Richard Hawley - 26 July

How to describe this guy? He's not really rock or roll, nor would I describe him as Indie, Country & Western or folk. He seems to fit somewhere in amongst all of the above. The Sheffield songster, who was rightly nominated for a Mercury award a couple of years ago, gave a stunning and beautiful performance in Bellver Castle, Palma.

Reminding you slightly of Roy Orbison or Johnny Cash, with that deep resonant voice. This guy, who has had his pop days with Pulp, kept a packed house silent throughout what was yet another magical night under the stars. Silent apart from the few Brits, who thought they were at a football match, with chants of "cum on Richard" hmmm?

As this was the last of The Waiting for Waits concerts, Richard dutifully performed a Tom Waits number at the end, which he performed well, if not with just a little too much of a Western accent, but yee hah, I suppose that's what it's all about!

One of the best of the Waiting for Waits concerts, c'mon Tomeu don't give up yet!

Simone Zanchini - July 25

This was the last of the Cala Rajada summer concerts. Every year they have a series of different concerts performed in the beautiful gardens of Torre Cega overlooking the bay and the pretty harbour of Cala Rajada.
Not knowing quite what to expect apart from quality performers it is very difficult to prepare yourself for a night of accordion listening. It was an unusual concert from this Italian trio but one that turned out to be very enjoyable, with them playing some great jazz classics under the stars - three excellent musicians. Simone on the accordion was just fantastic, getting an incredible array of music from what looks like a very cumbersome instrument. There was a moment somewhere in the middle where they did their jazz thing, but I think they can be forgiven for that as overall it was a well put together performance
On a personal note I do think is very difficult to do a solo on double bass, maybe it's just me?

Farruquito - July 24

After a 3 year absence the highly anticipated return of 26 year old Juan Manuel Fernandez Montoya - Farruquito - was as good as expected. This was the premiere of his new spectacular Puro, with a stage full of performers this promised to be a Flamenco show to top anything else seen on Mallorca. It did not disappoint!

7 singers, 3 guitars, a violin, a piano & percussion were all there to back up this amazing talent. The only way to describe him is as the Michael Jackson of the Flamenco world. His movement was precise, extremely energetic and totally exhilarating. He does not appear to have lost any of his style during his enforced absence, neither has he lost any of his looks judging by the ladies reactions in the audience.

All in all a fantastic show full of good music and dancing which would grace any theatre in the world as a showcase for the best of Spain and Flamenco.

Roger Hodgson (Supertramp) - Sun 13 July

The second of the Pollensa Festival concerts and a bit of a break from the normal classical performances. Roger Hodgson as most of you know was the writer and voice of Supertramp throughout their glory years. Since parting company with the other members he has pursued a very successful solo career, performing not only the Supertramp music that we all know and love but also a lot of new material.

He was joined on stage by just one person, Aaron MacDonald, but such is the nature of this music megastar it seemed that there was a complete band with them. Rogers talent on keyboards and guitar were astounding, making you fully appreciate what a talent this guy is. When performing all those great songs, Dreamer, The Logical Song, Give a little bit as well as more recent songs including the great Lovers in the wind you were listening to the same voice of 30 years ago.

But to really cap the whole show of, young Aaron also showed that he was no music stoolie, just there to make up the numbers. He too had an enormous amount of talent, playing sax, keyboard and various other instruments to add to the whole effect. This was an exceptional concert in the most beautiful surroundings of The Claustre de Sant Domingo in Pollensa and one that will not be forgotten in a hurry!

The Psychedlic Furs - 21 June 2008

A dramatic entry by lead Richard Butler, vocalist and main writer of this post punk band. A band who have had more of an influence on pop and rock over the years than you realise. Quoted by one of their biographers that they would "have more impact on future musicians than they ever did in the marketplace"

With brother Tim on bass, John Ashton on lead and the unbelievably good Mars Williams on sax this promised to be a performance to remember and it did not disappoint at any level. Not very long into the set the band struck up Heaven to rapturous applause from the excited crowd in this beautiful courtyard setting. From that point on it just got louder and better up until the last number of the main set Pretty in Pink of course, where a member of the audience jumped on to the stage and was handed the mike by Butler and told to finish of the song while he went backstage to wait for the obligatory applause and calls for more. 4 more great songs in the encore left the crowd breathless and happy. Another great rock band in Mallorca, keep 'em coming!

