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Unlocking Live Music in Gibraltar

scene UNLOCKING LIVE MUSIC IN GIBRALTAR Whilst stuck in the UK during lockdown, I wondered what local musicians on The Rock were doing in their lockdown. I was soon to find out, as, after an exchange of emails to a very helpful Stuart Green at the GoG Press Office, I found myself being allowed to fly to Gibraltar to investigate further. As it turned out the letter that would have allowed me to board the plane at Heathrow was no longer needed as the Gibraltar Government had allowed nonresidents entry a couple of days previously.

BY CLAIRE SPENCER

After a smooth flight from an almost deserted Terminal 5, there was the usual excitement as The Rock was spotted from the starboard side as the plane winged its way past Europa Point with the lighthouse standing like a lonely red and white sentinel on the southernmost point of the peninsular. Soon, after a series of well-practised choreographed turns, we found ourselves levelling up to approach the runway, with the cars stopped by the barriers as if to pay homage to our arrival, as we came to a halt opposite the sheer limestone face of the North Front.

Incredibly, I had my first live music experience as I stepped off the bus and walked through the hallowed arches leading into Casemates Square, with the colourful sunshades of the bars David Diaz and Rick Astley

"He has worked tirelessly to build up the Rock on the Rock club to be a focal point for musicians."

fluttering like so many flags in a victory parade. Here, a couple of buskers had set up their gear, and were giving an impromptu performance to all who would lend an ear. I sat on a bench where I heard a few covers, most notably by Jamaica’s most illustrious son, Bob Marley, with a bit of Pink Floyd thrown into the mix, along with The Kinks and Rolling Stones for good measure. The unassuming buskers, keeping the live music flag flying gave their names as Steve and Steve respectively, taking it in turns to entertain those sitting the square with a rather nice portable sound system.

The two Steves told me that they had been talent spotted by someone who was suitably impressed with their performance, and that he had recommended them to the owner of the Cabana beach bar in Camp Bay who had offered them a regular spot as well as keeping an eye on the place after it was closed of a night. And so the unlikely pair of Steves, one from West Lothian in Scotland and the other from Uttoxeter in Staffordshire were rebranded as ‘The Night Watchmen’ for their newfound venue.

Scottish Steve writes a lot of his own material, whilst The Staffordshire version plays a wide selection of popular covers, interspersed with witty banter. I strolled over to Camp Bay one evening a couple of weeks later to see them play, and, handily equipped with a Mojito, served by a very friendly lady called Houda, I was treated to a very entertaining set with a similar mix of music as before. Houda is certainly multitalented; as well as making the most delicious cocktails, she joined popular local singer Surianne a few nights later to sing ‘Hotel California’. The Cabana is surely the ideal setting to watch the sun sink slowly in the west, seemingly setting the sky on fire and turning the clouds brilliant shades of vermilion.

busy Piccadilly Gardens where OLLI (Their name stands for ‘One Life Live It’) were playing a lively set. This was one of the many gigs put on by The Musicians Association of Gibraltar, run by Steven Noni Belilo. In fact, MAG, as they are known for short, also put on live music at many other venues locally including The Cabana Bar, The Dolphin Bar and Rock on the Rock. One place that MAG had featured very heavily for live streamed gigs was My

Wines on Chatham Counterguard, not be an understatement to say where only a couple of weeks that music ran rich in his veins as previously, celebrated Gibraltarian David excitedly explained that musician Jonathan Sacremento, or Hector Cortes had been enrolled ‘Sac,’ as he is known locally, had in the Gibraltar Music Hall of featured his newly released album Fame, which is a Gibraltar Live The Wooden Street. Music Society initiative backed One lunchtime I met up with went on to explain that Gibraltar David J Diaz who runs The Cultural Services invest heavily in Gibraltar Live Music Society at promoting local talent. his ‘office’ - otherwise known by Gibraltar Cultural Services. He as Latinos. David, who works David Diaz proved to be a at the Panorama, comes from a veritable goldmine of useful musical family, and has had quite information on the music scene an amazing career to date. He here on The Rock, and The told me that getting to work at Gibraltar Live Music Society Panorama reviewing music events are definitely at the forefront on The Rock was a dream come of some fine live music events around town and are well worth supporting: their Facebook page has lots of info on what’s happening on the Rock. true for him. It was a wonderful to hear the roll of honour of the famous musicians he’d interviewed in his career to date, including "He did muse over the possibility of One place that came as absolutely no surprise that were putting on live music again was the prodigious Rock on the Rock Club on Town Range Gibraltar’s most famous son, Albert Hammond. David explained that it all started with a podcast six years ago entitled Inspired where he’d interviewed local musicians a gig outside of O’Reilly’s." including X Factor winner Sam ably run by Alan Alman, who most Bailey when she visited Gibraltar. famously was awarded the British Empire Medal a few years back. They say like father like son, and There were some interesting acts this rings very true in David’s already booked for August when case; before his father retired, he I called by one evening, including played drums and percussion with most notably another well-known The Royal Gibraltar Regiment, local musician, Sista Dee, who whilst his son most certainly is told me that she’d managed to passionate about music. David get to play a few live sets during went on to explain the different lockdown. Alan Alman didn’t influences in his life that have get honoured by the Queen for made such a big impression on services to music in Gibraltar for him from the late Hector Cortes, no good reason, as he has worked former music teacher at St. Anne’s tirelessly to build up the Rock and leader of The Calpe Singers, on the Rock club to be a really to the life-changing epiphany worthy focal point for musicians that was Melon Diesel. It would here in Gibraltar. It isn’t just to listen to music that you might call by ROTR club for either, as lockdown gave birth to The Taste of Persia restaurant and takeaway, started by Lili Olivera, cooking food from home in the early days of lockdown for home delivery. Alan so liked the idea that he bought Lili and Taste of Persia on board at the Rock on the Rock, where you can order delicious food with many tempting vegan options at lunchtime as well as the evenings and gig nights.

Whilst the establishments mentioned have live music on outside, at the time of writing Gibraltar hasn’t returned to normal, as big events like Gibraltar Calling have been cancelled and the ever-popular live jam at The Lord Nelson can’t take place because of the need to socially distance. In my wanderings around town I had run into Trevor Emmett, the bass player with Thrifty Malone, who was sat outside his usual live venue of The Lord Nelson one sunny evening with the swifts swooping and screaming like little black scimitars. Trevor told me he had absolutely no idea of when we’d hear Thrifty Malone next, a view shared by their guitarist Alan Jenkins, who I caught doing an online quiz night at Nelsons a few days later, though he did muse over the possibility of a gig outside of O’Reilly’s at some point.

Hopefully it won’t be too long before normality returns and music lovers all over Gibraltar will be able to enjoy seeing their favourite musicians again without any restrictions.

Claire has donated her fee for this article to Charles Trico's appeal to help disadvantaged children in Morocco.

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