By Helen Macrae

You’ll have to forgive me for doing a triple-take when I saw the flyer for Forward Festival. Surely a brand spanking new event can’t possibly have a line-up THIS amazing?? Spanking aside, if good music is your cup of tea and you fancy a 12-hour thrashathon to some of the hottest DJs and acts of the moment, then dust off your dancing shoes and get thee to the Madrid Telefónica Arena on Friday 9^th May for some serious fun.

Purveyors of danceable top-notch techno and one of the few truly creative groups around, Underworld, are headlining. Still going strong an incredible 28 years after their formation, original duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith are back to treat us to a performance fusing together elements of trance, drum and bass, dub, techno and ambient house, accompanied by Hyde’s whispered, hypnotic lyrics and hopefully sprinkled with that unique brand of Underworld magic responsible for the band’s ongoing success. Perhaps best-known for the epic “Born Slippy” (1996), considered one of the greatest dance tracks of the decade, which then became the soundtrack of a generation after it was immortalised in Danny Boyle’s film “Trainspotting”, the band have since undertaken varying projects, the latest of which has resulted in the long-anticipated release of their fifth studio album “Oblivion with Bells” (2007). Underworld have been on a long and exhilarating journey over the years, and are here in Madrid this May to show us it’s not over yet.

2manydjs are another obvious highlight on the bill. Also known as Soulwax, the Dewaele brothers only have one rule when it comes to their record collection: if it gets the dance floor jumping then it’s worth playing. Their sets and remixes are a mash up of just about anything and everything - breaks, rock, pop, country, house, you name it - in an exploration of the finest products of music history. Like their sets, the duo are full of surprises, with David in possession of a black belt in tae kwon do and Stephen named as the chairman of the Belgian Carpenters Association. If you’ve not seen the pair of them perform before, expect something along the lines of mind blowing.

Other artists confirmed so far include Spanish electro-pop group Fangoria, featuring none other than the queen of the movida herself, Alaska, and her partner-in-crime Nacho Canut, who will share the stage with Nancys Rubias, the glam-electro-clash band headed by Mario Vaquerizo. Liverpool-based group Ladytron will be treating us to their distinctive brand of electronic pop, whereas Montreal-born DJ/producer Tiga is journeying from slighter further afield to provide a blistering soundtrack perfect for a good old stomp. German producer Alexander Kowalski will be giving us a live performance of his unique blend of classic Detroit and historical Berlin techno, and Philadelphia-based producer and DJ Diplo will be showing us just why Gwen Stefani, Kanye West, Bloc Party and many others have been clamouring to undergo his remixing services. Soulwax will also be squeezing in a cheeky set and last but not least, darling of the Dutch club scene, Isis, will be there to kick off proceedings.

The fun starts in the early evening, with doors opening at 6.30pm. Tickets cost a mere 50€ in advance (55€ on the door), so go on, give your ears a treat! For further details (including more artist info, set times and ticket outlets) check out:

www.forwardfestival.es

http://www.myspace.com/festivalforward

by Luc Ciotkowski

 European Vibe Magazine brings you an exclusive interview with American basketball star Will McDonald. McDonald, from New Orleans, currently plays for Vitoria club TAU Cerámica and will hope to help Spain’s remaining representative in the competition lift the greatest prize in European basketball this weekend. The 28-year-old star used to play in Madrid, and before that, Gran Canaria. I spoke to him about basketball, life in Spain and being a basketball star in Spain (includes some questions not in the magazine interview):

What do you think of your chances of winning the Final Four and taking the trophy back to Vitoria?
Well, we got this far, why not go on and win? We’ve got the same chance as the other teams.

Who do you see as the biggest threat in the Final Four?
The team we play first, the Russians (CSKA Moscow). They’ve got the biggest budget of any team in Europe. They beat us over there, and here, too.

Do you think Real Madrid will be tough to beat in the ACB Playoffs?
Well we’ve beaten them every time we’ve played them this season, so they’ll be more worried about playing us than we are about playing them.

