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Issue 777
5 - 11 SEPT 2014
Spain’s fight for live music AFTER LAST week’s article about Spain’s noise laws and a crack down on some local pubs and clubs, many people have come out in both support of a petition for more live music, while others are dead against it. by Keith Nicol
Naughty but nice!
Benidorm Pride 2014
The flamboyant Costa Blanca resort will celebrate a 4th Gay Pride next weekend! See page 37.
Members of the public, bar owners, patrons and entertainers resident in Spain have been encouraged to visit: http://peticionpublica. es/pview.aspx?pi=ES74536 and sign a petition for ‘Live Music Petition for Summer Entertainment Licences in Spain’. As we went to press, a lowly 627 people had done so although others have signed up in person. However, this number is insignificant compared to the 30,000 they wish to achieve, or for this to have any backing of political groups in the Spanish Senate. To be pedantic, as one Facebook member pointed out, the Petition is not particularly well laid out; is addressed to the Presidents of Spain and the European Union when it should be to the Senate and European Council and is without any real focus. However, as a vehicle to highlight certain issues, it has done that. Petition originator Jax Lawson, owner of ‘Lets Rock Shows’ makes a number of valid points when it comes to fact that in some areas of Spain, there does seem to be discrimination as to whom is allowed to have live
music playing and who is not. Getting to the nitty gritty, when a business licence is applied for by a café, restaurant, pub or venue, there are two main choices of licence: either just as a bar or café which does include the right to have live music or to apply for what is becoming incorrectly known as a ‘music licence’ in which case, a venue needs to comply with rules and regulations about the soundproofing of the venue. However neither applications apply to having live music on the terrace. Thus those that have spent 20,000€ and more to soundproof their venue do not seem to be backing the Petition to allow others, that did not want to follow the law, the right to also have music. One suggestion is that associations of local bar owners should be formed in various locations and for them to get together and come to some arrangements between themselves, rather than the ‘in fighting’ that is presently happening. The road to the Senate in Madrid is a long one and chances of this being heard, receiving major political support and passed within the next couple of years, look slim if not impossible. But at least locally, councils and politicians are paying attention.