The series of summer shows at Hotel Villa Padierna, Benahavis-Marbella, will come to its conclusion with a Blues concert on Thursday 26^th August, featuring the marvellous voice of Kathleen Pearson-Thomas of Kat & Co Blues band.

Californian singer Kathleen Pearson and group will surely spellbound a packed house guests with a seat-shaking Blues concert at the Roman amphitheatre, which is one of the best places in Costa del Sol to enjoy a live music concert.

Accompanied by three veteran musicians from Malaga: Luis Martin (guitar), Javier Palomo (bass) and David Bravo (drums); Kat & Co creates an explosive mix of American and Andalusian roots Blues with an authentic, personal sound and a wide, varied repertoire of the very best in Blues music.

The evening of entertainment starts with welcome drink at 9 pm followed by the Kat & Co Blues music at 9.30, and by 10.30 pm a special dinner to be served for all attendees in the hotel’s fabulous restaurants, La Veranda and La Loggia.

Tickets for Kat & Co Blues Concert

Tickets are available at the reception of the Hotel Villa Padierna and at El Corte Ingles.

- El Corte Inglés: 902 400 222 / www.elcorteingles.es
- Reception Hotel Villa Padierna: +34 952 889 150 – Ext. 5609 / inquiries.padierna@ritzcarlton.com

You may also contact the event organiser Active Sound Productions for further information on this Kat & Co Blues Concert:  +34 952 913 285 / M: +34 696 538 530

Or

E-mail: info@activesoundproductions.com / visit www.activesoundproductions.com

Kat & Co Blues Concert Location

Hotel Villa Padierna. Carretera de Cádiz (N-340), km 166.
29679 Marbella- Benahavis (Málaga)

For all music lovers in Costa del Sol, here is an exciting opportunity to catch a spectacular flamenco performance in fusion with Andalusia Rock at the Hotel Villa Padierna on Thursday, 19^th August.

As part of a series of summer live concerts scheduled for each Thursday from 29^th July to 26^th August, this flamenco concert invites you to a musical evening with a group of artists led by guitarist Juan Delola.

Accompanied by Singer Sonia Berbel, artist Juan Delola will pay tribute to “Flamenco and Andalusian Rock” – a musical genre born in the second half of the 1970’s where Flamenco and Rock fuse seamlessly together.

The repertoire also includes emblematic Andalusian songs from artists such as Triana, Lole and Manuel, Alameda and Camaron.

As the show commences at 9.30pm, welcome drink will be served to all guests attending the concerts, while at the end of the show (at 10.30pm) you will have the choice to enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the fabulous restaurants, La Veranda and La Loggia.

Ticket for the flamenco concert

Tickets are available at the reception of the Hotel Villa Padierna and at El Corte Ingles.  Ticket prices for the concert are put as given below:

- Show + Welcome Drink: 29 €
- Show + Welcome Drink + Dinner at Restaurant La Loggia (menu of 3 dishes, beverages not included): 64 €
- Show + Welcome Drink (cava, wine or beer) + Dinner at Restaurant La Veranda (menu of 3 dishes, beverages not included): 80 €

More information about the flamenco concert

El Corte Inglés: 902 400 222 / www.elcorteingles.es
Reception Hotel Villa Padierna: +34 952 889 150 – Ext. 5609 / inquiries.padierna@ritzcarlton.com

Wearing sunglasses and surrounded by friends and security personnels, First Lady Michelle Obama and her nine-year-old daughter, Sasha, were pictured strolling through the streets of Marbella’s famous historic quarter.

The Obamas are on a four-day private family trip, although they will pay an official visit to Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia on the invitation of the latter.

Soon after their arrival on Wednesday morning at the Malaga International Airport, they were transported to the seaside luxury resort Hotel Villa Padierna. In the afternoon Mrs Obama and Sasha and their family friends visited the city centre.