After football, basketball is one of the highest profile sports in Spain. Do you get recognised a lot?
Yeah, it’s kinda different here (in Vitoria, Basque Country). It’s not like in Madrid where you’ve got millions of people and football is first. Maybe you’d go somewhere and someone would recognise you, but not like if you were a football player. But Vitoria is different. In Vitoria, basketball is first, basketball is before soccer. So recognition, and going places and doing things is different. And it’s a little more difficult because Vitoria is a small place… and we’re more popular here.

Right, so how do fans act when they see you? Are they, are they respectful of your personal space and privacy?
I mean, yeah… They’re fans, you know; I mean some people don’t know the boundaries and some people do know the boundaries. Maybe they wanna stop and ask for an autograph while we eat dinner. But it doesn’t matter to me, because I know when I was a younger player, if I saw someone who was famous in my eyes, I didn’t stop to think, “Oh, they’re eating dinner I’m not gonna go”, I want it now! It’s just a situation that you gotta deal with – some players deal with it differently. I’m just the player, that, I deal with it, if someone wants an autograph, I’ll stop and sign it, you know.

So it wasn’t like that in Madrid?
Well in the discos, in the nightclubs, places like that people would know who you are. Maybe around the city, people would know I am a basketball player ‘cos, I’m super tall! You know. But nothing like, “Oh, that’s Will McDonald!” No.

Where there must be a clear difference between the NBA and the likes of the ACB is in wages. Do think that makes you guys over here more humble and more approachable than the guys in the U.S.?
It depends on… some players make a lot of money and they act, like, different people. Not the normal players who earn not that much money. In Europe, I’m at a time with my money, like, last year I got an offer from the NBA. I got an offer from Milwaukee, for two years- guaranteed, but I didn’t want it, ‘cos I’m doing so well here and I’m actually making more here than if was playing in the States… So, the American Dream is really not mine: I just want to concentrate on playing basketball in a nice environment and make as much money as possible.

To see the rest of the interview, read the May 2008 issue of European Vibe Magazine, out now across madrid.

TAU Cerámica play CSKA Moscow in the semi-finals on Friday, 2nd May, 21:00. the winner will play either M.Siena or Maccabi Elite in the final at 21:00, on sunday, 4th May.

http://www.europeanvibe.com/imagenes_revista/200_pdf.pdf

This month, our Vibe Box comes from Alan Shelly - licensee of rock and blues bar Echegarito.

In the May issue of European Vibe Magazine, Echegarito was the venue for our monthly bar chat - where we talked about the pickly subject of infidelity. Check out the magazine to see what our bar chatters had to say about cheating.

These are Alan’s choices:

1. Emerald - Thin Lizzy

because: A great mix of rock and celtic music with great guitar solos.

2. Messin’ with the Kid - Rory Gallagher

because: This is one of his most famous tunes and deserves high ranking due to its originality. 

3. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin

because: Because Tom Graham thinks so!

Echarito is unique in Madrid in that it is a Spanish bar de copas with Stella Artois and Guinness on draught. (The Guinness is short-draw, too!) There is live music downstairs in the cellar bar.
How to get there: Echegarito, Calle Echegaray 21, metro Sol/Sevilla.

By Khilen Mehta

A magnificent goal from the halfway line by Marcos Senna kept alive Villareal’s slim yet mathematical hopes of winning the Championship. However, a win for Real next week against Osasuna will ensure that the league trophy will remain in the Bernabeu trophy room for a second consecutive year.

Betis keeper Castro was just a few yards off his line when the Spanish midfielder unexpectedly shot from the halfway line and caught the goalkeeper completely by surprise. Chances followed for both sides but Senna´s wonder goal meant the title race continues for one more week at least.

The wins keeps the Castellón outfit above Barcelona, whose hopes of regaining the title have now evaporated in the wake of Saturday’s below-par 2-0 defeat against Deportivo at the Riazor. Ahead of their crucial Champions League tie against Manchester United, confidence is low at the Nou Camp and many are doubting their credentials.

In Madrid last night, Real came away with a 3-0 victory, but were very grateful to a first half penalty save from Iker Casillas which prevented Athletic Bilbao from equalising. However with just victory needed against Osasuna next week to seal the title for Real, surely the champagne won’t be kept on ice for too much longer.

by Will Cade

If you have seen the video for “4 Minutes,” Madonna’s first single off her new album, “Hard Candy,” you will probably notice a nearly 50 year old woman, looking good and holding her own along side JT, someone nearly half her age. But, if you blink, you might miss the dancing duo, Hamutsun Serve, who Madonna flew in to London from Japan to be in the video. They are the two sporting red, Run DMC jump suits, dancing on top of what looks like a red, 70s model Ford.

