Manolo Franco

Line-up: Manolo Franco: guitar, Yolanda Lorenzo: dance, Carmelo Picon: guitar, Sabastian Cruz: vocals

In 1960, Manolo Franco Barón was born in Seville and it was quite possible that he came into the world with a guitar clutched tightly in his arm. Competing with the real maestros of the guitar, he won the 'Giraldillo del Toque' trophy at the Seville Biennale at the age of barely 24. A prize that was awarded to him unanimously by a jury consisting of none other than Juan Carmona 'Habichuela', Mario Escudero 'Serranito', Manolo Sanlùcar and Paco de Lucia. Especially his last words are worth remembering: “Manolo Franco is full of inspiration, has a sparkling guitar playing and is full of new ideas. With everything he plays, he demonstrates complete technical perfection. He shows a passion for flamenco music and for everything that is inherent in flamenco. This masterful control never escapes him for a moment.”