El País launches Los Matinales, a musical alternative for all

Concerts for all ages at weekends, in the morning, and at carefully selected theaters and cinemas. In other words, a fresh approach to music, aimed at the general public, promoting live music as a truly enriching experience. As part of its renewed commitment to music and to mark its 40th anniversary, EL PAÍS, in collaboration with the promoters Planet Events and Les Nits de L'Art, is launching an exciting new initiative: Los Matinales, which seks to bring live music to the general public in the daytime slot over the weekends from some of the country’s top venues. "Pancho Varona commented to me that it was a shame that there were no concerts in the mornings, when many people would really appreciate the chance to enjoy live music. We believe there is a particularly active and important public at this time," says Rubén Martínez, from Les Nits de L'Art.

The EL PAÍS Los Matinales series of events is set to fill the gap. The first such event will be held on Saturday, January 30, at 1 pm at the Nuevo Teatro Alcalá in Madrid, when Iván Ferreiro will give a concert that is set to look back over his career. The former frontman of Los Piratas is one of the most eclectic in Spanish pop and one who never fails to impress on stage. The same goes for Marlango, the duo made up of Leonor Watling and Alejandro Pelayo, who’ll be performing at the Teatro Nuevo Apolo in Madrid. "It's a great idea because, apart from the time slots and venues, we musicians just love being able to play," says Pelayo. "It is true that this initiative is very different. Mornings are not really part of our regular schedule, but that’s nothing coffee can’t fix,” he says.

The  EL PAÍS Los Matinales concerts are set to offer a very real leisure alternative, with the public being invited to take full advantage of their free time on Saturday or Sunday lunchtimes. The initiative, which is already a popular one in the United States and France, allows music fans to indulge in their love of music along with their families and children. With younger fans in mind there’ll be a concert from Furious Monkey House, an energetic rock band made up of children and who have recorded at the the Beatles’ studio, and Abbey Road, who’ll be performing their tribute to the Fab Four from Liverpool, with the show The Beatles for Kids.

These four concerts are just the start of a long-term project that envisages adding new performers and venues.  EL PAÍS, which every Wednesday publishes a special section on music news, is thus showing its support for live music on all fronts and throughout Spain. There’ll be big name concerts as well as  support for emerging musicians – all performing at great venues, during daytime, during weekends and for all ages. And all will be lending their voices and talent to an idea: the idea that concerts, even in daylight hours, can enrich culture and our lives.