The visit of Obama family has been a media interest since last week, as it signals a positive boost to the tourism of Marbella and the Costa del Sol as a whole. This part of Spain has been the number one holiday destination for many foreign travellers, especially Britons.

Here are few pictures of Michele Obama’s trip to the Marbella Old Town.

As one of the top holiday destinations on the Costa del Sol, Marbella has always been a playground for the rich and famous. However, the upcoming private trip of America’s First Lady Michelle Obama (between August 4th and 8th) to this luxury seaside resort has certainly helped the town’s profile.

Until 1960, Marbella was mainly an industrial city and it was only in the later decades of the 20^th century that it gained prominence as a holiday hot spot. Its soothing climate, lovely stretch of sandy beaches and historic culture were channelised with the development of world-class infrastructure that is Marbella today.

However, during the early years of its popularisation, Marbella really promoted itself among those wealthy jet set tourists, including European aristocrats and Hollywood actresses, enticing them with chic beachside resorts and villas. Subsequent real-estate development in future years has allured many property buyers who wish to set up a second home in this magnificent setting.

Although Marbella’s transformation into a prosperous Mediterranean town began with large scale municipal construction activities, the town has been tainted with the accusation of corruption and property scandals with the involvement of its municipal authority. It all began in 1990s with the election of Jesus Gil as the Mayor of Marbella.

However, although this individual was earlier credited for the construction boom, Jesus Gil was later forced to resign in 2002 and briefly imprisoned, following his involvement with a series of corruption scandals. This was not the end of such scandals because in 2006 the entire Marbella Town Hall was summarily dismissed by the Madrid government with irregularities and corruption cases in urban planning.

Marbella’s meteoric rise in the property market resulting in the inhabitation of some of the wealthiest people in the world has also made Marbella vulnerable and an attractive target especially to those in the criminal fraternity. However, since 2006 and specifically under the governance of the present Mayoress Angeles Munoz, the town is trying and succeeding to gain back its 60s reputation.

With Michelle Obama’s visit in August 2010, Marbella has certainly got a chance to promote itself to the world. Praising the tourist potential of the town, the Mayoress says: “it’s always been a popular destination with a strong and very powerful global brand and the visit of Obama family shows that strength of Marbella.”

Marbella is now Centre Stage on the World Tourism Map

Welcoming Mrs Obama, Munoz said that Michelle Obama could have travelled anywhere in the world but she chose Marbella. The Mayor further highlighted that the visit of the Obama family removes any negative connotation towards the town and it also highlights the political and institutional stability achieved in the current legislature. In her words, Marbella has been put in the world tourism map.

The Costa del Sol resort town of Marbella has everything you can ask in a holiday and rest: with an extraordinary climate, sun, beach, leisure, sport, cuisine, shopping and a host of wonderful places for sightseeing.

Luxury Hotel Villa Padierna

It has been confirmed that Michelle Obama and her daughter Sasha, aged 9, along with some old family members will reside at the luxurious Hotel Villa Padierna, located in Benahavis near Marbella. The five-star Hotel Villa Padierna – a golf and spa resort – is a property of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

With luxurious accommodation, lavish spa and recreation facilities, the hotel is preferred by many as one of the finest places to soak in the Mediterranean sun in an idyllic setting, while the historic town of Marbella a few minutes away provides a blissful time to its guests.

As reported, the booking for the Obamas is for 35 rooms in which standard rooms start at 250 euros per night and upwards to cover 5,000 euros per night. In any case, it’s a tour of the US Presidential family and, without a doubt, a positive boost to the image of the region. The Obamas will later travel to Mallorca from Marbella and pay an official visit to Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia.

Villa Padierna Marbella

Hotel Villa Padierna in Marbella invites you to a series of live performances of Opera, Jazz, Flamenco and Blues, to make you Thursday evenings throughout August an unforgettable experience.

