Bilbao's ‘Great Week' (‘Semana Grande' Or ‘Aste Nagusia')

Bilbao's ‘Great Week' (‘Semana Grande' orexcept from Saturdays, at 19.00 in Plaza Nueva in
‘Aste Nagusia') is the most important andCasco Viejo, the oldest part of the city. Each day a
recognizable fiesta in Bilbao. The celebration begins ondifferent type of Basque dance will be performed.
the first Saturday after the 15th of August and lasts 9Altogether there are approximately 400 different
days. Bilbao's ‘Semana Grande' has been officiallyBasque folk dances each with its own story and
celebrated since 1978 and has been taking placesignificance. You can tell a good dancer by how high
continuously year after year with the exception of thethey jump, their double clicks, how high they kick, and
year 1983 when Bilbao suffered severe floods. Duringtheir gracefulness.
those 9 days in August the whole of Bilbao is vibrant• Music concerts form an important part of Bilbao's
and full of life and there is a great variety of things to‘Semana Grande' programme. There will be many
see and do. Bilbao during its fiestas is definitely theconcerts of different types of music taking place
place to be!!every day, so everyone will be able to find something
• The first day of the fiestas will begin with thesuitable for them. Apart from concerts of local bands
so-called txupinazo, which, since 2001, has taken placethere will be a huge variety of widely known Spanish
in the Plaza del Teatro Arriaga. This involves theartists and internationally known bands from abroad.
launching of a rocket and the reading of theAs for Spanish pop music stars there will be Rosario
proclamation of the fiestas.Flores (or simply Rosario), two-time Latin Grammy
• One of the most interesting things to see is aaward-winning singer and actress, recognized thanks
spectacular fireworks show, which will take placeto Pedro Almodovar's Talk to Her (Hable con Ella)
everyday at 22.30 and can be watched from all areasmovie, where she played one of the main characters.
of the city. Many pyrotechnists will take part in theThe concert will take place on Tuesday 19th at 23.30
show from all over Spain and also from otherin Abandoibarra. For the fans of flamenco music there
European countries.is an Argentinean concert from Huelva-born new
• Bilbao's ‘Semana Grande' is a perfectvoice of the flamenco scene, on Monday 18th, at 24:00
opportunity for ‘corrida' fans to enjoy the bullfighting.in Plaza Nueva. An example of an international artist
As well as the fireworks, bullfights will also take placeperforming this year would be Travis, a Scottish band
everyday in the Bilbao Bullring (Plaza de Toros) atperforming Britpop, who have been awarded BRIT
18.00. Although the tradition has raised a lot ofawards twice. Reggae fans, in turn, will be happy to
controversy, bullfights are considered one of the mostparticipate in The Heptones concert, a Jamaican vocal
typical and significant Spanish traditions. In Bilbao'strio, on Saturday 23rd at 24:00 in Plaza Nueva.
bullfights many widely known toreadors (toreros) willHowever, many more concerts of different types of
participate such as: Fermin Bohorquez, Manuel Jesusmusic will also be taking place during Bilbao's
"El Cid", Julian Lopez "El Juli".‘Semana Grande'.
• There will also be a great opportunity to see theThe whole week of fiestas in Bilbao is a great
typical Basque traditions such as Basque dance. Theopportunity to get to know the traditional Basque and
dancers wear their traditional outfit and sometimes theSpanish culture and also what fiesta means to
dance requires the use of sticks and swords.Spaniards! See you there!!
Traditional Basque folk dances can be seen everyday