Expose: Buenos Aires » festivals in buenos aires

Food and Wine Expo at the Palacion Paz

Matt — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:46:55 +0000

If you can only make it to one wine event, this is the one you shouldn´t miss. Known as the Expo de Cuisine & Vins, it is put on by the magazine of the same name. By attending the event, you get to try hundreds of Argentine wines as well as different cheeses, chocolates, and other gastronomical pleasures. However, the big draw for this event is the elegant setting, taking place at the Palacio Paz.

This palace was built at the beginning of the 20^th century for the Argentine diplomat Jose C. Paz. During this time, French architecture was all the rage in Buenos Aires, and Sr. Paz decided to build one of the most expensive and lavish mansions in the area. It was designed by a French architect, and once inside this palace, you’ll feel as though you’ve moved to France in the early 1900’s.

Now if that doesn’t sound like the ideal setting to drink wine, I don’t know what is.

When: Sometime in May or early June
Where: Palacio Paz
Why: A swanky wine event in an incredible setting – a turn of the century French palace.
More Info: http://www.cuisine.com.ar/

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Buenos Aires Book Fair – Feria de Libros

Matt — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:37:03 +0000

One of the largest and most important cultural events of the year, the Feria de Libros is an event that anyone should try to get to once. Taking place at La Rural, and using the entire space, the book fair is comprised of over 1,000 exhibitors, mainly different publishing companies from Argentina and around the world. Each publisher sets up a space with a selection of their books, open for purchase by the public. Some amazing deals can be found, as the publishers often sell the books at a discount.

Many publishers have the same or similar books, so it does take some time to go through the whole fair. Although the majority of publishers are Latin American, there are publishers from other countries that sell books in their country’s native tongue. There are also various publishers that specialize in specific areas, such as languages or science.

Something that the majority of the public tends to miss are the variety of round tables, discussions, book signings, and other events that take place. These provide a great opportunity to learn more about literature in Argentina and the rest of South America.

A few things to keep in mind:

- try to stay away from the fair on weekends, or you will likely run into long line-ups to get into the fair, in addition to long line-ups at every exhibitor. The best time to visit the fair is during the day Monday to Friday, or on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings.

- the best way to visit the book fair is to make a day out of it. Go early, and take your time working your way through the different exhibits, sit down for a coffee, and then keep browsing. Its not an event you can expect to enter and leave in a short amount of time.

- many publishers offer huge discounts on the the last weekend of the event. Be sure to attend those days if possible, although try to go right at the beginning of the day.

- if you are a student, you get free entry, so bring your student ID!

- Clarin and La Nacion also have their own exhibits, and you have the chance to purchase all of the special books that they see throughout the year in their newspapers. Sometimes they are classis books, encyclopedias, books about science, reference books, kids books, etc. and they are always very cheap!

When: April
Where: La Rural
Why: A massive selection of books for great prices.
More Info: http://www.el-libro.org.ar/

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Southfest

Matt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:28:51 +0000

A one night extravaganza of some of the world´s top international DJs, this is a night of high quality sound, great visuals, and amazing talent, all packed into one room. In the past three years, performers include Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx, Steve Lawler, and Sasha.

Southfest is one of the three major electronic music festivals held in Buenos Aires, and because it is smaller than Creamfields or the SAMC, it tends to have a better vibe. The event takes place in Costa Salguero, which is where many different electronic music events take place. It is nicely set-up for these events, and offers great sound and visuals. It is also easy to access.

For more information such as dates, DJs, and prices go to: http://www.southfest.net

When: Varies every year
Where: Costa Salguero
Why: One night with some of the world’s top DJs

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BAFICI – Buenos Aires Festival of International Independent Film

Matt — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:15:11 +0000

The BAFICI always brings a lot of hype, for its importance as one of the worlds top film festivals. It provides residents and tourists of Buenos Aires to see a huge selection of international independent movies. There are over 1000 events including seminars, round tables, and presentations, attended by over 220,000 people. You get to choose from all styles of movies made from directors from all parts of the world. The movies are shown in cinemas throughout the capital, and for about 1/3 to ½ the cost of what a movie would normally cost. In 2009, the festival incorporated the BAFICITO, which included a selection animated movies for kids.

For more information, check out the BAFICI website: http://www.bafici.gob.ar/home/web/en/index.html. You will find schedules and descriptions for all movies and events, and they are available in English. You can even purchase your tickets online, to ensure you get a spot in the theatre. Some of the more popular movies sell out well in advance, so it is recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance.

When: End of March/Beginning of April
Where: Various movie theatres
Why: Great chance to see some of the best independent films from around the world

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BAFIM – Buenos Aires International Music Festival

Matt — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:54:50 +0000

The BAFIM is a fairly new event (started in 2006), but has grown incrementally in three years. Attendance in 2008 was over 100,000, which is nearly triple the 35,000 people that attended in 2006.

As a music lover, the main draw to the BAFIM is the selection of “nearly” free live shows. I say nearly free, because you do have to pay a small entrance fee ($10 pesos in 2008) and you can see all the shows for that day. In 2009, there are over 80 shows to see, and some of these featured some pretty impressive headliners.

Like most music festivals in Buenos Aires, the main music style is some form of rock, with a significant amount of reggae. However, there are plenty of other options, including folk, tango, jazz and electronic.

Although most people will go only to enjoy the free live shows, this is no Pepsi Music Festival…the BAFIM is all about the music industry, and is the reason it was created. It provides an opportunity for musicians, producers, record labels, and business associated with the music scene, to network and talk about all things related to the industry. This is done through conferences, workshops, presentations, a trade fair, and a space dedicated to business dealings.

Although BAFIM is a highly recommended festival for anyone interested in seeing live Argentine music, the event has suffered a few growing pains. In 2008, the events were seriously overcrowded, with entrance line-ups of over two hours at times. Inside the event was chaotic at times, and the sound quality left a lot to be desired. Not exactly the best chance for new bands to show their stuff.

Nevertheless, when you peruse the idea that you are only paying $10 pesos to see some of Argentina´s top bands (2008 included shows by Fito Paez, Fidel Nadal, Dante, to name just a few), it all becomes worth it.

When: In October or November
Where: Changes every year
Why: You want to be in the hub of Argentina´s music scene
More Info: http://www.bafim.buenosaires.gov.ar/

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Creamfields

Matt — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:22:30 +0000

Creamfields is the largest electronic music festival in South America, and Creamfields Buenos Aires is the best of the bunch. This is a massive single day event, where over 100 of the world´s top DJs will play to 60,000 screaming Argentines and tourists. The event currently takes place at the Autodromo, where the festival sets up a variety of tents. One of the main tents can hold over 10,000 people, and the smaller ones less than a thousand. There are also two open air venues, for the largest shows of the night, and this is where you´ll some amazing audio and visual shows by groups such as Prodigy, UNKLE, and Chemical Bros.

Most music festivals in South America will have a couple huge international headliners. Creamfields has over a dozen, giving you with the chance to see loads of the world´s most talented DJs.

The most difficult part about Creamfields is trying to decide which show to watch, because you are bound to have some of your favorite DJs playing at the same time. Some of the DJs that have played in the past include: Chemical Brothers, Carl Cox, John Digweed, Dubfire (Deep Dish), Hernán Cattaneo, Lcd Soundsystem, Erick Morillo, Paul Oakenfold, Underworld, Sasha, Kleinenberg, Tiga, and loads of others. This festival is a dream come true for any electronic music lover.

**If you don´t like massive events, you may not enjoy Creamfields. The venue is packed full of people, so expect to pinball your way from from one tent to another. It is also nearly impossible to find a taxi home if you leave at the end, and the Autodromo is right at the edge of the capital**

When: November
Where: Autodromo de Buenos Aires
Why: If you like big events, this is one of the best you´ll experience in Buenos Aires. If you are into electronic music, you know this is the ultimate experience in South America.
More Info: http://www.creamfieldsba.com/

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Personal Fest

Matt — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:50:14 +0000

Personal Fest is a two day music festival that takes place at the Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires stadium. Each day features a massive headliner, as well as a number of smaller local and international music groups. Style of music ranges, but is mainly rock, reggae, and pop.

The two headlines for 2009 are Depeche Mode and Pet Shop boys. Past shows have featured R.E.M, Fito Paez, Snoop Dog, Gotan Project, Black-Eyed Peas, Spinetta, Kid Koala, and Cypress Hill. Crowds are large, over 50,000 people per night, with a real party vibe. If you like to mosh, find yourself a spot at the front near the stage, the Argentines love to mosh!

