euskalkultura.eus

San Francisco/Chino, USA. Pierro Etcharren is happy to have Kiki Bordatxo back at the San Francisco Basque Club – “They’re one of the best bands. I like them because they play traditional Basque songs and that’s not that common in our area. We are a bunch of people that came from the Basque Country and we enjoy having them here,” stated the delegate. But he also thinks of the younger generations at the time of bringing this band to the States: “It is very important for young people too, because even if we make an effort to teach and show them our culture if there’s not continuity it’s not going to be easy.” That is why Etcharren believes that seeing Basque bands live is good for the youngsters.

Kiki Bordatxo will be playing songs from all the Basque Provinces as Etcharren said, “And that’s good because it will show the richness and plurality of our culture. We have a very good relationship with them.” The five musicians will stay in a hotel in San Francisco and at houses of Basque people in Chino. The band’s airfare was paid for by both the San Francisco and Chino Basque Clubs.

San Francisco

San Francisco will host its Basque picnic on August 23rd and the 24th. Activities will begin at 3:00 p.m. on the first day: pilotaris from the city, Chino, and Bakersfield will compete against each other. This year no players will come from the Basque Country. Once the fronton games are over Warren Lerude, author of Robert Laxalt: The Story of a Storyteller will present his book recently published by the Center for Basque Studies at UNR, followed by, Kiki Bordatxo until 2 a.m.

Sunday will start with a mass by Father Lastiri, with the presence of the Elgarrekin choir and the klika and the dance groups. The Zazpiak Bat dance group will also perform that day. Barbequed lamb and steak will be served during the whole weekend. Organizers expect around 1,000 attendees.

Chino

Chino will host its annual picnic from August 30-September 1, 2014. Maite Maisterrena, delegate from the Club, told Euskalkultura.com that on Saturday they will have pilota games (with players from Chino, San Francisco, and Bakersfield), a dinner, and the public dance by Kiki Bordatxo. Sunday activities will be celebrated at the fairgrounds and, on Monday, the Euskal Etxea will again be the meeting point. They expect 700 people, some of them “from San Francisco, Bakersfield, and Los Banos”, highlighted Maisterrena.