By Will Cade

I never know if I should give money to panhandlers or not. Reading their signs about having children and no job, I do feel for these people, but I never know if my money is going towards a hot meal for the family or a fresh bottle for mom or dad.

Street performers, however, fit into a different category. They’re providing me with entertainment, which, if I like, I’ll gladly pay for. What they do with the money is their own business: they worked for it.

My favorite street performers in Madrid have to be in the Metro, because they give me a much needed break from a busy day running around the city. We have some talented metro musicians here - and some not so talented - but there’s nothing like hearing African bongo drums or an acoustic version of Ave Maria echoing through the underground.

Even with these daily pick me ups in Madrid, I have to be the most impressed with the metro performers in Berlin, although at first I didn’t realize they were performing. Out of the blue, a homeless or otherwise scrappy looking individual would step onto the metro. But before asking anyone for money, this person would proudly lift a newspaper - one specifically written for the homeless to sell - and commence to give a speech.

Now, I don’t know a lick of German (aside from a few curse words) but still these speeches were magnificent. Sometimes they sounded like the diatribe of a madman, but they were given with enough vigor to inspire me to do whatever it was I couldn’t understand them saying. And other times they were given with such a smooth delivery that I felt like I was sitting in the Globe Theatre listening to Shakespeare, or, in this case, Goethe.

Not until these performances were finished would anyone even start to rummage through their pockets, and sometimes not until after the applause erupted into the metro with more intensity than the speech just given. It’s times like this when I’m not only happy to emtpy out my pockets, but I would gladly sit with these people over a coffee and listen to their stories - even if I don’t understand German.

by Maja Gojkovic

Chambao are the hottest Spanish acts around, with their continuing success and more coverage, the band are making their way further into the mainstream music scene.

If you are thinking, “I have never heard of Chambao”, not to worry, my predictions tell me we will be hearing and seeing a lot more of the band in the future.

In terms of genre the band would categorize itself as Flamenco-Electronic. Their flamenco chill sound fuses the flamenco and palos (a musical form) with electronic music.

The name of the band comes from an improvised wind-breaker that is used on the beach to provide shade (and stop the wind, of course).

The band is made up of a trio from Malaga El Mari, Edi and Dani. The group were discovered by the Dutch musician Henrik Takkenberg. Together three of them featured as part of a double CD by various artists that was released by Sony under the title “Flamenco Chill” in (2002). On the CD Chambao recorded eight songs and sold 90,000 copies and led the record label to release subsequent instalments, this time without Chambao.In 2003, the band’s first record on their own, “Endorfinas en la mente”, came out. It was released in more than twenty countries, sold over 80,000 copies and won the Premio Ondas (Ondas Award) for the Best Musical Creation in 2003. After their song release “Pokito a poko” in 2005, Dani left the band, but La Mari and El Edi continued to create the original sounds that make the band so eclectic and fresh.

European Vibe will be meeting Chambao to get the lowdown on  the latest from the band, as well as an exclusive interview. The interview will be featured in the June edition of European Vibe Magazine.  

For those of you who cannot wait until June and if the sound of Chambao tickles your musical tastebuds then you can find out more about the band on their Myspace page www.myspace.com/chambao. The band will also be playing at Palacio de Deportes on Friday 11^th April.

by Maja Gojkovic

Andrea Corr has embarked on a new solo career leaving her siblings behind. While the rest of The Corrs have taken a break from the group to raise their families, Andrea has decided to return to the music industry with a new and fresh sound.

Her record ‘Ten Feet High’ was released last summer and had success in Spain where it reached number 9 in the music charts. Meanwhile, the rest of Europe did not respond in the same way, and her record only reached number 38 in the UK album charts. The first single from the album is still receiving good radio-play in Spain - the track called ‘Shame on you (to keep my love from me)’ is an anti-war protest disguised as an upbeat dance tune. The album has a different vibe to it and is very different to the stuff she did with The Corrs.

To read more about The Corrs’ and, specifically, Andrea’s trajectory in the music industry, check out the March edition of European Vibe Magazine. We feature the rise, the golden era and relative decline in popularity of The Corrs, Andrea speaking on how the album came about and how we explain the album’s cool reception in most countries.

 Below you can check out the tribute montage video, ”Andrea Corr - Irish Angel”.

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by Maja Gojkovic 

Another year and another Brit awards ceremony. The Brit Awards are the equivalent to the US Grammy’s and for another year they did not fail to disappoint as this years awards saw no suprises as our favourite artists such as Kanye West, Foofighters and Arctict Monkeys picked up the majority of the big awards. Newer artists such as Adele and Kate Nash also won awards, so here as proimsed in Febuary’s issue of Europeanvibe magazine are the winners for the Brit Awards 2008:

Outstanding Contribution To Music

Paul McCartney

British Album

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

British Single

Take That - Shine

British Group

Arctic Monkeys

International Album

Foo Fighters

British Female Solo Artist

Kate Nash

International Group

Foo Fighters

International Female Solo Artist

Kylie

British Male Solo Artist

Mark Ronson

International Male Solo Artist

Kayne West

British Breakthrough Act

Mika

Critics Choice

ADELE

British Live Act

Take That

This years show went down a storm especially since Amy Winehouse and Paul Mcartney managed to set their troubles to one side and both peformed to the top of their game and wowed the audience.

