Festival of Music 2012

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Janette


The French Alliance of Santo Domingo/ Alliance Française de Santo Domingo invites all amateur and professional musicians to participate in the biggest musical event in the world. There have more than 120 countries and 340 cities have celebrating The Festival of Music/ La Fiesta de la Música/ Fête de la Musique since the first edition in 1982 in France. This year in its 31 anniversary.

The Festival will be held in Zona Colonial Saturday June 23,2012.

The 2012 Music Festival will be held in Santo Domingo on Saturday June 23 throughout the parks and streets of Colonial Zone. They supply schedules of the different musical and theatrical events. You just need to stroll the streets and see what is happening. It is a night out for all, young and not so young. There will be performances in the parks, museums, theaters and other unique spots throughout the old city. All performances are free to the public. You just might be surprised at the music genres and maybe you will discover something new and broaden your musical tastes.

After May 18, 2012 inscriptions are open. Anyone who wants to join the program for this event can sending an e-mail to the cultural department of the Alliance Française de Santo Domingo: cultura@afsd.net. You must include the registration form found on their web site (http://www.afsd.net). This is an event for all people young and old. It does not matter if you are professional or amateur. All types and styles of music is wanted, rock, orchestra, jazz, and more. If you want to preform send in the registration.

More information in French, Spanish and English http://fetedelamusique.culture.fr


Posted in Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mike Romero Remembered

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Janette

Mike Romero has lost his fight with a long illness. He was one of the most important and popular radio announcers of rock and pop radio in Dominican Republic in the early 80′s and 90′s. Romero was known for his radio DJ time at the Heavy Metal Station La X 102 with his program called Heavy Metal Mania gave his support and inspiration to help many of the local rock bands. He was a very important figure in contributing to the music industry of Dominican Republic. He was easily identifiable because of his unique voice.
mike - miguel romero
(Thank you Pedro for the picture)

Miguel in recent years worked for the radio station 91.7 FM “The Rocka”. He had to leave this station because of health issues. There were many concerts held by those who loved him to help with medical expenses. The last was called “Concierto Unidos por un Amigo” and it was held on April, 4, 2012.

The funeral service will be on May 11, 2012 at the funeral home/ funeraria Savica on Av. Pasteur #103, Gazcue, front of the edificio de Telecentro. About 4pm today, , Miguel will have a Christian burial will be in the panteón del Círculo de Locutores, Cementerio Cristo Redentor.

Rest in Peace!/ Descansa en paz!

de This is an exerpt from the raidio program Heavy Metal recorded Tuesday July 22, 1986 from la X -102.


Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

May Rainy Season 2012

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Janette

The yearly rainy season is upon us. We have been getting some serious rain in Dominican Republic. Many areas have been evacuated and many homes lost. The rains are slowing down as the low-pressure trough that brought us all this crazy weather passes by.

People were evacuated from their homes in a Province of Santiago where they had a windstorm/ un ventarrón, hailstorm/ una granizada and heavy downpours/ aguaceros fuerte. A gale strom/ ventarrón that happened in Navarrete led to falling trees, power lines and damage to agriculture. In Puñal, Santiago there was flooding due to problems with the storm drains. The communities of Los Peinados, Los Contreras, Juana Rodriguez Arriba and Juana Rodriguez Abajo and Loma Colorado are all cut off from the outside world because of the Yuna River flooding.
image dominicanodigital.com

The National Weather Office/ la Oficnia Nacional de Meteorología (Onamet) and The Emergency Operations Center/ El Centro de Operaciones de Emergencias (COE) authorities called on citizens to follow the guidelines, even though the rains are diminishing the rivers and streams are overloaded and carry much water and may cause flash floods. Due to frequent rains and the saturated soil many areas will and have suffered landslides.
rain santo domingo 2012

Be careful in low-lying areas. The highways can become very hazardous in a wink of an eye when the rain falls heavily.
rain santo domingo highway

It seems that different areas of the country will be experiencing rains again this week. Be careful out there.

JC Taxi took the highway pictures as he traveled yesterday.

More information about all things Weather in Dominican Republic.


Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Presidental Elections 2012 Getting Close

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Janette

On May 20, 2012 Dominican voters will go to the polls to decide who will be the next President of Dominican Republic. The winner will occupy the Presidential Palace in Santo Domingo for the next 4 years when the current President, Dr. Leonel Fernández, term ends August 16, 2012

Election day is on Sunday so all the people who do want to vote can return to their home towns or wherever they are registered and cast their vote. Elections are fun for all as they have the weekend to see old friends, neighbors and family who have to return to their old neighborhoods to vote. All who vote will have a large black ink stain usually on the left hand index finger. This shows that they voted. The voter proudly shows their painted to all in a finger-up gesture to show they made their decision on who will lead the country.

The main parties and their candidates:
*Partido Liberación Dominicana (PLD) candidates are President Danilo Medina and Vice President (the curent First Lady) Margarita Cedeño de Fernandez. This is the party in control now.
*Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) candidate for President Hipolito Mejia
*Movimiento Dominicanos por el Cambio (MxC)candidate Eduardo Estrella
*Alianza por la Democracia (APD)candidate Max Puig
*More information at www.jce.gob.do

Recent polls show the 2 leading parties PLD and PRD running neck and neck with as little as 1% or 2% between them. One poll you hear has one party leading while a different poll has another party leading. This means that this election is going to be very interesting to watch with no one knowing the outcome. If the elections are really close it could go to a second round.
hipolito-danilo-listindiario-picture Thanks Listin Diario for the picture.

