Step into a world where new sounds fill the gaps in the music map of Alicante. The Global Sounds series returns with a fourth edition led by the Mediterranean Foundation, inviting audiences to discover a diverse lineup and to reconnect with live programming after challenging times.
This world music cycle, created through a collaboration with the Alicante community and supporters of the arts, showcases two distinctly different concerts that promise a friendly, elegant mood. On the stage at the Alicante Cultural Hall, the British outfit Tindersticks brings indie pop with lush touches of orchestration. Their presence illuminates the January 11, 2023, event, while Mulatu Astatke, revered as a pioneer of Ethio-jazz, will perform on February 10 in the same cultural corridor.
As a new feature this year, both performances will be repeated the following day at the Aula de Cultura of the Fundación Mediterráneo in Murcia. Tickets, priced at 25 euros, are currently available on the foundation’s site and at the Murcia venue box office.
Luis Boyer, president of the Fundación Mediterráneo, remarked that Global Sounds has earned a warm reception in past editions. The program continues to fill a gap in local music programming, connecting audiences in Murcia and Alicante with artists who might otherwise travel far from these southern Iberian cities.
Across its four editions, the Global Sounds series has shone a light on artists who are internationally acclaimed yet not always present in local calendars. The lineup has included musicians from Morocco, Algeria, and beyond, along with European voices who bring fresh perspectives to a shared musical language. Notable names have included Asmaa Hamzaoui from Morocco, the Algerian ensemble Zoning, Portuguese guitarist Rodrigo, American guitarist Marc Ribot, and Catalan songwriters Maria Rodés and Maria Arnal with Marcel Bagés, each contributing unique textures to the concert series.
kindling sticks
The season opens with the English band Tindersticks, a name that evokes moody indie rock and pop, layered with orchestral, jazz, and soul inflections. The group is distinguished by Stuart A. Staples’s baritone voice, which anchors their sound and lends it a timeless quality. Dickon Hinchliffe adds texture with a kaleidoscope of instruments—Rhodes piano, carillon, vibraphone, violin, trumpet, bassoon, and Hammond organ—enhancing the ensemble’s eclectic palette.
Formed in Nottingham in 1991, Tindersticks marks a 30-year milestone with a lineup that embraces a string sextet and a repertoire where early works still resonate. The project has produced over 20 albums, and the current run of performances in Spain reflects the enduring appeal of their intimate, cinematic music. Nearly 150 tickets have been sold for the Alicante show, underscoring solid local interest.
Mulatu Astatke
Mulatu Astatke stands as a pivotal figure in Ethiopian jazz, a composer, arranger, and vibraphonist who forged a bridge between African musical idioms and Western jazz. Born in Ethiopia in 1943, his studies spanned major cultural centers, including London, New York, and Boston, where he became the first African student to enroll at a renowned music school. His fusion of jazz with Latin rhythms and Ethiopian melodic impulses created a distinctive voice that later influenced generations of artists worldwide.
At age 79, Astatke continues to craft music that blends modern sensibilities with traditional flavor. His work harmonizes African and Western influences, delivering a sound that feels both timeless and contemporary. Decades after his early breakthroughs, his music has remained a favorite among adventurous listeners and urban artists alike, earning placements in film soundtracks and collaborations with diverse musicians. The 2022 Donostiako Jazzaldia festival in San Sebastián highlighted his enduring impact, reaffirming his status as a cornerstone of the global jazz conversation.