Before filming began, Rikiccho and Dayoshi had become popular on YouTube for their frenetic “popping” style, which caught Madonna’s attention one day while searching for new talent online. Unfortunately, the two have a grand total of maybe 18 seconds of screen time in Madonna’s new video, which hardly gives them justice. Their most popular video on YouTube (see link below) showcases their moves a lot better. Even if at times their “popping” can look like a robot experiencing a power surge, it’s still amazing to watch. And come on, these guys can moon walk on their knees and their back. Why that didn’t make it into the video, we’ll never know. Maybe it wasn’t Madonna’s fault. Maybe it was the video’s editor or some caffeined-up intern that cut out their lunar dancing extravaganza. Either way, there’s a plethora of Hamutsun Serve videos on YouTube. They also worked with JT during their time in London, so we might see them in another video soon enough, but hopefully for more than 18 seconds.

By Khilen Mehta

It’s 30 degrees, the sun is blazing and your mouth is parched. What do you fancy the most? - An ice cream that’s what. Well you are in luck!! Because tomorrow is the Ben and Jerrys 30th annual FREE cone day!

Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is an annual event, held in late April or early May, in which Ben and Jerry’s shops give out free ice cream cones all day. Over one million free cones are given away each year and millions of people leave the shops with a smile on their faces. All 580 locations around the world will open their doors from 12pm-8pm and treat their loyal customers to a free cone.

The first Free Cone Day was held on May 5, 1979. It was done by Ben and Jerry as a customer and staff appreciation event for the one year anniversary of their ice cream store’s opening, and has continued ever since.

With the weather guaranteed to bring out a sweat, what better way to cool down than with a free ice cream!! Here is a list of your local shops so you have no excuse for missing out!!

Plaza Mayor, 10 - 28012 Madrid - Tlf.: 913 652 039

C/Carmen, 1 - 28013 Madrid - Tlf.: 915 225 915

C/ Silvano, 77 (esquina Machu Pichu) - 28043 MADRID - Tlf.: 913 005 425

By Khilen Mehta

Bad news for James Morrison fans, good news for music fans. Earlier last week Morrison pulled out of the massive Rock in Rio festival on the outskirts of Madrid and he follows the Spanish band Hombres G who have also pulled out of the event. In his place, Stereophonics have been announced as his replacement on the World Stage. They will be playing on the 4th July, the same day as Shakira, Jamiroquai and Amy Winehouse.

James Morrison explained his reason for pulling out to be as a result of commitments to his second album which is due to come out this summer. He claimed that it would be an impossible feat for him to balance his hectic recording schedule with the festival. However he did promise that his new album would be something to look forward to, so it´s not all doom and gloom for you James Morrison fans!

And so Welsh rock band Stereophonics are set to hit Madrid. One of the most famous rock bands to come out of the country, they are sure to be a massive hit in the summer sunshine. With platinum albums, and scores of great singles such as Mr Writer, Maybe Tomorrow, and Keep Looking, Stereophonics are guaranteed to hit rock Madrid!

If you haven´t got your tickets yet, make sure you get hold of one. Artists such as Alanis Morissette, Jack Johnson and Franz Ferdinand are already lined up to play, not to mention the glorious sunshine that will be basking over the party goers. This is definitely going to be one of the most anticipated festivals of the year.

Just to whet your appetite, here is a little taster of what is to come…

[youtube dJxb2TnmVNM]

by Khilen Mehta

As we hit the long weekend in Madrid, many of you will be wondering what there is to do if you stay here. Well, now into its 5th year, Documenta Madrid will be running from the 2nd- 11th May and is guaranteed to provide entertainment for people of all ages.

