euskalkultura.eus

This coming Thursday, October 22, Goraki Abesbatza, from Donibane Lohizune (Lapurdi, Basque Country) will give a concert at the Wool Growers restaurant in Bakersfield, California, in order to celebrate the  choir's 40^th anniversary. It’s the first time the group will be performing in the US and as Beñat Castet, president of the choir, told EuskalKultura.com, “it makes us happy, because most of us have an uncle, grandfather or grandmother that came to America a long time ago.”

Bakersfield, CA. Wool Growers restaurant, with the help of the Kern County Basque Club, will host a performance by Goraki choir, from Donibane Lohizune. The concert will be this coming Thursday, and Monday will be the last day to get tickets. Roasted lamb will also be served.

Goraki has performed in Turkey, and also in Egypt, but the ensemble has never been to the United States before: “It’s going to be a very special trip for us –in the words of Beñat Castet, president of the abesbatza−. A year ago we couldn’t even imagine that we would be able to come to the US to celebrate our 40^th anniversary!” They have plans to visit San Francisco, Sequoias, the Grand Canyon… But, “especially, to meet Basque-Americans.”

As the president added, “it makes us happy (to come to the West), because most of us have an uncle, grandfather or grandmother that came to America a long time ago.” Castet also highlighted the significance of singing in Euskara, because “Basque songs always tell us where we come from.”

A group of 44 people will be travelling, of which 37 are singers, and all of them are willing to meet other Basque-American musicians: “It will be a great pleasure for us.”

-To get tickets ($35) send an email to Christiane Camou or contact her at (661) 327-9584.