Olot International Bagpipe Festival.

From May 20 to 24, Olot will once again become a meeting point for traditional music with the 35th edition of Cornamusam, the Olot International Bagpipe Festival.

This year’s edition marks a very special double anniversary: the festival’s 35th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of La Cabreta. It will also place a special focus on the musical culture of the Balearic Islands.

The programme will combine concerts, participatory activities, training sessions and street performances across different locations in the city. Highlights include the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Xeremiers de Sa Pobla gathering, a partner event of Cornamusam, as well as the participation of artists and groups linked to the Mallorcan xeremia tradition.

The festival will continue its commitment to the diversity of bagpipes and musical styles, featuring instruments ranging from the Catalan gaita de bot to Galician, Asturian, Irish, Scottish and Bulgarian bagpipes, creating a dialogue between tradition and contemporary expressions.

In addition to concerts, Cornamusam will showcase its most festive and popular side with opening performances from the Balcó dels Espants, the Cabreta dance, street music, communal meals, traditional sardanas, talks, vermouth gatherings, a crafts and luthiers’ fair, and activities at the Cornamusam square, which this year moves to the Firal. The programme also includes unique concerts, album presentations and a closing performance.

More details.