There will be lots of campaigning going on these last 2 weeks before elections. There will be music, dancing, flag waving all in a party type setting. There will be trucks loaded down with speakers playing political campaign music at unbelievable decibel levels. There will be people on the streets, in the parks, anywhere where a group can congregate, there will be campaigning. Just be aware, along with this party atmosphere are people that believe very strongly in their candidate. People are very into talking about political things right now. Conversations can and do get very heated at times. There have been reports of a young man wounded when hit by a stone, one of the district leaders was struck with a bottle and a young woman was injured in the caravan led by Margaret Cedeno. There were also attacks on the motorcade of the current president Leonel Fernandez and the PRD candidate Hipolito Mejia. A reformist sympathizer in Gaspar Hernandez was killed.

Enjoy the party and be aware of what is going on.
PLD camapign in santo domingo may 7 2012 Thanks JC Taxi for the picture

A few interesting reads.
http://viewswire.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=VWcountryVW3&country_id=920000292
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/franklin-garcia/dominicans-in-us-could-de_b_1453154.html


Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Juan Luis Guerra Concert Santo Domingo 2012

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Janette

Juan Luis Guerra, the Dominican singer, songwriter and conductor, is on tour! He is bringing his international tour “AsondeGuerra” to the world.

The concert includes songs from his latest album A Son De Guerra, released by EMI to market on June 8, 2010. Bringing his new classics “La Guagua” and “Bachata in Fukuoka”, and more to the stage. He will also be playing songs from his Christian Album Colección cristiana released February 28, 2012 and many of his most beloved and favorite songs from throughout his career.

Juan Luis Guerra and 4.40 will be bringing the tour “A son de Guerra” to nearly 20 countries. The tour started August 2011 in Puerto Rico. He played to a full house playing his first time ever in Australia. His will make his rounds throughout Latin America, Europe, Belgium, Zurich, Italy, Spain and more.

Guerra and the 4×40 band will be playing in his home country, Dominican Republic, at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo. The last time Juan Luis sang at the Estadio Olímpico was for the concert named “A song of hope for Haiti”/ “Un canto de esperanza con Haití” on April 18, 2010. A benefit concert for the Haitian earthquake victims.

Tickets go on sale May 1st for this concert presented by Orange Dominicana. The concert is scheduled for June 16, 2012 at 8:30PM. Ticket prices start at RD$400 to RD$1,000. They are on sale at Caja Expreso Orange Piantini; Orange Shop Rómulo Betancourt y Orange Shop Calle El Sol de Santiago and in La Sirena y Supermercados Pola.

Juan Luis is the most famous and loved international Latin artist of his time. He plays all types of music including bachata, merengue, jazz, pop and rock. His music is a mix of many types of music. The most recent album is of Christian music. You can find information and see a video – En El Cieol No Hay Hospital – Juan Luis Guerra Newest at the Colonial Zone News Blog.

Get A Son de Guerra

And Coleccion Cristiana at Amazon

Check out all Juan Luis Guerras music at iTunes.

http://juanluisguerra.com


Posted in Events, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blues in May 2012

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Janette

Hot Jazz at La Cantina – May 2012/ Jazz Picante en La Cantina – Mayo del 2012.

Jazz Picante dedicates the entire month of May to the Blues. Every Wednesday at 9:00 PM in May there will be a live performances by Dominican groups presenting their versions of Blues music for all to enjoy in the Colonial Zone.
Jazz Picante Blues in May 2012

May programming is as follows:

02 – Benny and The Cupids
This Dominican Blues Band is Rigo Zapata (bass and vocals); Benny Hiraldo (vocals); Rafelito Suberví (Drums) and David Lozada (guitar) will be playing Blues, Rock, Pop and R & B. They play covers of Alanis Morissette, Tracy Chapman, Amy Winehouse, Rod Stewart, Jason Mraz, Sheryl Crow, Queen, Sade, Stevie Wonder, Big Mountain and more.

09 – The Bluesónicos
This band plays classic rock with fine mixtures and influences from Blues, Country, Folk and others. They play their own interpretations and arrangements of classics by The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elmore James, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Muddy Waters, with passion and energy.

16 – Masters and Friends – Rockin ‘the Blues
Luis Guzman on keyboards and vocals, Andres Aybar on guitar and vocals, Rigo Zapata on bass and vocals, Eddy Alba will be the lead singer and Sly De Moya will make the Blues come alive!

22 – DR Blues Band
Blues & Jazz as played in New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz, will be enjoyed. Eric Litman, a native of New Orleans, on saxophone, Wellington Valenzuela on drums, Rigoberto Zapata on bass and Iván Carbuccia on guitar brings a night of Jazz, Blues and more!

30 – Blues Jam 2012
A night full of Blues, Rock and Jazz! With Guitarists, bassists, drummers, pianists, vocalists, flutists, and more will be on the stage with the best of the blues from Robert Johnson to Muddy Waters to Hendrix and Clapton. It is to be a night of high octane.

Hot Jazz at La Cantina is presented by Jazz en Dominicana.
The Mexican Bar and Restaurant La Cantina El Agave is located on Arzobispo Meriño 115, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo
Every Wednesday the music starts at 9PM
It is free to enter and enjoy the music – No Cover
For reservations: (809) 567-4444


Posted in Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment