Video art, deejays, and even electric guitars. The Playa Honda Festival 2006 is about to start. A conglomerate of different styles await at the Guacimeta esplanade to waste decibels starting at five in the afternoon this Friday. It is the second edition of a Festival that started last year within the Playa Honda festivities. Its great impact has meant that the San Bartolomé City Council has once again opted for this musical event.
But, how did this Festival come about? "The idea was born four years ago," explains Jacqueline Díaz, director of Jakisi Productions and organizer of the Festival. "My partners are DJs and they had parties around the Island, and I had participated in the organization of events such as Festimad or Espárrago Rock, so we thought it would be a good idea to organize a festival like this in Lanzarote, since until then there was none." Interest in electronic music has grown in recent years, more and more clubs are opening and more parties are being held. According to Jacqueline, Lanzarote is a good place to hold a Festival of these characteristics, because "there is tourism, sun, beach and it is an island equipped for it."
In a few days in which tourism figures come to light, and there is talk about a complementary leisure offer, the organizers of the Playa Honda Festival are betting on these Festivals as another way to bring tourists to the Island. "There are many people who travel to see festivals", explains Jacqueline. "We are still small but over time we want to become an important Festival."
Electronic music is combined with the rock of groups such as A.M.R., Zurich, Kachobicho, or La Bond Scott Band. "The DJs are very good, we have Sergio Patricio, from La Terraza in Barcelona, one of the best DJs there is," explains Jacqueline. "And we also bring the AC/DC replicas: La Bond Scott Band." Replica groups have become a hallmark of this Festival. Last year it was the songs of U2 that flew over the esplanade, and this year it is AC/DC's turn. "I think these groups work very well in Lanzarote, because people like the songs, and it is almost impossible for the original groups to come. Besides, they are very good," adds Jacqueline.
Solidarity Festival
In addition to a "festive Festival", as Jacqueline calls the Playa Honda Festival, since "it is not to make money but to grow and be able to do it better every year", this is also a solidarity event. "All the money raised in the stalls will go to two associations: one for the children of Nepal and another for the children of Tibet", explains the organizer. When establishing an event of this type, the help from public institutions on the island is not too great. "No one has given us money, but they have helped us 'in kind': the San Bartolomé City Council has provided us with the necessary infrastructure, the Cabildo has lent us a screen, the Gran Hotel helps us with the accommodation of the artists, and other companies have provided us with transport, catering, and other things necessary to organize this festival." In total, it has been an intense year of production and organization. "For the moment this does not give us money to stop working," explains Jacqueline. "But we hope that at least two thousand people will attend this year in the eighteen hours of the Festival. For the moment we are happy because in addition to the people of the Island, we have been called from Fuerteventura and other places, showing interest."
