It is a shame to see so many negative reviews re: Gipsy Kings, when I think they all come from the Saturday show where it rained, which to me seems to be incompatible with the venue layout and sound systems.
On the friday, fortunately the weather held out, and the sound was amazing, the atmosphere uplifting, and although Hotel California was missing, so many other hits were played it was amazing.
We had so much fun dancing with random other people in groups nearby, people had travelled from Barcelona to see them and seemed happy. The time did pass quickly and I wish they could have played an even longer set, but it was still about an hour and a half by the time they finished their lovely extended set.
Re: language barrier mentioned elsewhere, the band are of spanish origin brought up in france, and all their songs (bar Volare and parts of Hotel California) are in spanish so I would not necessarily expect much english dialogue, more for the music. They did speak somewhat with audience in french and spanish with a token "good evening" and "we love you" in english so personally I think overall good show on their part. I would definitely go again, just disappointed there's no shows left this year!
Separate note on venue: Fantastic being able to have picnic, deckchairs comfy though could do with an inch extra leg room, more if people in front decide to recline their chairs! I do wonder whether Kenwood house might consider rows of deckchairs in semicircle around the edges at livelier concerts as lots of people do tend to get up and go to front and aisles to dance.
Kenwood House @
- London @
- 10/07/2011 @
Setlist: Bamboleo, Djobi-Djoba, Volare, Bem Bem Maria, most of the best of album.... @
Opening act(s): Mano De Dios - "hand of god". Ok as a warm up, but not my cup of tea, main song was something about sending an ex-girlfriend to burn in hell!?! @