65 years of flamenco, history and tradition
Some festivals are much more than music. They tell the story of a place and its people.
This year, the Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas in La Unión, Murcia, celebrates its 65th anniversary — 65 years dedicated to preserving flamenco while continuing to discover the artists who will shape its future.
Here, flamenco cannot be separated from mining history. In the 19th century, miners arriving from different parts of Spain brought their songs and traditions with them. Underground, in extremely hard working conditions, music became a way of expressing pain, hope and everyday life. From this unique environment emerged styles such as the minera, taranta and cartagenera — sounds that still carry the memory of La Unión’s mining communities today.
But Cante de las Minas is about much more than cante. The festival also celebrates flamenco dance, guitar and instrumental music, constantly demonstrating that keeping a tradition alive does not mean keeping it unchanged. This year, even the transverse flute has found its place among the award-winning performances, showing the extraordinary ability of flamenco to evolve, embrace new sounds and inspire new generations.
And perhaps this is the greatest achievement of the festival: after 65 years, it continues to bring new talent into the spotlight while remaining deeply connected to its roots.
For music lovers, La Unión is a place worth experiencing at least once. Come to the festival, listen to the music where part of its history was born, and discover why flamenco is not simply something to watch — it is something to feel.
At Spain is Music, this is exactly the kind of experience we believe makes travelling through music so special: discovering a destination through the traditions, stories and people that give its music meaning.
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