Celtas โCortos Reflectโฃ on Industry Pressures, Political Disengagementโ & Upcoming 40th Anniversary Tour
Madrid, Spain – Veteranโ Spanish folk-rock band Celtas Cortos, known for performing around 150 concerts annually, have spoken candidly about the pressures of the modern music industry, โa perceived lack ofโ political engagement amongst musicians, and the challenges of balancing artistic integrity with commercial โrealities. Theโค band members โข- โJesรบs,โ alberto, and Goyo – discussed these issues in a recent interview with ICON, coinciding with the November 21st release of their commemorative album 40 aรฑos contando cuentos (40 Years Tellingโค Stories).
Jesรบs expressed concern overโค a growing disconnect โคbetween music โขand social change, stating, “Music has stoppedโ serving as aโค socially transformative element, and I don’t know when that bond was broken.” He noted a reluctance within the industry to take political stances,attributingโฃ it โฃto “a fear โof what social networks mayโ say,of โthe consequences โthat you may suffer from this,” or simplyโ “more anodyne โคgenerations.” He alsoโค voiced alarm at a perceived shift towards the extremeโ right โขamong young โฃpeople, callingโฃ it “a lack of judgment that has not been well managed.”
The band acknowledged the โcomplexities of working with large corporations like Live Nation, their current tour promoter. Alberto described navigating such situations as “a passing trainโฆyou don’t know โคwhat destination you areโค really going to reach, but you have the feeling that you have to take it.” Goyo added that being backed by live Nationโ “overshadows everything,” but also provides a platform for greater visibility. He concededโ the inherent contradictions of maintaining consistent ideals whileโ participating in a โฃconsumer-driven system, stating, “ifโ you want to be consistent with all your ideas, โคyou probably cannot โbuy a car, a telephone, or a certain brand of clothing.”
Despite these concerns, Celtas Cortos are committed toโ accessibility for their fans, with tickets for the upcoming tourโ priced at 38 euros (42 euros with management fees).
The band also alluded to past experiences with the demanding pace of their touring schedule, recalling “moments of suffocation” and feeling overwhelmed. “We called home and โฃsaid:โค I can’t take it anymore,” they shared.
Tour dates areโฃ available on the band’s official โขwebsite: https://celtascortos.com/conciertos/. The 40 โคaรฑos contandoโฃ cuentos albumโ can be purchased here: https://tiendawarnermusic.es/products/celtas-cortos-40-anos-contando-cuentos-cd-postal-firmada?srsltid=AfmBOopBi00CE5GMI22kyoP-pLhB7ik9pnXUYKNv80Opo8V9YVZg2cVe.