Following the success of the last three years, Hotel Villa Padierna returns to present a delightful menu of summer concerts on Thursday evenings during August. The spectacular Roman amphitheatre will be the setting for four musical events of Opera, Jazz, Flamenco and Blues from August 5th to August 26th.

At 21:00 a welcome beverage will be served to all guests attending the concerts in the beautiful gardens of the hotel. The shows will commence at 21.30 and finish at 22:30 when dinner will still be served at a special price for all attendees in the hotels fabulous restaurants, La Veranda and La Loggia.

An evening at the Opera

The series of concerts commences on August 5th with a stunning performance by “Dúo Ópera Viva”, composed of the outstanding voices of María Elisa Orus and María Rosa Pérez. Their repertoire combines classical songs with zarzuela, opera and hits from Broadway and London’s West End.

Jazz Quartet

Thursday 12th August is host to the performance by Elena Salguero Jazz Quartet. All-time Jazz favourites by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra will be brought to life by the quartet’s brilliant singer, Elena Salguero. It promises to be a concert not to be missed.

Flamenco and Andalusian Rock Fusion

On the menu for Thursday 19th August is a spectacular Flamenco performance led by Juan Delola. The Malagueñen guitarist, accompanied by Singer Sonia Berbel, pay tribute to “Flamenco and Andalusian Rock” – a musical genre born in the second half of the 1970’s where Flamenco and Rock fuse seamlessly together. The repertoire includes emblematic Andalusian songs from artists such as Triana, Lole and Manuel, Alameda and Camarón.

Blues with Andalusian and Californian roots

The series of concerts concludes on Thursday 26th August with a seat-shaking performance from Blues band Kat & Co, led by Californian singer Kathleen Pearson, and accompanied by three veteran musicians from Málaga: Luis Martín (guitar), Javier Palomo (bass) and David Bravo (drums). Together they create an explosive mix of American and Andalusian roots Blues with an authentic, personal sound and a wide, varied repertoire of the very best in Blues music.

TIMETABLE SUMMER SHOWS 2010 AT THE AMPHITHEATRE, HOTEL VILLA PADIERNA, MARBELLA SHOWS
August 5th – Mª ROSA PÉREZ and Mª ELISA ORUS “LIVE OPERA DUET”
August 12th – ELENA SALGUERO “JAZZ QUARTET”
August 19th – JUAN DE LOLA “FLAMENCO AND ANDALUSIAN ROCK FUSION”
August 26th – KAT & CO. “CALIFORNIA BLUES & SOUL”

TICKETS (per person – IVA included):
ADULTS:
• Show + Welcome Drink (cava, wine or beer): 29 € + service charges
• Show + Welcome Drink (cava, wine or beer) + Dinner at Restaurant La Loggia (menu of 3 dishes, beverages not included): 64 € + service charges
• Show + Welcome Drink (cava, wine or beer) + Dinner at Restaurant La Veranda (menu of 3 dishes, beverages not included): 80 € + service charges

CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS OLD: free entrance to the shows, accompanied by parents/guardians.

TIMETABLE
• 19.30 – 23.45. Dinner of 3 dishes (beverages not included) at La Loggia or La Veranda.
• 21.00 h. Welcome Drink (cava, wine or beer), served in the gardens of the Amphitheatre.
• 21.30 a 22.30 h. Show.
• 21.00 – 23.00 h. Counter open for drinks.

TICKET SALES: At the reception of the Hotel Villa Padierna and at El Corte Inglés.
More information:
- El Corte Inglés: 902 400 222 / www.elcorteingles.es
- Reception Hotel Villa Padierna: +34 952 889 150 – Ext. 5609 / inquiries.padierna@ritzcarlton.com

Events Organized by Active Sound Productions
Miguel Corchón González – Director
T.:+34 952 913 285 / M.:+34 696 538 530
e-mail: info@activesoundproductions.com / www.activesoundproductions.com

Hotel Villa Padierna. Carretera de Cádiz (N-340), km 166.
29679 Marbella- Benahavis (Málaga)