Viva la Radio

Uno de los placeres más grandes de vivir en Birmingham es, sin duda, el haber vuelto a la radio. www.radiobrithispana.com me ha dado la oportunidad de volver a hacer un programa de radio, un programa en el que leo noticias, hago entrevistas (tanto en castellano como en inglés)... me encanta, me recuerda a mi época en Durango Irratia que tanto echo de menos y que, posiblemente, nunca volverá... aunque nunca pierdo la esperanza, yo un día tengo que hacerme con esa radio y darle a Durangaldea lo que se merece, una radio por y para el pueblo...

En fin, que aquí va mi último programa en el que hablo con www.genteventos.com y www.sonidoclandestino.co.uk, ambos promotores estatales buscándose la vida en UK... También varias cosas más con la colaboración de Quique Bárcena.

un saludo!

http://www.mixcloud.com/RadioBrithispana/radio-brithispana-agenda-25022014-con-iban-gonz%C3%A1lez-y-la-colaboraci%C3%B3n-de-quique-b%C3%A1rcena/

Vuelta a las andadas... Duncan Dhu en London!

Duncan Dhu han vuelto y han comenzado una nueva gira titulada como su nuevo álbum: El Duelo

Gracias a Rock sin Subtítulos, www.rocksinsubtitulos.co.uk, este blog pudo estar presente y disfrutó de este evento. El grupo nunca ha sido de mis favoritos pero, sin duda, a sus casi 50 años tanto Mikel Erentxun como Diego Vasallo se mantienen en forma y dieron un recital de canciones conocidas por todos (aunque un servidor pensaba que conocía más de las que realmente conoce) en la sala Scala, al lado de la estación de King Cross en LONDRES. Los donostiarras tocaron por primera vez en esta ciudad cumpliendo un sueño de ambos tal y como comentó Erentxun durante el concierto.
Me llevé mi pequeña camarita y, aunque estaba lejos del escenario, grabé un par de imágenes que inmoratalizan el momento. Se colgó el NO HAY BILLETES y el duo junto a su banda lo dieron absolutamente todo. Yo no me quedé a la after party pero si alguien sabe si ellos estuvieron que me lo cuente!

aquí va un vídeo!!

espero que os guste!

I am busy

Hola

Aquí seguimos con mil historias, os pongo un poco al día de por qué no escribo tanto últimamente, estoy con varios proyectos alternativos:
Mi último documental y dos programas de radio:

Con respecto al primero poco puedo decir porque no quiero adelantar nada ya que todavía no esta muy enfocado, aunque esto es sólo una metáfora, porque con los pedazo de planos que hizo Jesús Navas en su día va a quedar algo bonito, aunque espero que también interesante.
El tema de la radio es algo que me pone mucho... siempre que voy a hacer el programa de agenda con mi amigo Kike voy muy activo, es como si todo se parara y estuviera en otro mundo, simplemente, me encanta, ojalá me pudiera dedicar a ello profesionalmente, que pena que sea una profesión tan a la baja... aquí va el programa de la semana pasada, aunque hoy martes se estrena un nuevo programa a partir de las 5pm (hora británica), buen humor y profesionalidad junta!!

http://www.mixcloud.com/RadioBrithispana/radio-brithispana-agenda-con-iban-gonz%C3%A1lez-y-enrique-b%C3%A1rcena-26-nov-2013/

Mi otro programa se titula "Viento Sur" me gusta mucho hacerlo porque es algo más íntimo, más personal, es una conversación con alguien que tiene algo que contar o algo de lo que opinar, como yo mismo, así que yo también me meto en la misma, me gusta mucho hacerlo y espero tener la ocasión de hacer muchos mas!
Aquí va el último Viento sur, con el chileno Paulo Riddle, un gran artista aquí en Birmingham.

 http://www.mixcloud.com/RadioBrithispana/radio-brithispana-viento-sur-con-iban-gonzález-29-noviembre-2013/

Espero poder poner un video pronto en este blog!
saludos!!!

2nd Part of my Saturday morning experience

Hi All!!!

Here is the second video of my last Saturday (1st November) morning experience.
I visited the Bull Ring for first time in years... I almost forgot how was inside, then I found a Vintage Exposition in a Restaurant by Arcadian Center and finally I watched a short film by the Hippodrome in a Van!!! So this is fantastic!
As a curiosity, there were 6 or 7 vans like this one during the middle of the XX century, but now just this one remains. The vans were made for the factory workers to show them new ways of manufacturing, this was, during the Industrial Revolution, that was born in the UK.
It was a massive pleasure to be there but also in the exhibition!
Thanks again to Alicia for being the camera woman!

Love and health!

xx
Iban!

By the way, this is the podcast of my latest Radio Show at Brithispana, I hope you enjoy it (In Spanish except a fantastic interview to the musician Ilias Lintzos)

 http://www.mixcloud.com/RadioBrithispana/radio-brithispana-agenda-con-iban-gonz%C3%A1lez-y-enrique-b%C3%A1rcena-5-nov-2013/

Indian protest and other things (video included)

Hi All

What a week!!