Presently the city’s most widely attended film festival, Documenta Madrid is an international film festival which is dedicated exclusively to the screening of documentaries. According to the producers of the festival, the main aim is, ¨For the purpose of strengthening and disseminating the documentary genre, insofar as it understood to be a reflection of the social, cultural, economic, artistic, environmental, and other realities that exist in the world.¨

Through the selection of films, the festival provides an annual meeting point for workers, producers and the general public to whom the documentaries are aimed towards. The organisers aim to try and make the viewers relate to what is being portrayed on the screen and therefore all the films are subject to qualititive criteria and all critical opinions and viewpoints are considered.

The festival is divided up into three different blocks of activites, which means there is something for everyone to enjoy: screenings (in both public and private screening rooms, and in their original language and formats), parallel activities (publications, exhibitions, presentations, gatherings, round tables, DVD releases, etc.), and training activities (conferences, instructional classes, workshops, etc.).

During the last five years, Documenta Madrid has established a reputation of being one of the most influential documentary festivals worldwide. The films portray a strong image of a modern day issue whcih the audience can then relate to. The organizers hope the audience will then reflect upon these issues and possibly even act upon them to make a change in the world.

So if you are stuck for something to do this long weekend, head down to one of the screenings or workshops where you could witness something that could take your breath away!

http://www.documentamadrid.com/

By Khilen Mehta

This game could have been all over in the third minute, but when Cristiano Ronaldo missed his penalty, Manchester United missed their opportunity. The tie still hangs firmly in the balance but if United play as tamely as this in the return leg, then their chances of reaching the final in Moscow will be significantly diminished. Barcelona were by far the better team, they created the better chances, but just like United, they failed to convert their dominance into goalscoring opportunities. However, if they create half as many chances as they did in the Nou Camp, they will fancy their chances of grabbing an away goal at Old Trafford.

United started brightly and following an audacious free kick attempt from Ronaldo, they won a corner from which Gabriel Milito inexplicably handled the ball following Ronaldo’s flick on. So an early chance for United to take the lead.  But the normally so composed and arrogant Ronaldo blazed his penalty wide. Some would argue he was put off by the wall of noise behind the goal, but by changing his usual penalty style, he always ran the risk of becoming too big for his own boots.  And so United missed their chance, and for the remaining 87 minutes it was more or less all Barcelona.

The tempo was high, and Barcelona looked menacing everytime they went forward. Lionel Messi in particular was in scintillating form and his link up play with the forwards caused United problems everytime they went forward. United lacked cohesion, lacked tempo and for 87 minutes lacked the necessary class to break down the Barcelona defence. Edwin Van der Sar on the other hand had to be on top form to keep the Barcelona attack at bay, especially after the introduction of Thierry Henry after 76 minutes. The frenchman threatened the United goal on numerous occasions and Van der Sar had to be alert to parry away the danger.

So as we head into the second leg this week, the tie remains in the balance. Chances are guaranteed but no one is sure which team will be heading to Moscow on May 21st.

by Maja Gojkovic

Amy Winehouse has made it onto the rich kids list that features Britain’s richest young stars. The volatile celebrity is said to have raked in a £10million fortune.

Amy,24,  who has been in re-hab and whose husband is in prison is believed to have continued to rake in cash despite her continuous and lengthy booze and drugs battle.

Winehouse is the 10th wealthiest singer on the list all under the age of 30. The list of young richies feature in the Sunday Times Young Music Millionaires list.

Other artists who have suprisingly made it onto the list include Leona Lewis who is at No14 on the rich list with a fortune of £6million, definitely boosted by her recent US chart success.

List editor Ian Coxon said: “Although Amy’s had her troubles off stage, she’s a great performer. However, if things continue, it might well be that Leona overtakes her.” Both trail far behind No1 Dhani Harrison, with £160million inherited from late Beatle dad George.

The rich list also includes:

RICH KIDS LIST

1 Dhani Harrison £160m

2 Vanessa-Mae Nicholson £32m

3= Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland & Will Champion (Coldplay) £30m

6 Karen Elson and Jack White £25m

7 Katie Melua £18m

8 Joss Stone £12m

9 Charlotte Church, Gavin Henson £11m

10=Craig David, Amy Winehouse & Will Young £10m

13 Katherine Jenkins £9m

14= Corinne Bailey Rae, Natasha Bedingfield, Leona Lewis and Simon Webbe £6m

According to the  rich list, Amy is still continuing to do well for herself despite her rocky and somewhat decadent lifestyle.