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Latin-American and Welsh Festival August 12th-14th 2011, The Plas, Machynlleth, Mid Wales

Our "Festival Del Sol " on July 7th sees the return of fantastic Peruvian band Kausary to Machynlleth. Kausary means "revive" in Quechua and the band were a big hit at last year's El Sueno Existe . They play a highly charged mix of Andean folk and salsa chicha and will have everyone dancing the night away.


In the afternoon , author of " Ecosocialism ; the Rise Of The Green Left "; Derek Wall will present a talk entitles: " Ecology And Social Justice : Learning From Latin America". Wall is a former principal speaker of the Green Party and campaigns for Socialist and Environmental issues.


There will also be a presentation by Flor Rodriguez on Peruvian Marxist writer : Jose Carlos Mariategui .
José Carlos Mariátegui La Chira (14 June 1894– 16 April 1930) was a Peruvian journalist, political philosopher, and activist. A prolific writer before his early death at age 35, he is considered one of the most influential Latin American socialistsof the 20th century. Mariátegui's most famous work, Seven Interpretive Essays on Peruvian Reality (1928), is still widely read in South America. An avowed, self-taught Marxist, he insisted that a socialist revolution should evolve organically in Latin America on the basis of local conditions and practices, not the result of mechanically applying a European formula.

His writings have strongly influenced the " Pink Tide" of socialist revival throughout Latin America
There will also be a " Green Chile " food event with locally grown vegetarian food from the Green Isle Growers.
For those arriving on the Friday evening , there will be a South American circle dance event at 8pm in Derwenlas Hall.


If you’re going to be around on Sunday morning (8 July), why not join us on a visit to the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), one of the world’s leading environmental education centres, which is a couple of miles from Machynlleth? (www.cat.org.uk). CAT began as a pioneer in the field, and has now been in existence for nearly 40 years. A member of CAT staff, Sally Carr, has offered to lead a tour for those attending the El Sueno event. The tour will begin at 11.00 and will last about an hour. It will provide a general introduction to CAT and the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at some of the areas not on the usual visitor circuit. Places on the tour will be limited to 20, so let us know if you definitely want to come. If places are still available you will also be able to sign up on the Saturday.


So why not make a weekend of it, here in the magical Dyfi Valley of Mid Wales.
More info : Tony : 01654 702 166. tonycorden@hotmail.com
Accomodation ; Marian : marian778@btinternet.com

 

 

El Sueno Existe Festival 2011

The 2011 festival was a great success, we all had a wonderful time. See below for photos and videos of the festival.

On Saturday 13th August 2011 there was a ceremony organised by Eco-Memoria to plant trees in Machynlleth to celebrate the lives of people who disappeared as a result of the 1973 coup in Chile. Trees were planted in memory of Maria Del Carmen Arriagada Jerez and Michel Selin Nash Saez

Past Festivals:

The previous festivals have presented a vibrant and colourful mix of Latin American and Welsh music, dance, poetry and drama. Highlights  from the first festival included Venezuelan troubadours,  Gerardo Y Su Son,  brilliant Chilean ensemble "Quimantu"  and  Italian songstress Silvia Balducci . 

During the second festival, audiences were delighted by Seize the Day, Peruvian scissor dance from Jose Navarro,  Bolivian  carnival dance  from Tradicion Andina ,  and songs from the legendary Welsh folksinger Dafydd Iwan.  The mesmerising charango music of Chilean , Cristian leiva was a highlight of the third festival along  with Welsh clog dancing  and the Andean fusion music of Sophia Buchuck  and Killa Raymi. 

Headliners for the 2011 festival were Peruvian band Kausary playing a heady mix of Andean folk and lively merengue .  The beautiful and moving music of Carlos Arredondo and Galo Ceron  from Chile were  heard along with the Welsh poet, singer and songwriter Steve Eaves, and the ever present Cloud Cuckoo 

Chilean performance poet Alfredo Cordal launched his new book of poety; "Tongues Of Fire "