The Sani Festival 2024 will conclude with a celebratory concert. On Saturday, August 10th, the Gipsy Kings, following their major success on the Acoustic Scene at Glastonbury, will be performing with Tonino Baliardo on the Sani Festival stage.
The Gipsy Kings are record holders not only for their live performances but also for their album sales. Alongside them is the composer and producer of the global hits “Bamboleo” and “Djobi Djoba,” Tonino Baliardo, and their latest success “Chica Del Sol” from Tonino Baliardo’s album “Renaissance.” Tonino Baliardo, cousin of the great Manitas De Plata, continues the family tradition of the Gypsies as a virtuoso maestro of the Spanish guitar.
With album sales exceeding 20 million, multiple Grammy awards, and their songs featured in the soundtracks of famous films, the Gipsy Kings have made a significant mark. Notable is their cover of “Hotel California” used in a memorable scene from The Big Lebowski, and their rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” featured in Toy Story III.
“Bamboleo,” one of the band’s iconic songs, is featured in numerous advertisements worldwide.
The Story of the Gipsy Kings
They began their career in the 1970s from a small village in Southern France. Roaming the country in their caravan, they played their joyous music at weddings, celebrations, and festivals, even on the streets. Tonino played his guitar, gradually developing his technique and style. Tonino, a cousin of the renowned Manitas De Plata, continues the family’s tradition as a virtuoso maestro of the Spanish guitar.
Brigitte Bardot encountered them as street musicians in Marseille and Saint-Tropez, inviting them to play at her parties. This introduced them to various Hollywood stars such as Charlie Chaplin (who became a great admirer), Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, and others who followed them with great enthusiasm.
Tonino once said in an interview about those years: “We started in Saint-Tropez with our guitars and since then we have traveled all over the world. Music has no borders and our music is global.” This might be the secret to their 30 years of success: a true eternity in the world of contemporary music.
In 1987, the Gipsy Kings released the songs “Djobi Djoba” and “Bamboleo,” and the joyful frenzy began! Their songs achieved immense success and inspired many musicians whose covers gave new life to their classic hits.
For over thirty years, Tonino and the Gipsys have been on the road with their Renaissance Worldwide tour. Earlier this year, they performed in the USA/Canada, Malaysia, Dubai, France, Cyprus, Spain, Croatia, and Portugal, winning both audiences and critics with rave reviews.
The Renaissance world tour holds special significance for Tonino as he is joined by his two sons, Mikaël and Cosso Baliardo, and their cousins. “My family is very important to me, and performing our songs in front of our fans gives me great joy and happiness.”
The Gipsy Kings, the musical nomads of our time, will make a stop in Halkidiki for a concert on Saturday, August 10th, concluding the Sani Festival for 2024. This large and colorful band will offer the Sani Festival audience an exhilarating night of music, a party of joy and optimism, fun, and dance!
Band Members:
- Benji Baliardo (vocals, guitar)
- Mikeal Baliardo (vocals, guitar)
- Jean Claude Vila (vocals, guitar)
- Jean Michel Kerwich (vocals, guitar)
- Jean Rey (vocals)
- Steve Belmonte (drums, percussion)
- Thomas Potrel (bass guitar)
- Cyril Seguy (keyboards)
SANI FESTIVAL
SOUNDS OF THE WORLD SATURDAY 10.08 Gipsy Kings featuring Tonino Baliardo
The internationally acclaimed Sani Festival, organized by Sani Resort since 1992, is the largest and most important private festival in Greece. The festival is hosted at the iconic Stavronikita Tower, known as the Sani Hill, a significant historical landmark of Halkidiki. Sani Resort has been awarded the “World’s Leading Cultural Destination Resort Award” for two consecutive years (2022, 2023) at the prestigious World Travel Awards. Over its 32-year history, the Sani Festival has hosted some of the greatest artists from the jazz, classical, rock, and pop international scenes.
All concerts are held at Sani Hill, starting at 21:30.
