Celebrated French band Gipsy Kings Family will perform in Tehran for the third time.
Slated for April 30 and May 2 at the Ministry of Interior Auditorium, the concerts are organized by the Exir Novin Advertising Agency and Persia Film Company, both based in the capital, according to Exirconcert.com, where tickets are available.
Gipsy Kings Family comprises a few remaining members of the old band Gipsy Kings together with their progeny who are now considered Spanish folk musicians.
Based in Camargue in southern France, Gipsy Kings comprised two families, the Reyes family from Arles and the Baliardos from Montpellier.
The new band, Gipsy Kings Family, follows the same music genres of its predecessor which are salsa, western pop and pop flamenco with Latin rhythms.
Paul (Pablo) Reyes, the veteran guitarist and vocalist of Gipsy Kings, who is of Gitano descent (Spain), is among the old members. Jose Reyes is another survivor of the old band.
The members speak French and sing in the Spanish dialect of Gitane, the native gypsy language which is a mix of Spanish, Catalan and French. Their last show in Tehran was last July at Vahdat Hall and their first appearance in Tehran in August of 2016, also at Vahdat.
A selection of their best hits including ‘Amor Mio’, which are popular with Iranian music fans, is planned for the spring event.
The concerts are supported by the Music Center of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and are in accordance with the general policies of the center in terms of international cultural exchange. Traces of Persian and Indian music can be found in flamenco style which was expanded to North Africa and Spain. The genre’s key instrument ‘flamenco guitar’ is purportedly a modified version of Persian Oud (or Barbat, a pear-shaped stringed instrument).
“Gipsy King’s music is respectable and incorporates modern musical rules; their Orient-based work has gained global recognition and popularity,” director of the music center Pirooz Arjmand said about the band’s work.
The Interior Ministry Auditorium is located on Gomnam Street, near Fatemi Street.
