Category: Gigs Abroad

Gigs from Abroad Part 11 – Lisbon

Portugal has always been one of my favourite countries to visit and I have had two separate holidays to the Algarve resort over the years. I have never had opportunity yet to visit Porto but have been fortunate to have visited the vibrant city of Lisbon twice.

Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal with a population of around half a million, it has a spacious harbour area and serves as a gateway to both the Mediterranean Sea and Northern Europe. The city suffered a huge earthquake and subsequent fires and tsunami in 1755, which could most certainly be quantified as a ‘bad day’, before it was subsequently rebuilt.

Lisbon skyline. Image Credit wallsdesk.com

In 2005, Lisbon hosted the MTV Europe Music awards with an ‘understated’ opening sequence of a leotard clad Madonna bursting out a shiny disco ball! It is also the host city for the Portuguese version of Rock in Rio, which is allegedly the largest rock festival in the World.    

In 2010 Gill and I had four nights there and initially managed to navigate the local bus from the airport to find our hotel near to the metro station of Parque. There was a local El Corte Ingles, or ‘Debenhams’ as I used to call it, in the basement of said establishment there was a terrific little tapas bar which fortuitously was located adjacent to the metro entrance.

The metro itself was clean and highly effective to traverse on and contained the most extended escalator I can recall at one of the station stops in the Old Town, longer even than the one at Angel tube station in London. In my humble opinion I have also sampled some of the finest curries ever whilst in Portugal as the combination of hot weather and the clay oven cooking style enhances them immensely.

We had booked the trip a substantial time period before we actually travelled but we discovered that Benfica, one of the two football teams in the city were playing at home in the Europa League on our final night there and it soon become evident that the opponents were to be Liverpool. We inadvertently headed to a shopping arcade near the ground on match day and the crowds were beginning to gather.

We then had some tea near the main train station whilst the match was on with Benfica obtaining a controversial 2-1 win before Liverpool triumphed overall after the second leg the following week. Post-food we headed out of town and stayed local for the rest of the evening to avoid any after match activity. The following day our flight back was into Liverpool, which was delayed, there were a few casualties on the plane but overall, thankfully most wanted to sleep and just desired to arrive home as quickly as possible.

In February 2016 the annual lads trip made its longest commute thus far by paying a visit to the city. On the traditional train trip on the Saturday, we visited Sintra which was a 45-minute trip away. We had a sally around the town and visited a little battered bar next to the station.

Pena Castle Sintra. Image Credit travelawaits.com

We had unfortunately and inadvertently picked the coldest February weekend for many years to visit and as a result we didn’t over dwell in the harbour area. In one bar we saw Leicester obtain a last-minute winner which was celebrated by the neutrals in residence as they were in the process of progressing to their most unlikely title triumph that year.

In the evenings we were in residence in the old town around Barrio Alto with many pop-up establishments everywhere, numerous doorways just opening to reveal small bars later on in the evening or even early in the morning. In one such establishment Lisbon Arroz Doce we sampled some of the local nostalgic fado music by watching an act called Vanessa Bowl. The bar name itself translates as a local moniker for rice pudding and opens until 3am at the weekends.    

Lisbon Arroz Doce. Image Credit en.tripadvisor.com.hk

On a topical footnote, my blog provider contacted me last week regarding whether I desired to utilise their AI capability to craft my articles. After my initial reaction of being somewhat insulted, my next thought was that it was an oxymoron as they could never ever replicate my personal experiences. So, for the record this is the ‘Real Jimmy’ not the ‘AI Jimmy’ continuing to pen these missives!      

Gigs from Abroad Part 10 – Puerto Del Carmen

As cited previously in my Gigs from Abroad Part 4 blog I have undertaken several trips to the Canarian Island of Lanzarote and mainly visited the Puerto Del Carmen resort, which lies about five miles from Arrecife airport.

On the island In September/October each year they hold the Arrecife En Vivo over four weekends over four stages in the capital and the person who guides you to the next stage is an Elvis impersonator with a large foam hand! I have not yet managed to time a visit to coincide with this event but hope to rectify that in a future year.

Many of the gigs that follow below are generally low-key cover acts but adopting a completist mode I must document every single event that I have attended, otherwise my story would be unfinished!

We had one separate holiday in the other resort of Costa Teguise in 2012 and whilst in residence we visited Costa Teguise La Vida where we saw Dale Sullivan play.

There is a coastal path/cycle route that runs from Costa Teguise, through Arrecife town, past the airport and Matagorda to reach Playa de los Pocillos. This is a sleepy resort and I witnessed here a chap called Joshua play in the Lanzarote Chill Out Bar and Pedro perform in Lanzarote Rocos Blancos.

We walked back one evening from the resort to Puerto Del Carmen and there was a late set on from River Mills in a restaurant called Lanzarote La Avenida. Between the resorts is the Lanzarote Plaza de Nationale, which has a mini amphitheatre where on one occasion there was a local festival taking place and on a temporary stage the Desi Jockeys were performing.  

After walking past the excellent yet challenging crazy golf course you enter the mile long strip at Puerto Del Carmen and at the Lanzarote California Bar, I saw Hazel White play. Beyond there you reach the casino and Lanzarote Café De Ola which sits behind it, and you can watch the sea and the sunset. We have twice seen Storming Thunder who were half decent, but their stage banter was distinctly lacking in charisma, I have also seen a saxophonist called Jake Hanson play there.    

Cafe de Ola. Image Credit tripadvisor.com.sg

Next to the casino resides the first ever bar we entered on our inaugural trip to the island called Lanzarote Golden Corner, where I have seen Mark Spulzenberger and Pete Edwards play. Across the road is the Lanzarote Goofy Burger, outside of which they have a regular singer called Carlos. He may be in his elder years but has a terrific voice and I recall him doing an excellent cover of Buddy Holly’s ‘Rave On’.

Five minutes’ walk away, opposite the Tourist Information resides Dos Mil, an unprepossessing supermarket café, but they serve the most wonderful pastries and cakes. Just beyond is a fantastic oriental restaurant called Asia Delicious where we have frequented many times, and that is where we sampled the local liquor Caramello for the first time!

A doorway next to there takes you down into the dingy den of Lanzarote Mulligans where I have seen Brian Duke, Los Handos and Nigel Hardacre perform. Back on upper street level brings you to one of my favourite bars Lanzarote Africa Bar, where you can play pool, sit on beer barrels facing the sea or watch the pretty good bands on stage. I have seen the Usual Suspects, Aftershock and Africa United there.   

Africa Bar. Image Credit tripadvisor.co.uk

Continuing down the strip and you arrive at Lanzarote Tequila Bar where I saw a ‘Spinal Tap’ inspired band called Question play. Beyond there is the Lanzarote American Indian Café which is a restaurant by day and then converts into an enjoyable music spot in the evening. We have spent a few nights suppling ice-cold Mahou’s and munching on Frutos Secos, I have witnessed Perfect Circus and Alanis Band perform there. I recall once our waiter suddenly scampering off and the reason for this action then became abundantly clear as he walked up to the microphone and undertook the guest vocals on the next track!   

The end of the strip is signified by the famous Linekers’s bar, though in reality it is bit of an uninspiring establishment. Shortly after you locate Lanzarote Lava Bar. When we were in residence there was some fine-looking tucker arriving from the kitchen and Gerry and Gina were tinkling away on the piano.

Subsequently, you then arrive in the old town and harbour where there are restaurants where you can watch locals playing some very high-quality boules in the adjoining sand pits. You can also undertake the hour long walk across a very dusty and warm cliff top path to the resort of Puerta Calero.

In the old town there is a more traditional music venue called Lanzarote Electric Island which is a fun place to visit. We have attended there twice watching the Electric Island house band and supping their Malagan beer which for some undiscernible reason makes us sway on the walk back!   

Electric Island Bar. Image Credit tripadvisor.ca

Finally, some steps take you up one of the resorts best fish restaurants, namely Lanzarote Mardeleva. It is constantly booked up but one night we managed to fortuitously grab a walk-in table and it was worth the effort. In the doorway there was a highly traditional artist called Monty Montana playing and we were hoping but ultimately without success that he would play ‘Quando Quando’!