The Casa de la Música of Manresa, in cooperation with the Fira Mediterrània of Manresa Foundation, is preparing the first edition of a fringe festival for the Mediterranean roots market, which this year will host its thirteenth edition from the 4 to 7 November. The proposal will be based on programming diverse artists and acts that can contribute to the reshaping, redefining, complimenting and even re-identification of the concept of Mediterranean roots. The aim is to strengthen and enrich the Fira Mediterrània of Manresa project by including projects that don’t usually fit into the official programme, but can add innovative and complimentary aspects to the agenda specific to the Fira that has been developed up until now. The Casa de la Música hopes to reflect this philosophy by naming the Fira’s fringe festival the Estepa Mediterrània (Steppe Mediterrània).

The Casa de la Música is currently working on selecting the groups that will feature on the Estepa Mediterrània programme. As part of the selection process, the Casa de la Música is researching bands from the underground scene, up-and-coming bands as well as proposals with a certain “consolidated project” status. The organisers are preparing a diverse, trial run first edition, which will combine heterogeneous acts that could be a success with the public and others with an element of risk that allow for more complex groups and projects to be on the programme.

In this way, and for the first time within the scope of the Fira, new innovative strategies will be applied to the comprehension and creation of performances that stem from Mediterranean roots. Apart from the creation of this new block of interest, which can be added to other new developments that appeared in last year's Fira such as the storytelling and audiovisual events, it is also expected that new audiences and new professionals will be attending the event. The spaces where the fringe festival is due to take place will not be the usual ones that have specific to the Fira Mediterrània.

The general coordination, programming and technical production of the fringe festival are being managed by the Casa de la Música of Manresa, while the Fira Mediterrània Foundation will contribute to the funding and marketing of the project. For the Fira Mediterrània, the fringe initiative is part of the willingness to contribute to the creation of acts which involve both regional cultural agents as well as ordinary citizens, so that greater involvement in the Fira project and in the entire range of cultural activity of Manresa and the Bages region is promoted.

Groups interested in participating in the off section of the Fira Mediterrània have until Friday 23 April to send their proposals to www.casadelamusica.cat.

The selected artists will be informed about the fringe festival programme on the 14 May and this will be published on the Casa de la Música and the Fira Mediterrània websites on the 21 May.