The Beat Goes On

THE COAST HAS SEEN ITS FAIR SHARE OF GENUINE MUSIC SUPERSTARS ROCK UP OVER THE YEARS

Although it may not be music capital of the universe in the way that London, LA and New York are, the coast has seen its fair share of genuine music superstars rock up over the years. We’re talking the good (Stevie Wonder, Sting, Prince, Tina Turner, Lionel Ritchie) the bad (Michael Jackson on the Bad Tour, Adam Ant, Frank Sinatra Jr) and the ugly (Divine).

What could be described as a “broad church” of acts to play in Marbella over the years have included Disco’s most dangerous diva Grace Jones, Blondie, Nina Hagen, Kool and the Gang, Earth Wind and Fire, Imagination, Rolls Royce, Soul II Soul and Alexander O Neil. The more, “vintage” artists to have played include BB King, Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, The Drifters, George Benson (you’re not a real Marbella resident until you’ve seen George at least once, as well as Van Morrison (voice of an angel, body of a taxi driver), Madness (when the bars very nearly ran out of beer) and the Sugarbabes (as the average age of the audience was about 11 there was no chance AT ALL of the booze running out at that one)

Joe Cocker played several times in Puerto Banus, although at his gig in the mid 80s he seemed to have an awfully bad case of the sniffles and kept shuffling off to the side of the stage to wipe his nose... Sade also played Banus in the 80s, although she hardly spoke to the crowd at all. As the stage was wreathed in exotic smelling smoke during the entire performance she might as well have stuck a beat box on stage, whacked a cassette in the tape deck (remember them?) and gone off for a cuppa.

Much more animated was Adam Ant, for all the wrong reasons. As a support act the promoters booked popular Spanish band Radio Futura, who, rather than playing a 30-minute warm up, decided to do their full set. Adam Ant’s security tried to rush the sound desk and a huge fight ensued, the Guardia Civil wading in gleefully with their batons to break it up. After everything had calmed down – a mere three hours later, Adam took to the stage to an almost empty bullring, but kept slipping over on beer spilt during the fighting.

Thankfully concerts on the coast are considerably better organised these days. Starlite Marbella is perhaps the best known, describing itself as a Boutique Music Festival. Located in the hills above Sierra Blanca, the intimate setting of the old auditorium of Marbella, means that you get to see the acts close up. Which is great when it is Rob Stewart but somewhat terrifying when it is Iggy Pop!

“Havana” singer Camila Cabello (June 2 ) is one that you may want to get close to, while 80s icons Duran Duran (July 7) and smooth  soul legend Seal (June 10) will be proving that they can still wow live audiences. Actor, rapper and musician Will Smith is holding court with his one man show on July 26, so you can expect hits including “Summertime”, although after “that incident” at the Oscars, rushing the stage for an autograph is not recommended. The hottest of hot tickets, however, has to be for Santana who plays Starlite on August 3. People are still talking in awe about his last visit, that absolutely set the night alight!

Mare Nostrum Festival – overlooked by Fuengirola ́s castle – has quickly established itself as an international venue. J-Lo, Robbie Williams and Simply Red are among the performers to headline there, and this summer will see Lionel Ritchie (July 25) and Bonnie Tyler (August 8). If you really want to let your hair down and dance off any summer stress, then either the Prodigy (July 26) or Carl Cox (August 16) will fit the bill nicely!

International acts at great venues on those warm summer nights? Just one more reason to love living on the coast!