Tucked away under the busy streets of Edinburgh is a cellar bar that will make you feel like you’ve teleported to Andalusia. The stage is small, with just enough space for a cajón, a guitar, and an old wooden piano at the back. In this intimate setting and relaxed atmosphere, you feel like you’re among friends. Flamenco is about more than just the music. It’s a visceral experience, best appreciated when seen live.
A visceral experience
Danielo Olivera steps onstage to a roar of applause. He picks up the guitar, and as he plays the first few chords, a flamenco dancer joins him.
There are numerous voices at work in the performance. You have the distinct sound of the guitar and the voice that sings and whistles. Then, there is the dancer who communicates with the guitar through movement. Her expression is mesmerizing as the songs reach their crescendo. She claps and uses her whole body as an instrument. Her shoes have metal nails in the heel and toe that strike the floor, creating a rhythm to match the melody. There are also the castanets for one song. This tiny hand-held percussion instrument is so well known yet rarely encountered.
All these components together create a mix of emotions ranging from melancholy to happiness to longing and desire, all at once. As I watched, I felt the emotions bubbling inside me. My chest suddenly became a mirror reflecting life. It is masterfully complex. And you do not need to know Spanish to enjoy or feel it.
Halfway through the show, Danielo shared his journey with flamenco and its deep emotional and therapeutic meaning throughout his career. Stories about the different styles of the songs and stories of his wife and their life together beautifully accompany the music. You can feel the collective sweat in the room. The passion and energy delight and engage all senses. It’s intimate, cathartic, therapeutic, and everything flamenco should be.
At the end of the show, there was a small surprise. Daniel Martinez, a well-known flamenco guitar virtuoso, came onstage, and a cajón player soon joined them. Together, all four artists created something unique, elevating an already excellent show to new heights. But 2Flamenco is more than just about the music. It feels like a celebration of friendship and art––a love letter to Spain.
