tue 16/04/2024

Manu Chao, Coronet Theatre | reviews, news & interviews

Manu Chao, Coronet Theatre

Manu Chao, Coronet Theatre

Rebel superstar does an incendiary show for Colombiage

Manu Chao: the global troubadour brings punk thrash, skanking reggae and a generous heart

“It’s not often you get a global superstar down at the Elephant and Castle,” marvelled a local who spent the evening dancing like a dervish to the infectious music of Manu Chao, who had breezed into London for a rare show last night off the back of a short tour of Japan and the West Coast of America. The first person I saw as an usher was Colombian philosopher Oscar Guardiola-Rivera whose book What if Latin America Ruled the World? suggests - among many other things - that the US is becoming the next Latin American country. Like the others he was wearing a Colombiage T-shirt - the organisation for which this was a benefit.

“It’s not often you get a global superstar down at the Elephant and Castle,” marvelled a local who spent the evening dancing like a dervish to the infectious music of Manu Chao, who had breezed into London for a rare show last night off the back of a short tour of Japan and the West Coast of America. The first person I saw as an usher was Colombian philosopher Oscar Guardiola-Rivera whose book What if Latin America Ruled the World? suggests - among many other things - that the US is becoming the next Latin American country. Like the others he was wearing a Colombiage T-shirt - the organisation for which this was a benefit.

Coping with assorted heartbreaks but still clinging to hope and a love of fiesta - sung to beats that tended to switch from punk thrash to skanking reggae

Share this article

Comments

WOOOOOOOW!!!!!!! Great concert!!!!

Add comment

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters