The Interceltic Festival of Avilés (FIA) is a summer arts festival held annually in
Avilés
Avilés (Asturian and ;) is a town in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is, along with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main cities in the Principality of Asturias.
The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, partially in a land that belonged ...
, and the surrounding area in
Asturias
Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...
, Spain since 1997. The festival is held to promote the cultural traditions, and developments, of the
Celtic nations
The Celtic nations or Celtic countries are a cultural area and collection of geographical regions in Northwestern Europe where the Celtic languages and cultural traits have survived. The term ''nation'' is used in its original sense to mean a ...
(países
celtes in Asturias), especially
music
Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...
and
dance
Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
, as well as
painting
Painting is a Visual arts, visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or "Support (art), support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with ...
,
photography
Photography is the visual arts, art, application, and practice of creating images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is empl ...
,
theatre
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...
,
sculpture
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
, traditional
craftsmanship Workmanship is a human attribute relating to knowledge and skill at performing a task. Workmanship is also a quality imparted to a product. The type of work may include the creation of handcrafts, art, writing, machinery and other products.
Workma ...
,
sport
Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...
and
gastronomy
Gastronomy is the study of the relationship between Human food, food and culture, the art of preparing and serving rich or delicate and appetizing food, the cooking styles of particular regions, and the science of good eating. One who is well ver ...
. It is organized by the ''Cultural Association Esbardu'', located in Avilés.
[
]
Background
The idea of a festival in Avilés arose after the
Festival Interceltique de Lorient
__NOTOC__
The (French), Emvod Ar Gelted An Oriant (Breton) or Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient in English, is an annual Celts (modern), Celtic festival, located in the city of Lorient, Brittany, France. It was founded in 1971 by .
This annual ...
in 1993 when members of Esbardu took part in that festival. They started working on a similar (although smaller) idea in Avilés. In the summer of 1997 the project received a small budget from the Asturian regional government and another one from Avilés Town Hall. The festival was held again in the following year.
In 2006, 1,175 people took part in the festival with 150 acts and performances over eleven days. There were 800 musicians, dancers and actors in the parade. In 2008 it was officially named by the Regional Authorities of the
Principality
A principality (or sometimes princedom) is a type of monarchy, monarchical state or feudalism, feudal territory ruled by a prince or princess. It can be either a sovereign state or a constituent part of a larger political entity. The term "prin ...
of Asturies, as the ''"Fiesta de Interés Turístico Regional"''(Celebration of Regional Tourist Interest).
[
]
In 2010 choirs from
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
participated in the festival, namely The Port Talbot Cymric Male Choir and Cor Meibion Y Fflint (Flint Male Voice Choir). The 'Cymric' as it is known, was the first Welsh male voice choir to perform at the 'Festival Interceltique de Lorient' and performed again in 1978. The choir was again invited to Lorient in 1992. Flint have appeared at Lorient five times as well as Interceltic Festivals in Nantes and Paris. They were winners of the Male Voice Choir competition in the 2007 ''
Côr Cymru
''Côr Cymru'' is a Welsh TV competition searching for the best choir in Wales, which airs every 2 years on S4C. The first series was presented by Aled Jones and Heledd Cynwal in 2003, but subsequent series have been fronted by Nia Roberts and ...
'', and finalists again in 2009.
Venue
The festival takes place in the
Comarca de Avilés, in Asturias, between
Cabo Peñas and the mouth of the
Nalón river.
Avilés
Avilés (Asturian and ;) is a town in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is, along with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main cities in the Principality of Asturias.
The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, partially in a land that belonged ...
,
Castrillón
Castrillón is a municipality in Asturias, located on the central coast of Spain. It has an area of 56.70 km2 and had a population of 22,361 inhabitants (in 2005). The most important population centres are the capital Piedrasblancas, Sali ...
,
Corvera and
Illas
Illas is a municipality in Asturias, Spain, located in the western central part of the province and bordered by the municipalities of Castrillón, Candamo, Llanera, and Corvera de Asturias.
Parishes
There are three parishes (administrative div ...
are the members of the ''
Comarca
A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...
''.
Festival Intercéltico de Avilés y comarca
by A.C. Esbardu
FIA 2008
From 18 to 27 July 2008, the festival was held in Avilés and Comarca.
''Las Noches Célticas'' (The Celtic Nights):
Asturias
Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...
*La Bandina de la Curuxa
*Falanuncaduca
*Anabel Santiago and M.Lee Woolf
Brittany
Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...
*Merzhim
*Bagad Lann Bihoué
*Korriganed Panvrid
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
*Dawnswyr Tawerin
Galicia
* Inquedanzas
*B.G. Charamuscas de Bembrive
Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
*Beoga
*Classac
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
*Fred Morrison
Fred Morrison (born 1963 in Bishopton, Renfrewshire) is a Scottish musician and composer. He has performed professionally on the Great Highland Bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, Border pipes, low whistle, Northumbrian Smallpipes and uilleann pipes ...
*The Tannahill Weavers
*Culter and District Pipe Band
*The Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Red Hot Chilli Pipers is a Celtic rock band from Scotland. Formed in 2002, the band became popular internationally in 2007 after winning the BBC talent show ''When Will I Be Famous?''
The band's lineup features three highland bagpipers and t ...
FIA 2007
Participants in the 11th festival included [
]
*Curran - Fegan from Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
*Inquedanzas from Tui Pontevedra
Pontevedra (, ) is a city in the autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, in northwestern Spain. It is the capital of both the ''Pontevedra (comarca), Comarca'' and Province of Pontevedra, and the capital of the Rías Baixas. It is als ...
, Galicia
*Banda de Gaitas Ledicia from Sanguiñeda Mos, Pontevedra
*Dawnswyr Môn folk dance
A folk dance is a dance that reflects the life of the people of a certain country or region. Not all ethnic dances are folk dances. For example, Ritual, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances ...
rs from Anglesey
Anglesey ( ; ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms the bulk of the Principal areas of Wales, county known as the Isle of Anglesey, which also includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island () and some islets and Skerry, sker ...
, Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
*The Red Hot Chilli Pipers from Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
*Pitlochry
Pitlochry (; or ) is a town in the Perth and Kinross council area of Scotland, lying on the River Tummel. It is historically in the county of Perthshire, and has a population of 2,776, according to the 2011 census.Scotland's 2011 census. (n.p. ...
and Blair Atholl
Atholl or Athole () is a district in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, bordering (in clockwise order, from north-east) Marr, Gowrie, Perth, Strathearn, Breadalbane, Lochaber, and Badenoch. Historically it was a Pictish kingdom, becoming ...
Pipe Band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term pipes and drums, used by military pipe bands is also common.
The most common form of pipe band consists of a section of pipers playing the Great Highland bagpipe, ...
from Scotland
*Capercaillie
''Tetrao'' is a genus of birds in the grouse subfamily known as capercaillies. They are some of the largest living grouse. Feathers from the bird were used to create the characteristic hat of the bersaglieri, an Italian ace infantry formation.
...
a folk
Folk or Folks may refer to:
Sociology
*Nation
*People
* Folklore
** Folk art
** Folk dance
** Folk hero
** Folk horror
** Folk music
*** Folk metal
*** Folk punk
*** Folk rock
** Folk religion
* Folk taxonomy
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Fo ...
band from Scotland
*Ballocheam Highland Dancers from Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling ( ) is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of Scotland. Its county town is Stirling.Registers of Scotland. Publications, leaflets, Land Register Counties.
It borders Perthshir ...
, Scotland
*Bagad Landi from Brittany
Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...
*Lann Tivizio from Brittany
*Cultural Association Esbardu: Organizers of the Festival
* Xera from Asturias
*La Bandina from Asturias
*Dúo Astur from Asturias
Images
Image:Gaiteru Verina.jpg, ''El Gaiteru de Veriña'' during the 9th Festival, 22 June 2005
Image:Corte hachu.jpg, Axe cutting (2005)
Image:Tranditional asturian dancers.jpg, Traditional dancing couple Asturias
Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...
(2004)
Image:Fonsu Mielgo (Llan de Cubel).jpg, Fonsu Mielgo (Llan de Cubel Llan de Cubel are a Celtic folk band from Asturias (Spain) which specializes in researching, playing and recording Asturian folk music.
Formed in 1984, group has been part of an overall revival and revitalization of Asturian traditional music. ...
) in a performance during the 8th Festival in 2004
Image:Lunasa performs at Interceltic Festival of Aviles.jpg, Lúnasa performance at the 8th Festival in 2004
See also
* Interceltic Festival of Morrazo, Galicia
* Festival Interceltique de Lorient
__NOTOC__
The (French), Emvod Ar Gelted An Oriant (Breton) or Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient in English, is an annual Celts (modern), Celtic festival, located in the city of Lorient, Brittany, France. It was founded in 1971 by .
This annual ...
, France
References
External links
''Interceltic Festival of Avilés'' Official WebsiteEsbardu Official websiteComarca AvilésFestival Interceltique de Lorient Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Interceltic Festival Of Aviles
Culture of Asturias
Music festivals in Spain
Festivals established in 1997
Tourist attractions in Asturias
Celtic music festivals
Folk festivals in Spain
1997 establishments in Spain