Since 1984, Grand Duke has given countless opportunities to new artists who will fill big venues tomorrow and who today need a small stage where they can start taking their first steps in the music industry. It wasn’t a bad place to debut, since the now legendary venue at number five on Calle Regueros was always full of record company recruiters looking for the next singing star. This is how Vanesa Martín, for example, chose the alternative, “who gave a lot of concerts for two or three people before being discovered,” says Toñín Beltrán, who has worked there since 1996.
His beginnings were very curious, since he is a computer scientist and the first thing he did there was “repair computers”, he says with a laugh. He became friends with Darío González, the founder of the venue, he began to leave him CDs for the music and one day he offered him work as a DJ and assistant in concert programming. It was already in 2017 that Beltrán became his manager, after decades of unforgettable recitals and priceless anecdotes. “We hosted the first showcase of Pablo Alboran Before we hit the ball he hit, we had to baby performing every Thursday until Carlos Jean met her and elevated her into the stratosphere…”, recalls the manager, who keeps a special place in his heart for Conchitaone of the guests of honor at the Owl’s fortieth anniversary. “She lived just above, she came down for beers and gave concerts that touched our hearts. “I wondered what life I would have had to write such sad songs (laughs).”
Although he recognizes that after the pandemic “there is a notable drop in theater attendance”, Toñín and his team have big plans for the future and assure that the intention is “to have not forty , but eighty years more”; But before that, they have prepared a very special program of 31 concerts with festive accents. Many of those artists who started in the room and now have important careers will return, and of course there will also be room for current bets in the room who predict a more than promising future.
Some guests have played or will do so to a sold-out crowd”, such as Rupatrupa, who opened the birthday party on October 1st, Rubén Pozo, who performed there two days later, Mäbu who will do so on the 13th, Conchita on Friday 25 (the exact day we turned forty”, says Toñín), or Lina de Sol (in the Radar Joven 2024 cycle) on Saturday 26. Rafa Romera, Marenitas, one of the great bets, also passed by his stage in the room, Elioht Glez, Vikxie, Milton Salazar or Alberttinny.
The last meetings took place with Belén Arjona, on Friday 11, and with Virginia Maestro, on Saturday 12. The third week opens the curtain with the talent of the young Teresa Pejenaute, on Monday 14, and the experience of Juan Zelada, beaten, Tuesday. on the 15th.
On Wednesday the 16th, Julieta Carrasco will take over, who will be followed by Mamen Martínez on the 17th and Juanma Onse on Friday the 18th. On Saturday the 19th, none other than Cris Méndez will take the stage during the vermouth session and Patricio during the vermouth session. ‘afternoon. , completing the end of the week on Sunday 20 the third consecutive maestro of the song, Rafa Pons. The home stretch will not lower the bar: Tuesday 22 Paula Espinosa opens the week and Gonzalo Alhambra will continue on Wednesday 23. They will put the finishing touches to Mr. Kilombo on Sunday 27, the surprise concert on Tuesday 29, Candela on Wednesday 30 and Loloces on Thursday 31.
