Manu Chao

Who, you could be forgiven for asking, the hell is Manu Chao? As singer with Paris’s fiery Mano Negra, he was a member of arguably one of the most exciting live bands of the ’90s. Since their split, his solo albums have established him as something of a superstar in certain parts of Europe and South America.

While that still might not mean much to some, for plenty of people this is one of the events of the year. Fronting a seven-piece band, it becomes clear from the off that Chao has neither lost his eclectic touch (the first song alone is a mix of punk, ska and dub) nor the sheer thrill of his performance. By the third or fourth song, it’s becoming clear that he doesn’t intend to deviate much from this pattern.

The shift in pace, when it finally comes after over an hour, is incredible. Strapping on an acoustic guitar, Chao and his cohorts launch into a set of flamenco that sends the crowd into the realms of ecstasy.

Sheer bliss.