Vodafone Mexefest. Listen to music and discover a certain Lisbon – Daily News – Lisbon

With concerts in palaces, churches and even a swimming pool, it is much more than an alternative music festival

The Casa do Alentejo was once a casino

| Nuno Pinto Fernandes / Global Graphics

Since the first edition of Vodafone Mexefest the Casa do Alentejo is one of the obligatory passage points in wandering the festival. “For the concerts, but also in space,” as does the issue of stress Ricardo Leal, commercial advisor of Casa do Alentejo, which yesterday led us on a guided tour as they continued preparations for the festival.

What few know is that this building, originally built in the seventeenth and also known century as Palace Alverca Palace Pais do Amaral or Palace St. Louis, was in the early twentieth century one of the local Barcelona’s most fashionable then “moved” Lisbon, when here worked , from 1919, one of the first casinos in the capital, the Magestic Club – comes from this time the neoárabe style that would become his main card Business. “It was one of the most luxurious then, whence came all the high society to play and see the shows. Basically we are just keeping that tradition,” said Ricardo. The casino would close in 1928, following the military coup that would give way to the new state, becoming then in the concert hall Monumental Club, in operation until 1932, when here finally settles the Alentejo Guild later become Casa do Alentejo.

the city’s French church

A few doors next to the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi is another unlikely places to watch a rock festival, but so is since a few years. Opened in 1572 by the Brotherhood of Blessed St. Louis King of France, made up of French boilermakers and Britons living in Lisbon, was ruined in the earthquake of 1755, but would be rebuilt with funds granted by the kingdom of France, passing thereafter to bear the three French-de-lis flowers throughout the church, which is still assured the religious and spiritual service of the French Community of Lisbon.

“It remains a French royal church, leaving only more two in Rome and Moscow, “explains Martine de Stoop, a sort of guardian of the temple, as the guide for its interior, recovered in 2011.” I am retired and widowed, have much time and so I’m almost always here, ” says Martine, who also never miss the concerts – and this year there will be, to attend performances of Anna B Savage and Beautify Junkyards. “The church has a very beautiful acoustics and the choice of program has always been very wise. I have watched here at very good concert,” he confesses.

The contrasts in Foz Palace

Across the Avenida da Liberdade and after the premiere, last year, the Palácio Foz back also part of the festival halls portfolio. Performing a regular cultural program, this palace, built between the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth century, more accustomed to listening to the gentle sounds of classical music, will this year stage, for example, Science Rhythmic Advanced initiative, curated by journalist Rui Miguel Abreu, which transposes the noble Hall of Mirrors the radio program of the same name, dedicated to the new generation of Hip Hop / Soul / R & B / National Reggae, attended by the likes of Bison & amp; Squareffekt, Roger Plexico, Nerve and Dj firmness. “This contrast is very interesting and that’s why we are always looking for different and enriching events like this because they do not want to be exclusive. On the contrary, we intend to extend our most possible programming,” said Adelaide Banha, Public Relations Palacio Foz, who “makes sense” the presence in Mexefest.

A musical tank

In all, 14 spaces around the Avenida da Liberdade which will receive more than 50 concerts in this year’s Mexefest, one world première in these labors. Called Tank and work within the pool of Ateneu Comercial de Lisboa, closed for almost ten years and recently transformed into a new space for cultural events, where will this end-of-week names like San Holo, The Chick or Peaches, between others. The stage will be installed inside the 25-meter pool, with capacity for 800 people, in what will undoubtedly be one of the most amazing festival halls, too, as it turns out, a way to leave to the discovery not only of new music, Lisbon but also a still unknown for many.