Live music comes in more than one format; it’s not always about the next concert at the biggest club, it can be cultural, historical, and even comical. Spain enjoys some great diversity as it’s close to so many influences. No matter where you are in this lively country, chances are there’s a fantastic show happening nearby that you should make every effort to catch.
In Barcelona
Don’t miss the incredible restaurant/night show that is simply called Monk. It offers exceptional food at surprisingly low prices and opens at 1 p.m. every day. While it has an afternoon menu, it becomes either ‘al a carte’ or a set menu for the evening pageantry, depending on the day.
• Flamenco, in all its passionate, emotional glory comes to life on Wednesdays from 7p.m. Elegant, strong, and tumultuous, capture the energy of this cultural identity.
• Thursdays are Opera Night at Monk, where the serving staff puts on a unique and unconventional display of costume and song.
• Friday Night Fever is on, of course, Friday night and feature musical comedy with songs from the 80s and 90s; it’s a fun overlook of those decades with dancers and authentic music.
• Saturdays are Indian Nights, where Bollywood comes to you. Dressed in extravagant finery authentic to India in all its golden decoration, singers and dancers sizzle their way across the floor to entertain you.
With so much variety to offer, you could literally attend every night of the week and see something new. The entire atmosphere of the venue reflects its name, as it works towards bringing you nirvana and awakening sensations. Absolutely a must-see, just pick your favorite day.
Valencia
Radio City VLC in Valencia Spain offers a wide spread of different musical and visual delights, including, but certainly not limited to, musical comedies, ethnic dances with accompanying wild beats, steamy and passionate Flamenco shows every Tuesday, extravagant theater productions, and live rock concerts. It’s best to visit their website and check the calendar to know what’s playing, but with such an expansive venue, there’s almost something happening to fit your schedule and inclination. The club itself is very funky, with something like a warehouse look, but the ceiling tiles, which have stalactite lights hanging like blue icicles, are painted in a pop art style with faces, designs and other scenes. The unusual décor only lends to the electric atmosphere.
Madrid
Built in 1945 with a 1040 people max capacity, the Teatro Albéniz, or Albeniz Theater in Madrid, is one of the largest in Spain. Though closed from July to mid August, it is still a fantastic place to see live performances and hear live music. Famous singers from distant corners arrive to croon their fans, but this venue also boasts live theater, dance and musical spectaculars, plus the annual Caja Madrid’s Flamenco Festival. Get tickets early, this venue is a favorite among the locals.
While most bars, clubs, and taverns boast traditional live music like jazz, rock, blues, and even some country, it’s a little more difficult to find the venues that offer more, but they exist and they’re worth the effort of digging a bit. Indulge in a bit more than just music when in Spain and take advantage of their wide showcases. These are memories in the making.
