés


Location(s)	Avilés, Asturias Spain
Years active	1997 - present
Founded by	Esbardu
Date(s)	July each year.
Genre(s)	Folk music
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].

1 Background
2 Venue
3 2007 Festival
4 Images
5 References
6 External links

[edit] 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]

[edit] Venue

The festival takes place in the Comarca de Avilés, located in Asturias, between Cabo Peñas and the mouth of the Nalón river. It is in the "maritime heart" of Asturias. Avilés, Castrillón, Corvera and Illas are the members of the Comarca. Tourist are also attracted by Avilés Medieval Town Centre, the beaches of the area and big amount of natural areas[1].

[edit] 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

[edit] Images

El Gaiteru de Veriña during the 9th Festival, 22 June 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