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Primera Persona

Primera Persona 2014

Autobiographic live sessions: pop music concerts, stand-up comedy, theatre and narrative

Festivals + Scene + Music

Narrative, pop music, monologues and stage performances that revolve around the first person singular meet again in the 3rd Primera Persona Festival. This year, the first person is consolidated and expanded for a whole extra day as the festival extends its programme from two to three days. See the Veus CCCB blog for more information about what’s happening at the 2014 festival: Complete line-up of the 2014 Primera Persona festival.

Thursday, 8 May


Session 1 // 07:00 p.m.
Javier López Menacho / Jorge Carrión / Raúl Cimas
The author of Yo, precario, Javier López Menacho, tells of the urban adventures in the jungle of the working world; writer Jorge Carrión pays tribute to the great US explorer Burton Holmes, and Raúl Cimas, a vital part of humour programme Muchachada Nui, bares all (almost literally) on stage.

Session 2 // 10:00 p.m. (!)
Mongolia / Manolo Martínez (Astrud) / Nueva Vulcano
Two of the editors of Mongolia, Darío Adanti and Edu Galán, discuss from their prison cell the reason for the closure of the satirical magazine with journalist Lucía Lijtmaer, now their lawyer; Manolo Martínez, of Astrud, confesses why he is taking a break from pop, and the Barcelona band Nueva Vulcano offer noise and dance in the first person.

(!) PLEASE NOTE: due to personal reasons, Tracey Thorn will not be taking part in the festival. Taking her place will be Darío Adanti and Edu Galán, of Mongolia magazine.


Friday, 9 May

Session 1 // 07:00 p.m.
TAKE TO THE STREET! MILITANT MEMOIRES / Gilbert Shelton / POP DIARIES
Several leftwing activists (Antonio Baños, César Rendueles, Carolina del Olmo, Roberto Herreros and David Fernàndez) tell us about their first steps in militancy; Gilbert Shelton, living legend of 1960s counterculture and star of comic books, talks to his characters and, to close, three tenors of pop (Felipe, of Los Fresones Rebeldes/Los Canguros/Cola Jet Set; Alex Díez, of Los Flechazos/Cooper; and Fernando Pardo, of Sex Museum) review their songs.

Session 2 // 10:00 p.m.
David Nobbs + Jonathan Coe / Ian Svenonius / Manolo García
The veteran of English fatalistic humour David Nobbs talks about sad comedy with novelist Jonathan Coe; Ian Svenonius (The Make-Up, Chain and The Gang), a vital musician on the international independent circuit, gives a master class with music, and Manolo García (El Último de la Fila) talks about his career with three generations of musicians (Extraperlo, El Último Vecino, Esther Margarit and Miqui Puig with Agrupació Cicloturista Puig).


Saturday, 10 May

Session 1 // 07:00 p.m.
Sheila Heti / Jonathan Lethem / Calvin Johnson
Canadian Sheila Heti, one of the most acclaimed writers of her generation, explains the process of creating a book; New York writer Jonathan Lethem dissects autobiographical excerpts of his work with his sister, translator Mara Lethem, and musician Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, K Records) closes his European tour on stage in the company of J. Irízar; Cristian Pallejà, of Fred i Son, and Xavi Garcia, ex Surfing Sirles.

Session 2 // 10:00 p.m.
Bob Stanley + Green Gartside / Irvine Welsh / Gerard Love
Two masters and scholars of marvellous discs, Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) and Green Gartside (Scritti Politti), talk in depth about pop music; a reading of Sergi Pons Codina introduces Irvine Welsh, author of Trainspotting, who’ll be talking live about his life, loves and hates with his waiter: Martí Sales; and, to finish, Gerard Love, bass player in the glorious band Teenage Fanclub, picks the best of his career in the company of young Majorcans Beach Beach.

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