2 day Gypsy Festival
06 / 08 / 2007
Polka Madre y la Comezon at the Star and Shadow Cinema
The Star & Shadow Cinema welcomes Mexican Gypsy Balkan band Polka Madre y la Comezon on Thursday 6 September as part of a two day Gypsy Festival. It is one of the band's exclusive northern dates (they play The Common Place, Leeds on Wednesday 5 September).
Polka Madre y la Comezon is a musical group which has surprised its audiences with the originality of its compositions and the energy, sarcasm and humour of its live shows.
After two and a half years since its conception in Mexico City, Polka Madre's principle influences lie in Jewish music and the old sounds of Gypsy and Eastern European cultures. Each piece, however, varies in style, rhythm and time signature.
Their repertoire ranges from euphoric polkas, melancholic waltzes to punk, rock and passages of classical music. The vibrancy of the band is also drawn from the origin of its members: Mexico City, Portland, Oregon and Helsinki, Finland. Each member brings his or her cultural influences into the compositions. Mexico City's raw, concrete landscape is what binds the band together. The city's ruckus, violence and camaraderie make music and emotions more intense. Sadness is sadder, faster and harder becomes reckless; beauty is rare and hence more treasured. The grittiness of the city leaks into even the finest klezmer clarinet piece and the fast dance songs are all the more rowdy.
The band mostly lives together in an ex-warehouse and spends most of its time creating music. The band have completed their their first US tour (30+ dates) they have previously toured Mexico and performed at a Festival in Europe.
There are special screenings of two Gypsy films at the Star & Shadow: Latcho Drom, on Wednesday 5 September at 9pm and When the Road Bends: Tales of a Gypsy Caravan on Thursday 6 September at 6pm before the gig.
Tickets for all events are £4/£3 with one year annual membership at £1. Free for asylum seekers and refugees. We do not turn anyone away for lack of funds. See www.starandshadow.org.uk or ring 0191 261 0066 for more information See also www.myspace.com/madrecomezon
Star & Shadow Cinema Listings
Latcho Drom,
Wednesday 5 September 9pm
One hundred minutes of music, singing and dancing through a gipsy journey heading from India to Egypt, Turkey, Romania and France. One thousand years of history of the gypsy community marked by the racism and hate of these people who live their lives and express their feelings with passion till raving. A fascinating
When the Road Bends: Tales of a Gypsy Caravan
Thursday 6 September 6pm
At the centre of our 2-day gypsy music festival is the new and touching movie from Tony Gatlif, that won the "Un Certain Regard" Award at the Cannes festival in 1993. Celebratory film of Roma musical culture. This gorgeously colourful beautiful film vividly brings joyous melodies. Effusive enough? Well, you sure to be staying for the band afterwards
Polka Madre y La Comezón
Thursday 6 September 8pm
Gypsy Punk is one of the sounds of the summer and tonight we are lucky enough to host a visit to the Toon one of the hardest touring bands. Based in an old warehouse in Mexico City, Polka Madre is made up of an international cast of musicians who finds universalism in polkas infused with Yiddish.
Media contact Cait Read 07811 320447 cantinalatina@gmail.com
Images available on request, Interviews are possible with the band by arrangement.