So roll on Brit Awards 2009, we will have to wait and see if there are any suprises at next years awards and if there will be any new bands to tickle our musical tasebuds.

by Helen Macrae 

Bigger and better than ever before, Klubbers Day 2008 returns for the third year running with an impressively eclectic line-up listing more artists than you can shake a stick at. This year the festival will be held on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th March at the Telefonica Madrid Arena, and entry can be yours for a mere 30 Euros (single day pass) or 50 Euros (2 day pass, exclusive spangly wristband included).

The artists providing treats for your ears are as follows:

2 Rare People, 7 Notas 7 Colores, Alexander Kowalski, Alloy Mental Live!, AndresAndreas Live!, Ascii.Disko Live&DJ Set, Autokratz, B-Bass, Beat Sense, Benny Yasoto, Blake Baxter, Coco Cielo, David Tarrida Live!, David Mallada, De La Soul, Digital 21, DJ Hell, DJ Premier, Dosem, Drugwork, Dub Elements, Dusty Kid, D’Wachman, Fabian Roelandt, Gentlemen, J.Leyend, Jackie Misfit, James Ruskin, Javi Bici Junior, Jesus Riano, Johannex, Jorda, Joton, Ken Ishii, Klef, Kruder&Dofmeister, LCD Soundsystem, Lorenzo Bartoletti, Lucca, Luke, Malsum Live!, Marc Marzenit Live!, Marco Faraone, Miguel Mendoza, Miki Craven, Mimanson, Misstress Barbara, Mos Def, Nuria Ghia, Oscar Mulero, Pablo Guadalupe, Ralph Montana, Recyver Dogs Live!, RJ Junior, Ruben Montesco, Scan 7, Sebastian Roya, Serious Beat, Sven Vath, Sweeterbeat, Technasia, The Advent Live!, The Juan Maclean, Tobi Neumann, Vitalic Live!, Yorka.

Tickets can be bought online at www.ontickets.es, or from Ticktackticket outlets such as FNAC, TIPO shops and Carrefour travel agents, as well as various other outlets in Madrid (see www.klubbersday.es/tickets for full details). Telefonica Madrid Arena can be reached by Metro (Line 10 - Lago, or Line 6 - Alto de Extremadura) or by bus (Lines 31, 33, 36, 39 and 65), although parking is available for all you teetotallers at a cost of 5 Euros a day. Doors open at 18:00, proof of identity is required to enter the festival.

For further information check out the website www.klubbersday.es

See you down the front!

by Ryan Craggs 

Not enough people my age understand the genius of Marvin Gaye. Most assuredly, the person of average pop-culture IQ will be familiar with the song “Let’s Get It On” as a means of getting it on. However, Marvin Gaye’s music means so much more than simply finding a way to set the mood to get busy.

A supremely adept showman, Gaye was gifted with a voice so emotive that God would envy its perfect tone and pitch. Even so, a fair number of musicians aren’t necessarily great at one thing or another—performing, producing or songwriting—but Gaye excelled on all fronts. From his early roots as a studio musician through his metamorphosis into an unprecedented Motown success, Gaye defined talent. His 1978 performance of “Let’s Get It On” in Amsterdam provides a glimpse into the genius this world so dearly misses:

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Gaye’s personal demons are well-documented, as his failed marriage led to the production of the album Here, My Dear, with a bizarre alimony settlement sending the proceeds to his ex-wife. More importantly, Gaye battled drug use and depression, and eventually in an attempt to rid himself of his troubles, he moved into his parents home. It was during this time that the Reverend Marvin Gay, Sr. and his musician son argued over business documents, and on April 1, 1984, the voice of one of music’s most powerful voices was forever silenced by the blast of his father’s gun.Though Gaye’s discography touches all corners of emotion for me, I find myself continually drawn back to 1971’s What’s Going On and 1973’s Let’s Get It On. Here and now, when hip-hop culture is so much about image and machismo, vanquishing rivals and becoming something of a crime syndicate boss through violence and drugs, pausing and listening to Gaye’s music flips the script. His story is about love, life in the inner-city, and how to make something more of it all. When Gaye croons the lines, “We don’t need to escalate/You see, war is not the answer/ For only love can conquer hate,” there’s a lesson that anyone can learn from. In a time as confusing as ours and amidst Black History Month in the U.S., we should all take time to reflect and recognize an artist with a message. Gaye poses the question, “Would you rather make love children/ As opposed to war?”

I know my answer.