Green Valley celebrates 20 years at the Jimmy Jazz room in Vitoria by sending a “positive message”

2023-05-17 15:21:29

It is common in reggae to use all kinds of similes with the stages of flowering (also with cannabis) that go from planting seeds to talking about roots, going through that symbolism of identifying growing with maturing. The Green Valley group has a discography marked out with songs that fit into that sung connection with the land. ‘El río de la vida’, ‘Semillas’, ‘La santa planta’, ‘Hijos de la tierra’… And although on many occasions they are identified as a Catalan band, they always claim their origins from Vitoria. In particular, the singer Ander Valverde, voice and author of the lyrics of the band that also includes two other Álava natives, the guitarist Ander Larrea and the bassist Egoitz Uriarte. “In 2006 we left Gasteiz for Barcelona, ​​but we have always gone around saying that we are from Gasteiz,” Ander commented this Wednesday in a small presentation of the performance in the Jimmy Jazz room that will kick off the 20th anniversary on next January 6. Tickets will go on sale soon in this proof that they do not forget their city, their ‘green’ capital.

In that press conference, which was followed by an acoustic concert in the concert hall of the Coronación neighborhood, the band said that after seven published albums and a large number of collaborations, especially with rap groups, they remain faithful to their essence. : a vitalist message that alternates with social criticism. The formation, a reference of the national reggae, exhibits a discourse that is more than coherent with its songs. As if he were stretching the verses when talking about a musical project.

“We have a mission, it sounds very idyllic and we don’t write songs about whatever.” In this objective is “to fill a small space in the minds and hearts of people” and leave “a good and positive residue; That is our mission today and twenty years ago. “We’ve evolved a bit and we’re still the same,” says Ander, who acknowledges that some of the fans ask them for songs from their first albums, ‘La voz del pueblo’ or ‘En tus manos’.

15th anniversary of the Jimmy Jazz room

One of the best-known songs, ‘I’m not going to give up’, opened the set for an audience of just over fifty followers at noon. The public also had the opportunity to participate and ask them their questions at the press conference. One of those launched by a young person referred to the possibility of writing songs in Basque. «My parents could not have the luck to speak Basque because of a short gentleman. I studied in Basque and I have it there, but when it comes to writing it is very difficult for me. I am lucky or unlucky to have Spanish very involved and when it comes to expressing myself my heart speaks», explains the dreadlocked singer who also recalled that he had tried himself on songs like ‘Zabalzazu mezua’, a collaboration with Kodigo Norte.

The group’s concert practically coincides with another anniversary, the 15th anniversary of the Jimmy Jazz venue, an essential reference point for live music in Vitoria. Iker Arroniz, its manager, has advanced that to celebrate it they will carry out different performances with nearby groups such as Tropa do Carallo (December 15) or Betagarri (December 29 and 30, with all tickets sold out).