Probably the only show at the beautiful Misericordia courtyard in Palma this year which is a great shame as this surely is one of the best summer venues around. Intimate enough to get up close but large enough for a couple of thousand people and unlike the bullring you don't quite feel it is all going to collapse around you!

Pee Wee Ellis - 20 June 2008

As part of the Jazz Voyeur season Pee Wee Ellis played at Sala Assaig in Palma to a packed house. Pee Wee soon captured most peoples attention with his presence and also the quality of his playing. An accomplished musician who has been in the business for all of his life and still going strong at 67. Yes there were those jazz moments where the musicians went off on their own, but thankfully not too many. As the evening went on you started to understand why he is crowned with being the master of Jazz Funk. With his version of the classic Herbie Hancock Cantaloupe Island he had everybody, wiggling their hips, clicking their fingers and tapping their feet, (apart from the lady next to me that is, who talked through the complete performance to anyone who would listen and even got upset when I asked her to stop! Why do some people bother going to these things?). He was joined on stage for couple of tracks by a local singer who really added a touch of magic to the show.

A very entertaining evening by a jazz master -
"not bad for jazz"
As a side issue, considering the lack of good venues in Palma for live music this one is totally underutilised for concerts like this. It's obvious problem is its dark and unwelcoming location on the main industrial estate in Palma but once inside it is an excellent place to listen to live music. Good acoustics, good views from most parts, a self contained bar plus the Assaig cafe just next door as a meeting place.

The Enemy, Ibiza Rocks - 31 May 2008

Only a 52€ return ferry trip and a 35€ a person hotel room gave us the pleasure of being one of a few hundred people to see The Enemy up close and live on Saturday night.

Taking the early morning ferry on Saturday from Palma we found ourselves in the beautiful port of Ibiza Town 2 hours later, amongst the beautiful people that are found on The White Isle. Being a lot smaller than Mallorca the trip to the infamous town of San Antoni on the opposite side of the island is only a 1/2 hour drive away, incidentally passing the ever young Amnesia club as well as allegedly the biggest club in the world now named Privilege. The last time I was there it had a different name and an Olympic size swimming pool - inside!
Checking in to the Ibiza Rocks Hotel you know you are in for an experience, a reception area full of X-Box's to start with, plus what has to be mentioned, extremely friendly staff. The previous use of the hotel was obviously as a 3 star tourist type venue, so as far as the 300 or so rooms were concerned not many extras, although our room which was clean and equipped with a small kitchen area was perfectly adequate, especially as at the end of the end of the day all you are going to do is sleep in it, but not at the end of the day, more like halfway through the next one!

The evenings entertainment consisted of 3 live bands as well as the resident DJ, all performing outside in the main pool area, sadly in the rain at the start of the evening.

As the evening got going the rain eased and by the time The Enemy appeared it was all but a few drops. And then! Well what can you say, this is a platinum album selling band that play at sold out stadiums across the UK in front of 1000's and here we were amongst an excited crowd of hundreds. It did not take them long to get us all going, real rock stars can do this without thinking and these guys were awesome. take a listen to them here http://www.myspace.com/theenemycoventry and you might start to understand why. With them performing the best of their music and a new one or two you just could not help jumping around, songs like Had Enough and Away from here are brilliant but to be there listening to This song this close and in what was an electric atmosphere was just too much. If you get the chance you just have to see them! By the end of the concert we had managed to wish the rain away and get ourselves hyped up for more of the entertainment that San Antoni has to offer.

A trip back on the Sunday evening ferry meant that there was no rushing around, which was just what the doctor had ordered. A few hours of mooching, a pleasant late lunch on the beach and a couple of beers in the sun waiting for the ferry to arrive.

Over the weekend we also managed to drop in on an old friend and Island Celeb Tony Pike. He has been running his exclusive Pikes Hotel here now for 28 years and for those of you that might find 3 star tourist hotels not quite up to the required needs then this is the place to stay. Tony's famous guests include Julio Iglesia, Grace Jones, Freddie Mercury, Fat Boy Slim and the famous Club Tropicana video by the Wham boys being shot in the pool. A beautiful place just for beautiful people, no way, everybody always feels welcome here as Tony is one of the greatest natural hosts you will ever find and his hotel is just one of the coolest you will find anywhere in the world. http://www.pikesibiza.com/ check it out.

Bring on the Fratellis!!! go to http://www.digamemallorca.com/ for updates on acts.