First I did my first Radio Show in the UK, thanks to Ana and Radio Brithispana, here is the link if you want to listen to it again:

http://m.mixcloud.com/RadioBrithispana/radio-brithispana-agenda-con-iban-gonzalez-y-enrique-barcena-29-de-octubre-2013/

It was an amazing experience, be back on the radio is something dreamed...
The show is in Spanish but has an English interview to Nelson Ferreira, a great portugese painter living in London. Ana García (flamenco) and Roberto Alonso (composer & violinist) are also part of this program. Quique Bárcena is my main colaborator and does a fantastic job!!

Then I have published two articles in elnorthen.com, here they are:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Felnorthern.com%2F2013%2F10%2F31%2Fel-vigues-roberto-alonso-dara-una-charla-el-oxford-sobre-la-obra-de-varios-compositores-gallegos%2F&h=xAQGWgqZsAQFhzbBcye5NAhbgB058AdWrNGFnZL2CP482RA&enc=AZNOGbZEkXlMdI7cP5HLrdA0O4i3DdxngQ_HV10SouWYWbJcwGSoZzXobyVCXYdP7bVMCQWXTLy1Q9-VRo8wKI3s&s=1

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Felnorthern.com%2F2013%2F10%2F31%2Fel-vigues-roberto-alonso-dara-una-charla-el-oxford-sobre-la-obra-de-varios-compositores-gallegos%2F&h=xAQGWgqZsAQFhzbBcye5NAhbgB058AdWrNGFnZL2CP482RA&enc=AZNOGbZEkXlMdI7cP5HLrdA0O4i3DdxngQ_HV10SouWYWbJcwGSoZzXobyVCXYdP7bVMCQWXTLy1Q9-VRo8wKI3s&s=1


The last interview is to the current Everton FC manager, Roberto Martínez, who was amazing, Thanks to all the Everton staff!

My last thing is related with my Saturday morning, I went out with my camera and filmed lots of things, this first one is about an indian protest, please, have a look to it, it´s, at least, interesting...

Thanks Alicia for being the camera woman!! love it!

my blog is not .com as it´s said on the film... still have to learn my own stuff!!

Thanks very much!

One of my typical complaints

Hi!!

I´m really sorry for not doing any video or writing any post in the past month, personal reasons and a trip to Madrid haven’t given me enough time to share my thoughts with this blog.

Yesterday I read that for first time in many years (or possibly ever) there is more money coming in from the exile to Spain than going out from Spain to other foreign countries. That´s very symptomatic: the crisis in this country is without any shadow of a doubt in its worst moment.

This change of money direction is because of the Spanish massive immigration. Everyone can see it, very clearly, in a city like Birmingham, there are lots of Spaniards around, young people, families, students… and it´s not like before, when I came here first time looking for a new experience, they are coming because they need it; they have heard in Spain that there are jobs here and they stick on that, even not knowing English or not being qualified.

This is a big problem because the UK inhabitants are losing respect for Spanish workers. I have heard at least twice to managers looking for staff but asking not to contract Spanish personnel (in this case, both for restaurants).

The problem is that there is people very worried looking for anything to do lying about their experience or their English. Once they get the job they aren´t ready to do it so they get fired leaving a bad impression to their managers.

There are also plenty of qualified Spanish people trying to get a qualified job in this country. They can do it, but obviously they need to have (in most cases) a proficiency level of English, something that is unusual… Plenty of these people are not happy working in restaurants, cleaning or babysitting so they just ask for the benefits… and normally this country accept it, so now and thanks to the Spanish “picaresca” we have plenty of Spaniards living on the benefits, going out a couple of nights per week, not involving in the English society and making their lives easier… that is not the reason why we are here. The number of Spanish asking for government benefits has increased in a more than 100% percent in the past 2 years. This is ridiculous. 
And don´t get me wrong... I´m 100% agree with taking the benefits, if you really need them you should have them if this country offers this to you, but, how can you go to a country and after not having worked or payed any contributions to the state, ask for benefits? and how come you can come from Spain having the Spanish unnemployment check and asking benefits here? How can you ask for benefits before looking for a job? I don´t agree with that. I´m sorry if this bothers to someone but it´s my opinion and I am free.

The Spaniards are the second country with more appearance in the UK during this year. It´s the second country that has sent more immigrants to the United Kingdom!! That´s pretty impressive!!

In the meantime, the Spanish government aren´t hiding their personal problems (they have plenty) saying that the economy is doing well and next year instead a 26.4 % of unemployment the country is going to have “just” a 25.9%... Wow… yes, Spain is doing really well… if a 20% of the country has emigrated to the exile and you only can take off a 0.5% of unemployment is a horrible new far from our expectations.

So I would recommend to everyone that wants to have a normal life in this country to come prepared, with the best level of English as possible, with initiative, looking for anything to start, doing voluntary jobs in their professional field, trying to speak with foreign people (not only Spanish) and try to learn about the culture of the city and the country that is hosting them.

Thanks!!!

Birmingham Central library opening (Video)

Hi all!

I have made a little report about the new library. An opportunity to see it for those that haven´t had the chance to be there yet or are out of Birmingham!

I hope you like it, below there is another writen post about it.

Take care!