Gipsy Kings, French flamenco royalty, play The Point on Sunday, the 3rd of July.
The Gipsy Kings have been dominating the world music charts since the success of the international hit single "Bamboleo" in 1987 and bring their scintillating live show to the capital for a concert in July.
The Gipsy Kings started out in the French village of Arles in the '70s when brothers Nicolas and Andre Reyes, the sons of renowned flamenco artist Jose Reyes, teamed up with their cousins Jacques, Maurice and Tonino Baliardo, sons of guitarist, Manitas de Plata. The Gipsy Kings began playing weddings and festivals, perfecting the vigorous guitar work and passionate vocals that became the trademark of an indigenous musical tradition known as rumba flamenca.
The African rumba travelled from Zaire to Cuba via the slave trade and then back to Barcelona, where it was adopted by the Gypsies. The Gipsy Kings reveals the influence of Paco de Lucia's nuevo flamenco, as well as singers Cameron de la Isla and Manolo Caracol. Although the Gipsy Kings built up a cult audience with their sound, it was not until they began collaborating with producer Claude Martinez that the world caught onto their sound.
Claude Martinez convinced the Gipsy Kings to combine their traditional songs with musical elements from the Middle East, Latin America, North Africa and a touch of rock music. In 1987, they released "Djoba Djoba" and "Bamboleo" and scored two smash hits in France and their debut album, The Gipsy Kings became a huge hit around the world. Over the next decade, the Gipsy Kings followed on their success with the Mosaique, Compas and Somos Giantos.
For the Gipsy Kings most recent album Roots, the band returned to their roots in Flamenco music with an acoustic album featuring infectious songs like "Aven Aven", "Fandango" and "Petite Noya".
A night of spellbinding flamenco music, Gipsy Kings play The Point on the 3rd of July.
Time: 8pm
Tickets: €50 - €70
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.ie
The Point
North Wall Quay,
East Link Bridge,
Dublin 1.
Tel: + 353 (0) 1 8363633
