Music is at the root of every culture both past and present and has probably been in existence for about 50,000 years. Right from prehistoric music including folk, indigenous and traditional music to the modern day sounds of rock, pop and classical, music has continued to grow and evolve. Whatever your particular musical preference there are enough music festivals and events held around the world to satisfy those with even the most bizarre taste in music.
Here’s a quick round up of some hot music events happening right now during March 2009:
Quilmes Rock – Buenos Aires, Argentina
Held every March at the Estadio Antonio V. Liberti (River Plate Stadium) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This mega rock festival plays host to big international rock bands as well as Argentina’s own popular rock groups. Tickets sell out very quickly especially when you consider this year’s headliner acts include Iron Maiden, Radiohead, Kiss and Los Piojos from Argentina.
Grame Days Electronic Music Festival – Lyon, France
Each year around March, the concert halls throughout Lyon in France unite for the Grame Days Electronic Music Festival. Actually a series of musical evenings, the festival has interludes and installations which explore music via digital technologies. Visitors are rewarded with multimedia installations and classics which are reinvented and presented as experimental electro.
Archipel Contemporary Music Festival – Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva’s Archipel Contemporary Music Festival is held annually each March and explores the new musical forms that lie between electronic music, rock and aural installations. This year the festival highlights include post-romantic explorations from Helmut Lachenmann, Katharina Rosenberger’s interactive installations and blue sounds from Yann Marussich. Contemporary stuff indeed where you can hear vibrations of installations which appear silent and watch the sounds come alive.
Miami Winter Music Conference – Miami, USA
Held every year in March at the Miami Beach Resort and Spa is the Miami Winter Music Conference which is part business conference and part hardcore partying. More than 6,500 professionals and enthusiasts from around the world meet at what is known as the most important event in the dance music calendar and where some of the hottest dance tracks will debut. Watch some of the worlds most famous DJs and a-list international artists perform during the five non-stop nights at 38 venues on South Beach. The conference offers unsigned artists, producers and DJs the platform to showcase their talents at the New Artist Showcases, Demo Listening Workshops and DJ Spin-Offs.
Twilight at Taronga – Sydney, Australia
Live music is the order of the day at Taronga Zoo’s Twilight, a series of open-air concerts held in Sydney in Australia. Concerts are held on Fridays and Saturdays and each weekend sees a different act take centre stage. Held annually and ending each March you can experience all musical styles from disco diva Marcia Hines to a Big Band Tribute evening, which stars the Australian Idol star Carl Riseley. Twilight has a convivial atmosphere with lawn seating and people bringing picnics to enjoy.
Mediterranean Guitar Festival – Tunis, Tunisia
Held annually each March is the Mediterranean Guitar Festival which features performances from talented international and Tunisian musicians. The festival takes place at various locations throughout Tunis and is worth checking out if you are in the area.
International Jazz Festival – Buenos Aires, Argentina
And now for a different flavor in Buenos Aires in the form of jazz music. Held annually each March at the ND Ateneo cultural space this festival is a must. Soak up the atmosphere and check out the line up which in the past has included the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars and the local porteño favorite, the trumpeter Roberto “Fats” Fernández.