Ticket prices vary every year, and always depend on who the headliner is. If you buy tickets to both shows, you get a significant discount. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketek, or by going to the stadium.

When: Between October and December, depending on the year.
Where: Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Why: You want to rock out to a great mix of national and international live music
More info: http://www.personalfest.com.ar/

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Pepsi Music Festival

Matt — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:32:06 +0000

“More than 100 bands are going….let´s all go.” This is Pepsi´s slogan for the Pepsi Music festival, and there´s no reason why everyone shouldn´t go. The Festival is the largest of the big multi-day concerts held in Buenos Aires, with 100 hundred bands playing during five different days. There is a huge variety of both national and international bands, and you´ll hear tons of different music styles – rock, Argentine rock, indie, punk, reggae, and in 2009, Prodigy will play, which is the first time the festival will have electronic music. The idea, is that there is something for everyone.

The festival is pretty amazing, and definitely one of the most exciting in terms of the energy felt during the event. Total attendance breaks the 100,000 mark, and the crowd really goes wild, showing their appreciation for the killer shows that tend to be performed. From a fans point of view, this is the best of live popular music in Argentina, and it is also the most important event for the performers., which is why they tend to put on their best shows.

Some of the most well-received acts in the past include: Andres Calamaro, Nine Inch Nails, David Matthews Band, Motley Crue, Babasonicos, Megadeth, and The Wailers.

If you only make it to one of the large, multi-day music fests, this is the one you won´t want to miss. Package deals are available if you want to go to more than one show, and hey, if everyone´s going, why not?

When: October
Where: Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Why: Stellar shows of top national and international bands, performing to an electric crowd.
More info: http://www.pepsimundo.com/argentina/pepsimusic/

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FIBA – International Performing Arts Festival

Matt — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:16:59 +0000

Buenos Aires, often considered the cultural capital of Latin America, has a thriving performing arts scene. Back in 1997, a handful of Argentine visionaries had an idea…to show the world the importance and the quality of contemporary performing arts in Buenos Aires. They decided to create a festival dedicated to the display of Argentina´s performing arts scene. To ensure international exposure, they invited performing arts groups from around the world. Thus the FIBA was born, and has now become the most important event of its kind in South America.

The FIBA is a two week festival that happens every second year. Some of the best local and international performances are showcased at this event, which gives Porteños and visitors a chance to see some of the best theatre worldwide. In 2007, there were performances from Italy, Brazil, Holland, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, among many others. For those that do not understand Spanish, there are also dance, music, and visual art performances, where language barriers do not exist.
Although the majority of public goes for the performances, the BIFA is much more than just world class contemporary art performances. It is the most important event for the people that make-up performing arts scene. There are numerous workshops, discussions, special events, and presentations, where artists, producers, and the public exchange knowledge and advice about contemporary performing art.
Ever wanted to meet the artists? They also have a “happy hour”, which is a two our window where the public can meet and speak with the artists, and is also an opportunity for the different artists to interact. For those that do not speak the same language, there are translators available. This is a unique idea by the organizers of the FIBA, and goes off really well. The atmosphere is casual, and many of the artists are friendly and welcoming.

Be sure to get your tickets in advance, as the majority of these shows sell out. You can purchase tickets by:

When: October
Where: Various locations throughout Buenos Aires
Why: You want to see some world class performances of the performing arts
More information:http://www.festivaldeteatroba.gov.ar

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SAMC – South American Music Conference

Matt — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:44:23 +0000

The South American Music Conference first started in 2004, and is the most important electronic music event in South America. Over 40 national and international DJs play in 3 different rooms, but what really makes this event is important, is that it is a conference to exchange information about electronic music, and network with DJs and producers from around the globe.

Some DJs that have played in the past include Nick Warren, Judge Jules, Ritchie Hawtin, Ferry Corsten, Tiesto, which tell you this is definitely a festival that will make any electronic music lover drool. The event in the past has taken place in Costa Salguero, but in 2009 will move to G.E.B.A. in Palermo.

This may not be as big or well known as creamfields, but this one is all about the music and the industry. It also costs half as much as creamfields, so if you can only go to one, you may want to keep that in mind.

When: Changes yearly
Where: G.E.B.A.
Why: You love electronic music, or you just want to party hard listening to some of the world’s best DJs.
More info: http://samc.net

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